Alofa relishing Nadolo challenge

Editor

Waratahs wing Alofa Alofa is ready to put his body on the line when he faces the Crusaders' Nemani Nadolo in Sydney on Saturday.

Waratahs wing Alofa Alofa is ready to put his body on the line when he lines up against the Crusaders' Nemani Nadolo in Saturday's final in Sydney.

Alofa will be playing in his last match for the Sydneysiders before heading off to Top 14 outfit La Rochelle and he knows he will have to be at his best when he marks the much bigger Nadolo, who has been one of the Crusaders' main attacking weapons this season.

Nadolo weighs 125 kilograms and is 1.94 metres tall which makes him more than 30kg heavier and almost 10 centimetres taller than Alofa, who is relishing the challenge of taking on the bigger man.

“I'm going to throw my body on the line and put it in for the team, if I do get picked this week,” he told New Zealand's Newswire.

When asked what would be the best way to stop his bigger opponent, Alofa replied: “Close your eyes and just aim for his legs”.

Waratahs team-mate and number eight Wycliff Palu is not surprised by Nadolo's success this season. The big Fijian had a stint with the Waratahs in 2008 and became friends with Palu during that time.

“I think he probably was unlucky to not get an opportunity here and he's been going really good,” said Palu.

“When he left here, he'd had a really good pre-season with us and I think he scored four of five tries in one of the trial games, so it doesn't surprise me what he can do.
“I think it's just about getting an opportunity and really taking it.”