Big-hitter Te’o set for long-awaited Leinster debut

And so, at last, Ben Te'o is set to make his eagerly awaited debut for Leinster this Friday at home to Edinburgh in the Guinness Pro12. The New Zealand- born 27-year-old of Samoan extraction has represented Samoa at rugby league as well as Queensland in the State of Origin, is qualified to play for England and, of course, could conceivably play for Ireland three years' hence. Put another way, he could be anything. This is going to be interesting.

Known for his trademark big hits, strong direct carrying and passing skills as a second-row in rugby league, Leinster have also identified him as a possible long-term replacement for Brian O’Driscoll. Much like reverting to a sport he played in his formative years until he was 17, that clearly doesn’t faze him remotely.

“No pressure,” he maintained. “I’ve been to a couple of clubs. I filled in for guys that were legends in their own right. If you’re going somewhere trying to be someone else, or fill their shoes, I think you’re putting pressure on yourself that you don’t need. He’s a great player. I know what he’s done. But, I think we would have two completely different skills sets. I think I bring something different to the table and that’s why they brought me here”.

Early days

“I haven’t set any goals. It’s early days. I just want to earn the respect of my teammates, make them think that I should be here, that I’m good enough. If I can get into the team, cement a spot, that’s a big plus for me. That would be a big achievement. That is as far as I’m looking at the moment.”

Back on October 5th, Te’o marked his farewell to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a 30–6 victory over the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs to win their first NRL Grand Final, in front of 83,833 fans at the ANZ Stadium. Last Saturday, Teo’s first game with Leinster, and first game of rugby union in over a decade, was for the province’s A side in a 26-24 British & Irish Cup defeat to Cartmarthen Quins at the Park, in front of roughly 200 people.

“I enjoyed that,” he maintains, and such is his easy-going and yet assured way, you believe him. “I think that’s what it’s all about. I played with a bunch of guys and there were some up and comers there, guys trying to kick off their career. And for me, I’m just another rugby player. I’m just trying to make it like any of them to the top side. I think it was a very good experience for me to go there.”

Right attitude

“I wouldn’t say I was very good in the ruck. I think I’ve got the right attitude, I want to get involved. I’ve just got to figure out what’s the best way to do that.

There’s probably a couple of times there where I stood back for a second or two before I jumped in. I think that’s going to come with more experience and time.

It’s been the same story in his fortnight training with Leinster. “I think the ruck is very foreign to me. Training is happening very fast and there are big boys flying in. For me it’s been interesting and I’ve got to get used to it. Figure out what the rules are there and where I can help the team.”

Despite that farewell with the club owned by Russell Crowe, Te’o had been itching for a new beginning. “Yeah, it was a lot about getting a fresh start. It was a lot about getting away. I’ve never travelled in the northern hemisphere. It’s probably always been in the back of my mind thinking what would it have been like if I had just followed the Rugby Union path. Would I have been successful? Would I have made it as far? I don’t know, those are questions you just don’t know.”

“It was probably a time in my career where I thought I should get out of my comfort zone and try something. Also, I’ve heard a lot about the northern hemisphere rugby.

I’ve got a lot of friends playing in the southern hemisphere that come up here and play in a competition where I think you get to play all the best teams up here. From a competitive point of view, it’s outstanding. You get to play all those French teams that we hear about in Australia. All those English teams. I’m excited for that.”

Reared in Auckland, needless to say he initially cut his teeth in union, and went as far as the New Zealand under-16s. “I grew up until I was 16 playing strictly union. Then, yeah, found a love for rugby league. Played a game of League and fell in love with it and probably saw a better pathway to being a professional athlete. That’s pretty much what I stuck with.”

Fortunately for Leinster, Te'o also considered joining the Waratahs, and so Michael Cheika was able to recommend Leinster, as his Rabbitohs teammate Lote Tuqiri did.

“He (Cheika) said if you’re going to come to Europe, this is the best place to learn how to play rugby. They’ll teach you. They’ve got good people there. That is kind of what sealed it for me. I didn’t ever expect I was going to come to Ireland. But, I think the pull of coming to Leinster was a big part of that. It’s not a holiday. I want to learn the game properly. This is the best place to be”.