Taumalolo ready for Kiwi reception

IT is being talked up as the World Cup’s “War in Waikato” but Tongan coach Kristian Woolf says Jason Taumalolo will do his talking on the field against New Zealand on Saturday.

It will be the first time Taumalolo has gone head-tohead with the Kiwis since Adam Blair accused the game’s best forward of not being “man enough” to tell coach David Kidwell or the New Zealand players about his plans to switch allegiance.

Taumalolo was one of several players who chose Tonga over New Zealand along with Manu Ma’u, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and David Fusitu’a, while Andrew Fifita withdrew from the Australian side.

But heading into the final pool game of the tournament it sets up what’s sure to be a fiery showdown with the Tongans against a heavyweight Kiwi pack that includes Blair, Russell Packer, Martin Taupau, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Asked how he expected Taumalolo to handle the occasion, Woolf said: “Jase handles most things pretty well. He doesn’t tend to get drawn into things too much and doesn’t let things affect him.”