Jerome Kaino’s stellar career continues at 38 with the former All Blacks star helping French club Toulouse make the European Champions Cup final.
Kaino started at No 8 in Toulouse’s 21-9 semifinal win over French rivals Bordeaux- Begles on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).
Playing alongside former Blues and All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina, Kaino helped set up a spectacular try for Matthis Lebel with a powerful carry up the middle of the field.
Now in his 18th year of professional rugby, Kaino seems as hungry for success as ever.
The former World under-20 player of the year was a standout in the All Blacks pack in the World Cup winning 2011 and 2015 teams.
He left New Zealand after the 2018 Super Rugby team, having won 83 caps to join Faumuina – a World Cup winner in 2015 – at Toulouse in the south of France.
Most All Blacks quitting for foreign climes are simply seeking superannuation seasons – high-paying gigs as their careers wind down.
Kaino, however, has seemed bent on adding more titles to his CV.
He captained Toulouse to the French Top 14 title in 2019 – the first elite domestic honour of his long career after a 15-year barren run with the Blues.
Now, he and former Blues buddy Faumuina, 34, are in the European Champions Cup final where they might play La Rochelle, a French team captained by another dual World Cup winner, Victor Vito.
Toulouse are in their first final since 2010, but are four-time European champions and two-time runners-up.
Star French halfback Antoine Dupont scored Toulouse’s match-clinching try against Bordeaux-Begles, whose only points came from three penalties by France test flyhalf Matthiew Jalibert, captaining Bordeaux for the first time.
Toulouse’s World Cup winning Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe told BT Sport that the French side were looking forward to the final.
”All the supporters and people at the club talk about the history of the competition.
“For us as a group we make sure we focus on what we need to do. Hopefully we can make history again.”
Former North Harbour, Waikato, Blues and Hurricanes midfielder Pita Akhi was the man of the match for Toulouse.
The 28-year-old joined the French club in 2018 after a season in Ireland alongside Bundee Aki at Connacht.
Former Chiefs and Tonga prop Ben Tameifuna came off the bench for Bordeaux.
La Rochelle – whose side also includes ex-All Blacks halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow, former Blues pivot Ihaia West and Timaru-born France test prop Uini Atonio – play Irish club Leinster in the second semifinal on Sunday (Monday NZ time).
Leinster have Kiwi-born Ireland internationals James Lowe on the left wing, but Kiwi compatriot halfback Jamison Gibson-Park is injured.
La Rochelle are led by director of rugby and former All Blacks lock Jono Gibbes, with ex-Ireland international Ronan O’Gara as head coach.
O’Gara, who will take over the top role next season when Gibbes moves to Clermont, was with the Crusaders for two title-winning Super Rugby seasons.
AT A GLANCE
European Champions Cup rugby semifinal
Toulouse 21 (Matthis Lebel, Antoine Dupont tries; Romain Ntamack 3 pen, con) Bordeaux-Begles 9 (Mathieu Jalibert 3 pen). HT: 8-6.
