Former All Blacks prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is ready to go to “dark places” to help the Queensland Reds halt the table-topping Waikato Chiefs this weekend.
The front-rower will pull on a Reds shirt for the first time at the Super Rugby level, bringing more than a decade of experience playing for Wellington Hurricanes, Wasps and Ulster.
New Reds coach Les Kiss lured him back to the southern hemisphere from Britain and he is in line for a debut off the bench in Brisbane on Saturday.
“I’ve been away from Super for about five years, but hopefully there’s some chat and banter, I like some back-and-forth, within reason,” the big prop told reporters.
The rampant Chiefs upset the defending champion Canterbury Crusaders to open their season and backed it up by crushing the ACT Brumbies 46-12 last weekend.
The Reds cruised past the NSW Waratahs first up before a narrow loss to the Hurricanes, with Toomaga-Allen confident they have what it takes to stun the Chiefs.
“Over the years you could say teams have rolled over against Kiwi teams, but we’re not that team,” he said.
“They bleed, bruise, fatigue like us — it’s anyone’s game. And going to dark places when you need to … that’s what I’m bringing to the team.”
‘Show a bit of fight’
The Reds will need all the help they can get against a side that have won eight of their last nine away from home and with their Wallaby backs Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami both out injured.
The Hurricanes meet the Auckland Blues in another top-of-the-table clash at Wellington, while the Crusaders travel to Fiji to face Drua after losing their opening two Super Rugby games for the first time in a decade.
With All Blacks star Will Jordan and British and Irish Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny both sidelined with long-term injuries, the Crusaders signed Wales back Johnny McNicholl from Llanelli Scarlets this week as cover.
“It’s been a long, long time since we have been in this place, so it’s an opportunity to show a bit of fight and bottle,” coach Rob Penney said of their poor start to the season.
In other games, the Waratahs face the Otago Highlanders in Sydney while Melbourne Rebels open the action on Friday at home to Moana Pasifika.
In Canberra, the Brumbies will look to inflict more pain on winless Western Force in a match that will mark the return of Australian scrum-half Nic White to the club he left last season.
Western Force vice-captain Michael Wells admitted White would have a target on his back.
“I think Whitey is naturally a bit of a target for anyone because he’s a mouthy halfback so naturally people will go after him whether they’re on the field or in the stands,” he said.
“He’s always a focus of attention but we’re there to make Whitey up in that regard.”
