Page 20 - Chiefs v Lions

Moli celebrates with team-mate Taleni Seu after victory over the Crusaders in in Fiji in in 2016
not not compared to to now I thought it was just another tour or game ” he he muses Moli proved himself a a a a a a leader of men when at Marlborough Boys’ College He was head boy and Captain of a a a a a a a a a First XV that de ed ed most predictions to usurp The Press Cup the the symbol of schoolboy rugby rugby supremacy in the the Crusaders’ region His rugby rugby journey then took him from Blenheim to to to Hamilton having signed with Waikato In 2014
he was in in New Zealand Under 20 20 for a a a a a a a home Junior World Championship campaign He turned out in in the No 1 jersey impressing with his displays The next year he he he he he stepped up to the the captaincy switched sides of the the scrum and and led his boys to World Championship glory in England Lions fans tonight may well recall
the the image of him lifting the the trophy after a a a a a a a a a a a rugged nal against England It was a a a a a a a a a a a a clear career highlight but you sense that victory tonight would rate almost as highly “You can see the the physicality in their game but we just have to to come to to the game and counter that “ Moli’s rugby development has since been slow and and steady for Waikato and and the the Chiefs rather than that of some shooting star Props after all may not fully mature until their late 20s and the the the man himself readily admits there is still much to learn He came off the bench in in last June’s 40-7 Chiefs’ win over Wales on on this ground in in a a a a a a match fondly recalled for the virtuoso display of Stephen “Beaver” Donald It’s a a a a a a good international reference point for Moli and the Chiefs even if that Wales side included only
Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau of the current Lions squad “That Wales game was a a a a a a a a a really good good experience playing an international team It was good good to have Beaver in in there just for his experience The build-up was really fun as as as well We went in in as as as as underdogs ” says Moli recalling how the crowd was vocal vocal – perhaps even more vocal vocal than a a a a a a a regular Investec Super Rugby xture at at FMG Stadium Waikato The 2017 Lions have proven in in the the rst few tour outings that they pose a a a a a formidable threat in in the the set pieces It hasn’t escaped Moli’s notice “In the the the couple of games I’ve watched they are really big men and it’s like a a a a a a a typical game of rugby up the the guts It works works for for them but it it also works works for for us in in a a a a a a way You can see the the the physicality in in their game game but we just have to to come to to the the the game game and counter that ” Moli says So it it matters not whether he he he locks horns at at at at scrum time with Joe Marler or or Jack McGrath – Moli will feel the heat 20 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME