New Zealand forward on handling the emotion of losing a sibling at a young age and Jonah Lomu’s career impact
New Zealand lock Tupou Vaa'i celebrates a try in their Rugby Championship Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg in August. Photograph: Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images, breaking the record for the most-capped secondrow pairing in international rugby. By the end they made Stonehenge feel like a temporary art installation and their departures removed the twin pillars upon which the best modern All Black sides were built.
The younger brother was the one who had to run home and deliver the awful news to his father. Imagine how emotional the entire family felt in 2020, therefore, when Tupou – pronounced Doo-Po – made a video call home to tell them he was about to become an All Black. “There were a lot of tears. Tears of joy and also relief that all the hard work had paid off.
“When I’m running out I can hear my cousins screaming. I’ve told them a few times to turn it down a bit but they just love it. They’re not over here for this tour but I’m pretty sure they’ll be screaming through the TV. I’ll definitely hear them.”The next step for the personable Vaa’i, who has 34 caps, is to channel the extra self-belief he has felt since cementing a regular starting place this year. “Starting has really built my confidence.
“They stamped their mark as Tongans on the England team and I’m pretty gutted I didn’t have a chance to lock horns against them” – but the challenge still excites him. “England are going to be a different team to when we played them in New Zealand. They’ve got quality forwards and backs and they’re going to be up for it. I reckon they’re going to come out with a bang; I guess it just comes down to fronting up.
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