Exclusive Interview: Lote’s long road back

You get the feeling talking to Lote that he has had enough of being dropped.  Sure the first week he may have been thinking that it was just a short term thing, but it is almost as if the reality not being selected in consecutive tests is sinking in.

His non-selection last week for the Baa-Baas game was not something he was expecting.

“The first I knew of it when was the team was read out at the team meeting last Tuesday, there wasn’t any warnings.  Then bang, twenty minutes later your out there and training.”

“I didn’t really get time to think about it, I just had to go out a perform at training, and anyway, I didn’t want to be the bloke who mopes around when he misses out”

But this week, as you sit across from him, you can feel the frustration starting to build.

“Look I don’t really know what’s going on, you’ll have to ask Robbie and the other coaches.  They’ve told me a few things that I need to improve, nothing too major, and they’ve said that everyone will get a run, so I’ll just have to wait for my turn – whenever that may be”

“All I can do is keep turning up and being positive and things will happen for me.  But this sort of stuff is good for the team, the competition for spots.  It keeps everyone on their toes and hungry”

So it’s back to the Pirates for Lote this weekend which at least will get him out of the freezing shithole that is Canberra, but sadly for him, it is a long way from a Wallaby jumper.

“Yeah, back up with the Pirates, train with them Thursday and play Saturday then back to Melbourne to re-join the boys on Sunday.  I feel pretty good and pretty sharp so if I get my chance next week, I’ll be ready.  If I get the opportunity I can’t afford to waste it so I just have to stay really focused”

“I just have to make sure that when I get my chance, I play the way they (the coaches) want me too.  They want their wingers to stay wide and Drew and Lachie play like that so that’s something I need to do.”

At least a bit of downtime has allowed Lote to take up a new hobby off the field, that of “Twittering”.  Indeed with the launch of his web-site, lotetuqiri.com.au, he was become tech-savy, not something he ever thought he would be.  As we discuss it, his mood brightens and a broad smile comes across his face.

“I don’t mind getting on Twitter, punching out a few Tweets, that sort of stuff.  It’s good when you are on tour, I got right into it while we were in South Africa with the Tahs, as you could probably tell if you were following me!”

“The web-site is just something I’m starting out with, I’m not sure where I’ll end up with it but it’s a good way to get information out there.  And it’s not just about rugby stuff either.  There’s a fair bit of different stuff on there so hopefully people will get something out of it.”

“It’s fun, I enjoy doing it, I didn’t really think I would at first but I’m getting into it.  It’s a good way for me to do a bit of marketing and also support the charities I’m involved with.”

Maybe there’s a future in it for Lote – he might need it?

Will the Springboks’ famous fighting spirit in adversity be enough to overcome the rampant All Blacks when these most traditional of foes meet again in Christchurch on Saturday evening?