Ioane resets his ambitions for Blues
Akira Ioane has calibrated his ambitions and fixed his motivations for 2024 as the enigmatic Blues loose forward prepares for one more tilt at wringing the best out of his powerful rugby frame.
Quite what those aims are, though, will remain tightly under wraps as the 28-year-old plays things rather close to his chest as he gets set to take his first step in the Super Rugby Pacific competition in Melbourne tonight.
Ioane is one of two notable figures making their first appearance of the season for Vern Cotter’s Blues against the Highlanders in a battle of two winners from week one. He comes back off a calf injury, alongside test prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, into a lineup featuring eight changes to the starting XV that ran out against the Fijian Drua.
If you’re not a fan of rotation, then Cotter strongly advises sucking it up, because he has a strong squad and he aims to spread the load as he plans for a peak at the business end of proceedings.
Ioane has a lot to play for this year, which he hints might be the final lap of the track in New Zealand (notably, he has two seasons to run on his latest deal).
He hasn’t played test footy since 2022, and if he’s honest probably never quite
managed his best stuff with the Blues last year.
But after a decent spell out of the game dealing with that calf issue – his last hitout was round 5 of NPC last year – he feels ready to put his best foot forward for a franchise that needs its senior types to deliver
if they’re to meet their ambitions.
Asked if he’d reset his ambitions and targets during his break, Ioane resonded: “Yeah, and I’ll keep that to myself. There are always goals coming into a new season with a new coach and and new people around, but i just want to put my best foot forward, enjoy my time with the boys and make the most of however long I’ve got left here.’’
How does he get the best out himself in 2024?
“It helps when there’s healthy competition. Also just enjoy the off-field stuff. We’ve got a great bunch of boys here, and we’re trying to make some lifelong memories and on the field do the business as well.
“I’m just stoked be back out there, and first and foremost I want to make sure I’m playing well and doing my job. That’s all I’m worried about right now.”
Ioane said his spell out had been well used, and not only to get his body right for another big year. “I got time away to spend with my partner, my new dog and we’ve got a baby on the way soon, so it will be a full house. We’ve been trying to get everything ready.”
It’s a familiar environment at the Blues, but in Cotter’s arrival as coach, there has been one significant change. There’s a school of thought the old-school taskmaster might bring the best out of the Blues forwards.
“Vern is bit of a joker,” says Ioane. “He seems serious sometimes, but he’s really just a big teddy bear. He’s brought the group together really well. We’ve got boys who can fill in all around the park, and it just shows our depth.’’