Tamanivalu hails Crusaders ‘family’
Seta Tamanivalu glanced at team-mates Richie Mo’unga and Andrew Makalio, before his voice cracked as he explained what the Crusaders mean to him.
The powerful wing had not long scored a try in the red and-blacks’ 37-18 Super Rugby final win against the Lions in Christchurch, his last match for them before he takes up a three-year deal with French club Bordeaux.
‘‘It’s an awesome group, the Crusaders’ boys,’’ Tamanivalu said.
‘‘When I came here I didn’t really know anyone, but the first day I stepped in the door everyone welcomed me.
‘‘It’s my last day today and I still feel the same. I really appreciate what the boys did for me and my family.
‘‘It’s an awesome team to be part of and the legacy they have, it’s pretty special.’’
Oh how the Crusaders would have loved to keep the 26-year-old wingmidfielder on their books, as they eye a record-extending 10th title next year, and a third on the bounce.
Tamanivalu, who has three test caps for the All Blacks to his name, is a hardhitting defender, and a violent runner with a knack for finding the tryline.
Lions wing Ruan Combrink found that out at AMI Stadium on Saturday night, when Tamanivalu took a delayed pass from Richie Mo’unga, before smashing him into the turf and powering over for the game’s opening try.
‘‘We train hard everyday, work for each other, and it’s probably the best environment I’ve been involved with,’’ Tamanivalu said.
‘‘The brotherhood down here. We all love each other. After training we hang around with the boys, we’ve got an awesome family. The coaches are pretty big on the family as well, that’s what I like about it.’’
Having left the Chiefs for the Crusaders at the start of last year, Tamanivalu, who welcomed his first child with partner Brittany in May, made the decision to leave New Zealand in February.
After the Crusaders wrap up their celebrations, he’ll return to Taranaki to play for the amber-and-blacks in the Mitre 10 Cup, before jetting to France.
Tamanivalu, whose nephew – Manasa Mataele – is also a Crusader, said the choice to leave the Crusaders was a ‘‘real hard decision’’ to make, but looking after his family financially was behind the decision.
‘‘At the start, I just came down here to have a look what’s going on, that’s why I signed for a year first.
‘‘I didn’t really know anyone, I played with a couple of the boys at the Baa Baas [Barbarians], and they talked about the environment down here,’’ he said.
There’s no doubt the sight of Tamanivalu brushing off defenders will be missed in Crusaders country, but there’s no shortage of talent in the outside backs at the franchise.
George Bridge is coming off a 15-try season on the opposite wing, and 66-cap All Blacks utility Israel Dagg, injured for much of 2018, will return to Christchurch after a stint in Japan.
There’s also Mataele, who was having a fine season before injury hampered him the down stretch, Braydon Ennor, who performed strongly when given a chance, and Tasman utility Will Jordan.