Blues prop Angus Ta'avao. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Prop Angus Ta'avao would love to get his All Blacks jersey back and he's determined not to let the Blues become "flash in the pan" Super Rugby champions.
The 34-year-old last played for the All Blacks in 2022 with injury curtailing his chances of making the 2023 World Cup.
He re-joined the Blues last season after several years with the Chiefs, returning to the side he made his Super Rugby debut with in 2012.
Angus Ta'avao in action. Photo: Photosport
The All Blacks are currently blessed for talent at prop with Tyrel Lomax, Ethan de Groot, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tamaiti Williams and Pasilio Tosi selected for last year's November tour.
Ta'avao knows none of those players will be easy to usurp, but he said his desire to play test rugby is as strong as ever.
"There's always a a hunger to to get back there once you've had a taste of it," Ta'avao said.
"But it's a tough place out there, mate. These young pop that are coming through, they've stepped into that jersey and owned it. Pasilio Tosi was in there doing well and Fletcher Newell. Tyrel Lomax, he's world class, one of the best in the world at the moment. So it's definitely some good competition, but I don't think you'd ever stop backing yourself and not believing that you could put your hand up and get back in there."
Ta'avao though isn't consumed by his All Blacks ambitions and is firmly focused on the Super Rugby ahead, with the Blues looking to defend the title they won last year that broke, their first full Super Rugby crown in 21 years.
"My whole career I have never focused too much on that (making the All Blacks). I just focus on the here and now and that is with the blues," Ta'avao said.
"I'll do what I can to to play my best rugby and and contribute to the team. And if if that happens (an All Blacks recall), it happens. If it doesn't, I'm pretty content with that as long as I've done done the work for me."
Angus Ta’avao of the Blues playing against the Crusaders. Photo: David Rowland
Ta'avao has identified some key areas he wants to work on in his own game this season as he chases a return to test rugby and he's looking forward to challenging himself against some of the best props in the country during Super Rugby.
"It's the old saying, the old cliché, iron sharpens iron, but it is true. If you're not up to the standard you get caught out pretty quickly. You want to challenge yourself every single week.
"You're you're always working on set piece and obviously that's something I want to keep banging on. Collisions are a big part of being a prop as well and trying to get a little bit more dominance there. On defence, be a little more active, whether that's creating a mess, barging through or even looking for turnover opportunities. I don't think I've had many jackals in the past few years. I suppose it's just about adding different layers and being more consistent. So it's second effort. It's getting back up on my feet. It's keeping the legs going through the contact. That's been a work on and is something I'll never stop working on."
Ta'avao thoroughly enjoyed last season's title run with the Blues and he said the side is aiming to continue to develop the culture and style of play they built in 2024.
"After the 21 years between drinks of winning a a super title, to finally get over the over the hump for Auckland and to be played at a packed out at Eden Park, that was amazing.
"But we don't want to just be a flash in the pan, a one championship team, and then go back to what the Blues had been for many years where the sides all had potential, but didn't live up to it. So there's been plenty of conversations around having another good year and and winning this thing again."
Blues prop Angus Ta'avao with fans. Photo: Brett Phibbs
So how do the Blues remain consistent enough to create a dynasty and win back to back crowns? Ta'avao has a theory.
"I think it's important not to lose sort of who you are in your DNA. Last year we played a pretty physical game and I think the balance between forwards and backs and the was great. From your Mark Telea's and Caleb Clark's (All Black wingers) coming in to do the hard work. Our set piece, our scrum and line-up, functioned really well.
"That's sort of what we want our DNA to be. We want to recreate that and add some new things, but if you get away from what what you're really good at and what's worked, that can lead to problems," Ta'avao said.
"We've probably drawn a bit of inspiration from the Penrith Panthers (who've won four NRL titles in a row) who are going on a pretty good run. And obviously the Crusaders over the seven years before we won Super Rugby. You knew how they played. You knew what team they were and they didn't go away from that.
"So we're [the Blues] are doubling down on it, expanding a few little things, but still being the Blues team that you saw last year, just better."
Ta'avao has been impressed by what he's seen from the Blues in pre-season training and can't wait for the season to kick off next month, with the Blues hosting the Chiefs in a repeat of last year's final for their first match.
"It's just a well oiled machine that's carrying on. So it's it's it's been really good."
