Wellington U19s profile: Taine Plumtree

The Wellington U19's won the inaugural Graham Mourie Cup at the National Jock Hobbs Memorial event in 2014. Last year Wellington finished a disappointing seventh. Hopes are high that Wellington will contend for the title in 2018. Club Rugby will profile some of the young Lions who are likely to feature in the tournament and who are the future of the game in the capital.
 
“I’m really excited about the tournament. I’ve heard how good it is. I think we’ve got a good all-round team,” Taine Plumtree enthuses ahead of the National Under-19 tournament in Taupo this week.
 
Wellington will head to Owen Delany Park as the top seeded Hurricanes side after winning the Central Region Shield for the 17th time - amassing 177 points in three victories over Hawke’s Bay (47-7), Hurricanes Heartland (66-26) and Manawatu (64-19).
 
Plumtree was captain in the Manawatu match and scored tries in the last two fixtures. Plumtree warns Wellington are capable of playing to a high standard.
 
“Manawatu and Heartland were really hearty teams, but they scored points from our mistakes. If we stick to our structures and reduce our errors, I believe we are as good as anyone,” he said.
 
Supporting Plumtree’s claim is the fact that only Bay of Plenty scored more points than Wellington in the seeding tournament featuring 16 other provinces for the Jock Hobbs.
 
In 2017, Wellington were emphatic winners of the Central Region Shield and bombed in Taupo, achieving their worst ever placing of seventh. Why is this Wellington team different?
 
“I don’t think we're a team of superstars, but we work hard and have a really good vibe. Some of our backs are really good. We’ve had Kyle Preston and Callum Harkin playing halfback and first-five and they go really good, but then we’ve got Misi Faimalo and Raniera Petersen who can play there too. There’s lots of variety, speed and motivation,” Plumtree responds.
 
Fellow lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi was named player of the tournament at the Central Region Shield. Ah Koi and Plumtree locked the Wellington College scrum in 2016 when they won the Premiership and have appeared in several representative sides together. Wellington’s lineout is shaping as a potential strength.
 
“A solid set piece is a key to success in any game and it’s good to be playing with Naitoa again. I trust his rugby more than his Year 13 classics exam,” Plumtree laughed.
 
Guarding against complacency shouldn’t be an issue for Plumtree.  He played six games for the Old Boys University Premiers who won the Jubilee Cup, but was given an unwelcoming tackle on debut against lowly Avalon.
 
“I got smashed by Sefo Aumua. It was a really good hit and appeared all over Instagram afterwards. When I shook his hand after the game I said ‘good tackle mate’ and he just chuckled at me,” Plumtree reflected.
 
Plumtree spent most of the season playing Colts. Despite the Billy Goats winning the John E Kelly Memorial Cup for the fifth time since 2013 the season wasn’t all plain sailing.
 
A serious fight in the Marist St Pat’s game resulted in the abandonment of the fixture and deduction of competition points, while top form proved elusive until the finals.
 
“I think the turning point of our season was when we lost to Norths at Te Whaea. That was a game we should have won, but we didn’t. Norths were at the top of the table and we basically blew it.”
 
OBU got their act together thrashing defending champions Petone 54-5 a week before the semi-final where they met top ranked Norths again. The final score in that encounter was 48-17 to the students. The final against Hutt Old Boys Marist was even better.
 
“We won 55-0. The final couldn’t have gone any better. I still don’t believe. Hutt are a very good side,” Plumtree said.
 
Nick Apikotoa, Mitchell Stringer and Albert Polu from the Eagles feature in the Wellington squad.
 
Taine’s brother Reece Plumtree scored two tries from centre for OBU in the final. Reece missed the whole of 2017 with a torn ACL.
 
“It’s been tough for Reece. He had a big 2016 and missed the 19’s last year because of his injury. It’s good to see him back and playing well,” Taine acclaimed.
 
Taine’s father John Plumtree will take charge as Hurricanes head coach next season. The coaching merry go round has helped make Taine more worldly than most men his age. He was born in Swansea, Wales before spending eight years in Durban while John coached Natal and the Sharks. Taine thrived in the hot weather and playing the more combative style of South African rugby. Interestingly Plumtree played in the republic with fellow Wellington Rugby Academy member Luke Chisholm.
 
Plumtree is a fulltime student at Victoria University studying environmental science. He cheekily suggested Pirikoti (Maori for Billy Goat) would be a good name change for Victoria University if one was to occur.
 
Fast Questions
 
Favourite Player: Nev Apineru
Favourite Food: Boerewors
Celebrity Crush: Naitoa Ah Kuoi - “I can’t grow his hair.”