In the tunnel at Twickenham post-match, Benjamin Kayser and Tatafu Polota-Nau spoke exclusively to LTTV after the former and current Tigers hookers featured for the Barbarians in their 108-point Quilter Cup classic against England on Sunday afternoon. Scroll down to watch an exclusive, post-match interview with the pair on LTTV.
It was a case of the old and the new for Leicester Tigers fans watching the Quilter Cup on Sunday afternoon, when the Barbarians overcame England in a 108-point affair at Twickenham, with both hookers for the historic invitational team well known faces to the Welford Road faithful.
Australia international and one of the East Midlands newest residents, after his move to the Tigers in November last year, Tatafu Polota-Nau rounded out a 16 month straight season with a final appearance before the summer break with his debut for the BaaBaas and did so alongside a former fan favourite of Welford Road’s - and French international - Benjamin Kayser.
The two have gone toe to toe for years in the International arena and collectively boast more than 100 test caps and 400 senior club appearances across both hemispheres, however last week were listed on the same team sheet for the very first time in their decorated careers.
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Speaking about the experience of getting to know each other, former Tigers and current Clermont hooker Kayser said it had been a “privilege” to work alongside Polota-Nau and other Barbarians team mates.
“You know you come across these guys throughout your career and might have beer but, you never spend a week together,” he said.
“For the two of us, we have been coming together all of our careers but without really getting close and it has honestly been unreal … it has been a real privilege.”
“For the two of us, we have been coming together all of our careers but without really getting close and it has honestly been unreal … it has been a real privilege.”
Benjamin Kayser
Polota-Nau, who will not feature for the Wallabies in their three-test series against Ireland in Australia this June after being rested by coach Michael Cheika, shared the views of his Barbarians team mate.
“The best thing for me was getting to know each other,” he said.
“The great thing about this week was how we all came together quite quickly and just got on with the job.”
Got on it with it they did indeed, with nine tries scored under the sun at HQ in front of almost 60,000 fans, and Kayser admitted that while fun was had in camp in the lead up to the fixture, the Pat Lam coached Barbarians were not there for anything other than victory on Sunday afternoon,
“The feeling of the squad has been unreal, it was even better than I thought,” the 33 year old Parisian admitted.
“Everybody fronted up, from day one, and we all wanted to win. We were really serious about it but made it enjoyable.”
“The great thing about this week was how we all came together quite quickly and just got on with the job.”
Tatafu Polota-Nau
The ‘enjoyable’ win also doubled as a maiden Twickenham victory for the Frenchmen, which his Aussie counterpart was quick to point out - along with his own, enviable record at the famous venue.
“It was Ben’s first win at Twickenham, which is an amazing feat,” said Polota-Nau before adding, “and it was only my fifth, so you know…”
To hear more from the pair, scroll down to watch the interview in full exclusively on LTTV.