Wynne Gray: A natural driving force

Until recently, Saimone Taumoepeau's rugby contract was a pay-for-play arrangement.

So the loosehead prop continued his shift work at Carter Holt Harvey, starting before dawn before racing off to NPC practice in the late afternoon.

It was a gruelling regime, but one that coach Pat Lam appreciated enough to make allowances about the start times for Auckland training. He knew Taumoepeau was a talent to be nurtured; many propping judges, including All Black scrum guru Mike Cron, had been impressed.

That was then. Now Taumoepeau's labours have earned him a different deal, one which allowed him to quit his job and concentrate solely on his rugby.

The change has not softened the 24-year-old's attitude.

On the team day off this week, Lam found Taumoepeau putting himself through a rugged gym and weight session at Eden Park.

Taumoepeau's impressive entry into the NPC this season has become one of the talking points of the competition, even if he is reluctant to make much of his personal contribution. He finds it easier to retreat behind his lack of fluent English.

But there are many who can fill in segments of Taumoepeau's life, one which began in Folaha village on Oua, one of the islands in the Ha'apai group, about an hour's flight north of the main Tongan island of Tongatapu.

With his parents, four brothers and a sister, Taumoepeau used to work on the land, creating the natural kind of strength which is associated with Tongan rugby legends such as Jonah Lomu and Isitolo Maka.

It was noticeable on the recent Pacific Islanders tour that the front row had a strong Tongan influence with Soane Tonga'uiha, Taumoepeau's older brother Tevita, Aleki Lutui and Taufa'ao Filise.

Taumoepeau went to Tupou College on the main island but did not play rugby there.

"It was not until he came to New Zealand after school that he really was roped in to play the game," said fellow Tongan and injured Auckland squad member Charles Riechelmann.

"I did not play until I was about 13 or 14 when I came here.

"That was the way because we did not have any balls or equipment. However that is changing now with the second generation of Tongan boys born here."

Tongan faces now populate the Auckland squad where a decade ago the Polynesian perception was more about the influx of Samoan talent.

Taumoepeau has Tongan support from Tonga'uiha, Riechelmann, Sione Lauaki and Sam Tuitupou while there are a number of others in the Auckland NPC squad with mixed bloodlines.

"There is a lot of support there and he [Taumoepeau] has a lot of family around him too," Riechelmann said.

The 105kg prop boards with an aunt because his parents have lived in the United States for the past few years.

Taumoepeau had a year with the Fraser-Tech club in Hamilton before switching to Marist in Auckland where he is into his third season.

And that is about the extent of his rugby career.

But on the evidence of what he has achieved in leading the assault against North Harbour, Wellington and Taranaki scrums, the Super 12 selectors at the very least, will be having a long look at Taumoepeau in the final stages of the NPC.

Especially with converted All Black loosehead Kees Meeuws heading off to France.

National scrum doctor Cron was immediately taken with Taumoepeau when he saw him working in the Auckland high-performance unit.

"He rated him number one," manager Geoff Moon recalled.

"He is very rugby smart, understands the technical side of the game well even though English is his second language.

"He is very professional, learns quickly, soaks up the knowledge, is very self-driven and self-motivated."

Taumoepeau is part of a Marist front row with Stan Wright and John Fonokalafi and they have proved to be a handful for most Auckland club rugby opponents.

Lam has been an interested club rugby spectator.

When he returned from overseas last year he went down to watch his old club, Marist. Two club stalwarts, Bernie McCahill and Daryl Suasua, told him to watch Taumoepeau.

"That was before I had been appointed Auckland coach," said Lam.

"But I thought he was hugely dominant in club rugby. Mentally he is very strong, he has played very well for us and is improving all the time."

Moon backed up that assessment and said Lam was now taking the prop to the next level.

"Saimone is ruthless and is most dangerous because of the speed of his engagement in the scrums," said Moon.

"He gets his first hit in and then just keeps on driving."

Unlike his elder brother who played for Auckland, North Harbour the Chiefs and Blues, Taumoepeau has not worn the Tongan national rugby jersey. His sights are very much on graduating into New Zealand colours.

"He is not overly heavy but it is his speed which gets people," Moon said.

"Other props will accept the hit once it happens - but he keeps on going."

There were hints from Taranaki last week that Taumoepeau had used illegal tactics when he disrupted seasoned opponent Gordon Slater.

Whatever methods he used went unpunished by senior referee Paddy O'Brien and his touch judges.

"He gets into position so fast and so accurately and keeps that pressure on," Moon said.

* Check nzherald.co.nz/rugby for match results and reports this weekend

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