Page 19 - Chiefs v Lions

PROFILE
He led New Zealand to the World Rugby Under 20 20 Championship title in in 2015 and has more recently been making his mark with the Chiefs Now aged 23 Atunaisa Moli is is is hoping to to add a a a a a win over the Lions to to his impressive CV WORDS: CAMPBELL BURNES
THERE’S A A CHANCE
Atunaisa Moli will still be around in 2029 when the Lions are set to to return to to New Zealand But Moli known to all and and sundry as Atu isn’t thinking thinking that far ahead Instead the the 23-year-old prop is thinking thinking no further than tonight the the biggest international game of his burgeoning career “We are are are really excited about this The young boys are are just keen to to get an an opportunity to to shine and it’ll be a a a a a good experience for everyone ” Moli says Presumably he he he includes himself among “the young boys” although he he he has a a a a a a a a fair few Chiefs games under his his belt nearing the end of his his his second season Though Moli started his his career as as as as a a a a a a a a loosehead prop he he he he he has in the the the last 12 months specialised on on on the the the the the other side of the the the the the the scrum soaking up the the the the the the lessons from the the the the Chiefs’ No 1 1 tighthead Nepo Laulala a a a a a a a 2015 All Black Throw in expert tuition from the Chiefs’ Scrum Coach former All Black Carl Hoeft and one can see
why Moli loves coming to training every day and learning the craft
of what he he he he does for a a a a a a a a living “I think I’ll stick with tighthead ” he he he he he says “The last time I I I played loosehead was in the [2015] ITM Cup with Waikato so it it has been a a a a a a while Nepo and and Hoefty help me out on the eld and and with my scrummaging ” Funnily enough while Moli is a a a a a a solid build for a a a a a a a a a tighthead he he he has has the the long back that has has characterised some ne looseheads such as as Craig Dowd Paul Thomson and Kevin Nepia Carl Hayman one of of the the the great All Blacks tightheads of of of the the the professional era had a a a a a a a a a a a a similar frame That makes Moli a a a a a a a a a a useful lineout target when required The Atu Moli rugby story kicks off in Blenheim In 2005 he he he he had just turned 10 and was unaware of of the the signi cance of of the the the last Lions tour
to to these shores “I remember when Tana Umaga was was Captain and the the haka that’s about all The hype was was DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 19