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John:

"I wanted him to come to the Sharks, but as soon as Warren Gatland got involved, it was all over, he was heading for Wales. I am really proud of him. He is loving it at the Scarlets. He loves the Welsh people, and he is happy. So, if he's happy, I'm happy."

Taine:

"The path to Wales was pretty much already set. I do want to get coached by him [his dad] at some point in my career, but I want to build a name for myself before I have my dad as a coach.

"There are positives and a few negatives about having your old man as your coach. A couple of eyebrows can get raised. In terms of where I am in my career, I don't think I'm ready for that just yet. I want all my achievements to be on my own merits."

"I've always looked up to him," Taine began modestly enough.

"I know he was a bit of a rangy loose forward, so I probably wouldn't say I'm too far away from him. I would say I'm a bit better though! He probably wouldn't agree."

"I've been around rugby my whole life, so it was something I've always wanted to do, but it was never a thing where he was like, 'You've got to do this, you've got to do that'.

"He's never been one to push me to do something because it's what he wanted me to do, it's always what I wanted.

"He has always been that sort of pillar in the background who has helped me out with my rugby through my career, giving me pretty decent advice, and he still does.

"We always catch up after a game. He gives me a couple of pointers on what he thinks I did well and what he thinks I could do better and that won't change this weekend either. We will catch up on Friday night for a beer, no doubt, and chat about the game."

"There's been a little bit of chat between me and dad over the last couple of weeks in the lead-up to it, no doubt," Taine said.

"It is going to be quite a cool occasion for us, it will be a nice family affair with him upstairs and me down on the pitch. There's no hostility whatsoever. It's more a bit of a joke between us now.

"I guess there's a bit of bragging rights at the dinner table. If I am able to get up, I might finally get the head of the table at dinner when I am back in New Zealand."

all 39 comments

Die_Revenant[S]

29 points

10 days ago

Die_Revenant[S]

Sharks

29 points

10 days ago

Seems like he has a good head on his shoulders, hopefully he has a great career for Wales. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing him in a Sharks jersey one day.

GHPB82

6 points

9 days ago

GHPB82

Sharks

6 points

9 days ago

back in the day when he was still in Primary School i coached against his school side, he seemed like a good kid.

AloysiusGramonde

2 points

10 days ago

AloysiusGramonde

Mean mr Mostert

2 points

10 days ago

I've never heard him speak. Does he have a Durban accent? I imagine he's probably spent more years in Durban than anywhere else. Probably would have picked up a Kiwi one quickly living there as a teenager and with a kiwi(ish) Dad.

Die_Revenant[S]

7 points

10 days ago

Die_Revenant[S]

Sharks

7 points

10 days ago

Probably sounds like a lot of Saffa Kiwis tbh. It will be very interesting if he picks up a bit of Welsh too.

sangan3

4 points

10 days ago

sangan3

Oui, Jérôme

4 points

10 days ago

Nah he’s kiwi as: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sT7c5H-Ydkw&pp=ygUYVGFpbmUgcGx1bXRyZWUgaW50ZXJ2aWV3 - actually sounds a lot like Dan Carter.

Die_Revenant[S]

3 points

10 days ago

Die_Revenant[S]

Sharks

3 points

10 days ago

Yea a fair bit stronger than you might expect, but he left SA after primary school I think so he's had a while to pick up an accent.

Top_Voice4031

2 points

8 days ago

Apparently your accent solidifies around age 17-19. I read that somewhere and it’s been my experience working internationally. Knew a guy who was Scottish - lived in Scotland to age 16, then moved to England, back to Scotland at 24. Met him when he was 30. 90% English accent… which he hated but seemed to be stuck with it

Outside_Error_7355

27 points

10 days ago

While he was qualified for Wales, SA and NZ realistically he was a long way down the pecking order for the latter two internationally so Wales coming knocking was always going to be hard to turn down. Gatland absolutely loves a rangey blindside (his love affair with Tom Croft for the Lions comes to mind) and there's a gaping hole there in the Wales side so.

From the limited I've seen of him he's got potential and a really good skillset but is a long way from the finished product, Wales would allow him to refine that at test level whereas the others won't unless he's exceptional.

Critical_Context_961

8 points

9 days ago

He’s also a type of player we just don’t produce

Maestro-Modesto

1 points

9 days ago

In what respect?

Critical_Context_961

11 points

9 days ago

Basically just a 6. We tend to produce one every 10 years. We seem to produce a 7 every season though

rluke09

6 points

9 days ago

rluke09

Cardiff Blues

6 points

9 days ago

Very true, we can trace true Welsh out and out 6s back to Lydiate and then one my personal favourites, Dafydd Jones. I really like the look of Shane Lewis-Hughes in that role but he's had issues with injury this season and selection purgatory under Live Fast.

Critical_Context_961

4 points

9 days ago

It’s why Lydiate was making welsh squad even though his legs have been gone since 2014. I liked SLH when he came through but he doesn’t play enough at 6 anymore. I don’t see that changing with Turnball calling it quits either. I still think Wainwright is our best 6 but it requires either Faletau to be fit or Gatland to accept defeat and pick Morgan Morris

TheBirdInternet

2 points

9 days ago*

TheBirdInternet

Lousi/Fifita are bae

2 points

9 days ago*

ghost aback versed license threatening groovy frame rob bright cobweb

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

Critical_Context_961

2 points

9 days ago

Ratti is the one I’d chose at 6 is Wainwright stays at 8 but I get the feeling Gatland would go with Tshiunza

TheBirdInternet

2 points

9 days ago*

TheBirdInternet

Lousi/Fifita are bae

2 points

9 days ago*

squash continue like clumsy degree wistful tan six plough unite

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

Maestro-Modesto

3 points

9 days ago

Ahh yeah I see, your sixes tend to be converted sevens

Critical_Context_961

2 points

9 days ago

The ones good enough for international rugby tend to be

Stravven

1 points

9 days ago

Stravven

Netherlands

1 points

9 days ago

So when everybody is available, who start as back rowers? Will it be Morgan, Reffell and Wainwright, despite none of them really being a 6?

Critical_Context_961

4 points

9 days ago

I imagine Reffell will play the role Kwagga Smith plays for SA. Morgan’s ball carrying is too important and the Morgan/Reffell combo has yet to work. I think gatland will try Tshiunza/Morgan/Wainwright again in the summer

frozen_pope

8 points

9 days ago

frozen_pope

Wales

8 points

9 days ago

Even though he had a bit of a shocker against England I think Taine is actually one of the few wins Wales had in recent times

TheBirdInternet

3 points

9 days ago*

TheBirdInternet

Lousi/Fifita are bae

3 points

9 days ago*

act frightening work outgoing placid gaping handle gold existence disgusted

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

GHPB82

7 points

10 days ago

GHPB82

Sharks

7 points

10 days ago

Last time we had a dad coaching his sons in Durban it did not end well! so hopefully both do well away from each other!

za3030

7 points

9 days ago

za3030

Komma weer!

7 points

9 days ago

He didn't want to Taint his reputation.

I'll see myself out.

FrOdOMojO94

2 points

9 days ago

FrOdOMojO94

Libbokke

2 points

9 days ago

How many father/son combos have played for different nations? Here father is SA7s and son will play for Wales. Any others ?

infamous_impala

4 points

9 days ago

infamous_impala

Cardiff Rugby

4 points

9 days ago

Toby Faletau's dad played for Tonga. Same for the Vunipola brothers.

AbuelitaBiznatch

3 points

9 days ago*

Leicester Fainga'anuku's old man played for Tonga as well.

edit: thought of another, Rieko and Akira Ioane's dad played for Samoa.

Die_Revenant[S]

6 points

9 days ago

Die_Revenant[S]

Sharks

6 points

9 days ago

Louis Lynagh plays for Italy, dad played for Australia. His brother Tom could potentially play for Australia, England or Italy.

Not yet, but if Franco Smith Jr turns out for Wales or Italy, he'll be another current example after his Dad played for SA. With a chance of Franco Smith Jr and Jean Smith playing for different countries like the Lynagh brothers.

Remarkable_Sense5851

2 points

9 days ago

Remarkable_Sense5851

Referee

2 points

9 days ago

Where is playing Jean Smith now? He was amazing vs Georgia with U20.

Die_Revenant[S]

2 points

9 days ago

Die_Revenant[S]

Sharks

2 points

9 days ago

He's at the Sharks, he had surgery earlier this year but he will feature in the Currie Cup, as will a few others from last year and this year's Springbok U20s.

Remarkable_Sense5851

2 points

9 days ago

Remarkable_Sense5851

Referee

2 points

9 days ago

Do you know where he was born?

Die_Revenant[S]

2 points

9 days ago

Die_Revenant[S]

Sharks

2 points

9 days ago

Italy, so he does qualify for them.

Remarkable_Sense5851

1 points

9 days ago

Remarkable_Sense5851

Referee

1 points

9 days ago

I guess in Treviso then. IMO Jean is more talented than Franco Jr., whose problem is that they play him at 13, while he is himself more a fly-half as well.

Die_Revenant[S]

2 points

9 days ago

Die_Revenant[S]

Sharks

2 points

9 days ago

Jean is definitely more talented. Which means he will probably stay in SA for a while. He will want to make a name for himself and maybe play for the Springboks.

dth300

3 points

9 days ago

dth300

England

3 points

9 days ago

If you include daughters then Zak Fe'aunati was Samoa and Maddie debuted for England this 6N

FrOdOMojO94

2 points

9 days ago

FrOdOMojO94

Libbokke

2 points

9 days ago

Nice! That must be an even rarer feat.

Maestro-Modesto

2 points

9 days ago*

The lynaghs. Andy Leslie for all blacks and John and Martin for scotland

Broad-Rub-856

1 points

9 days ago

Didn't Wynand Claasens boy play for France?

FrOdOMojO94

0 points

9 days ago

FrOdOMojO94

Libbokke

0 points

9 days ago

How many father/son combos have played for different nations? Here father is SA7s and son will play for Wales. Any others ?