Page 17 - MAB v The Lions

PROFILE
With an innate ability to nd space Te’o has become a a a a a a a a a a key gure in in Head Coach Warren Gatland’s plans
made the right decision to pack up his kitbag and head north: “The main thing for me me would be meeting different people along the way I’ve got a a a a lot of good friends dotted all round Europe through rugby and that wouldn’t be the case if I’d never come I I I think I’ve learned a a a a a a a a lot from travelling as as as well Those are the reasons that make it worthwhile ”
His travels have also taught him that growing up in in in New Zealand has its advantages: “I think kids play with a a a a a a a a a a a lot more freedom
at a a a a a a a a a a young age in New Zealand and and Australia They get more of an an opportunity to express themselves From what I’ve seen in Ireland and and and England sides can be very robotic at a a a a a a a a a a young age They are taught a a a a a a a lot about about the set-piece and about about how many guys should be in in a a a a a a a a a ruck whereas in in New Zealand it’s a a a a a a lot more unstructured ”
Te’o in in short is is now equally comfortable in in both hemispheres From Gatland’s perspective he’s also a a a a a a perfect choice for a a a a a a tour like this: instinctively at home in in in the tough world of Kiwi rugby and and well-known to to the the Leinster and and English contingents within the the 41-man squad It has shown
on the the eld few were quicker to nd their feet despite what he he he he describes as the the “really tough” early effects of jet lag which only added to the the challenge in in in facing the the NZ Provincial Barbarians At 1 1 88m tall and 106kg he he has the physical attributes to make an impact whether at at 12 or or even 13 where he he he he he he had to play for a a a a a a a a large chunk of the the game against the the Crusaders after Jonathan Davies was forced off prematurely Socially he also has a a a a a a a a a knack
– “I enjoy bumping around and interacting with different guys and learning about them” – of getting along with almost anyone Equally he he he he has the the steeliness of temperament to to thrive when the the going gets tough Anyone who has played State of Origin footy for Queensland isn’t going to be fazed by facing a a a a a a a a a a a haka or or coping with a a a a a a a a a a a physical Maori team “State of Origin is warfare ”
he shrugs “If you’re going down to to Sydney to to play the Blues in in in a a a a decider yeah it’s full on on Just really intense “I don’t like to to go out with too much in in in in my head in in in in terms of what what I’m going to do or what what I I think could happen People may say the way I I I I play is simple but I I I I think it’s effective I I I I do what I’m good at at and try to enjoy it ”
The Lions are merely the the latest leading team to to to be glad to to have Ben Te’o in in in their dressing room Rugby Rugby league cap for Samoa at the 2008 Rugby Rugby League World Cup – he he scored two tries in in that one game against France
2 TRIES IN EIGHT TESTS FOR ENGLAND
BEN TE’O
BY THE NUMBERS
40 APPEARANCES FOR IRISH PROVINCE LEINSTER
4 tries in eight matches this season for his his club side Worcester Warriors
2005 THE YEAR HE HE HE TURNED OUT FOR THE JUNIOR KIWIS
1 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH ENGLAND
APPEARING IN IN ALL SIX MATCHES
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 17 17 GETTY IMAGES