Page 20 - Blues v The Lions

guess myself and what I I was doing all the time ” he he says “I learnt that I’ve got to trust and and believe in myself I I look back regularly and and know not to go down that that track again I also learnt early that that you can’t please everyone so so don’t try do do do what what you do do do and see what what comes from that “You’ve just got to be be be the best you can and be be be happy with that I’ve got great people around me they challenge the the the way way I I do things and that’s the the the way way you grow ” “It is a a a a special
occasion and I I hope the the the guys do themselves their
their
families and their
their
club proud ” He believes having the the likes of Sonny Bill Williams in in in the the the Blues squad this season is is helping the the younger players grow too It goes back to to what he he mentioned earlier: the need for experience “If you think about learning to to be be a a a a a professional there’s no better person to to learn learn off than him given what he’s he’s done previously And he’s he’s he’s not the the way he he he he he he is by accident – he’s he’s one of the the hardest workers you’ll ever nd nd and puts pressure on himself to prepare physically and and mentally We’ve got a a a a a a lot of of young players and and I hope they pick things up off Sonny Bill ” Umaga uniquely has a a a a a second appointment with Lions Tana Umaga touches down against the the British & Irish Lions during the the All Blacks’ 3-0 series win in in in 2005
when he he he he assumes his role with the the Maori All Blacks Even during the the tour last year to to USA Ireland and and and England the the Lions were on on the the mind of his players “We had a a a a a a a young group and they’re always looking towards what’s next ” he he he says “and the the Lions was the the next big thing ” Big enough to have distracted his Blues as as as well? “Our focus all season has has been on on Super Rugby – it has has to be be ” he he says “But there’s no doubt that this game is is going to to be a a a a a a a a a really special
day for our our players and our our club to to play play against the British & Irish Lions ” So what is is is he he he he expecting from the the the Lions? “Looking at at at how the the the Home Nations defend they pile on on on a a a a a a a a a lot of pressure Look at at the the way Ireland played [in Chicago against the All Blacks] with a a a a a a lot of intensity They’ll match people physically here and and be very good at forcing errors and and putting people under pressure It’s how you maintain that that over 10 games at at at the end of of a a a a a a a a a a a season If you do that that week week after week week it takes a a a a a a lot of of of juice out of you ” As only the the the second match on on on on the the the Lions’ itinerary the the the tourists should have plenty of “juice” for tonight but the the home side aren’t exactly short of incentive either “It is a a a a a special
occasion and I I hope the the the the guys do themselves their
their
families and their
their
club proud ” Umaga says “The reality is that it it it will will not take much to motivate them for for this game – it it will will be be one that they remember for for the the the the rest of their
lives ” UMAGA BY NUMBERS
caps
for the All Blacks 80 40 PERCENTAGE WIN RATE IN IN TEST RUGBY
3 Test victories against the Lions Test tries
129 SUPER RUGBY
APPEARANCES
240 POINTS IN IN SUPER RUGBY
21 TESTS AS ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN
1 nephew Jacob who grew up in in England England playing for England England U20s
THE COACHING
CV SO FAR 2008 Appointed Coach of Toulon
2009 Reverts to Player-Coach role at Toulon
2010 Returns to New Zealand as Head Coach of Counties Manukau helping them to an an ITM Cup Championship win and a a rst Ranfurly Shield
2015 Takes over from Sir John Kirwan
as new Head Coach of the Blues 2016 Appointed Assistant Coach of Maori All Blacks 20 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
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