Interview of Luke Mcalister

Interview of Luke Mcalister
by Deborah Tarrade (@Debo_T032)
http://www.facebook.com/LukeMcalisterFanOfficiel

1: Everybody wants to know: are you going to prolong your career with the Stade
Toulousain?
Contract Signed : 2017 + 1 option
2: Do you prefer play 10 or 12? Why?
I started out my career playing 10 for north harbour and the blues and all blacks i then
moved out to 12 a few years later which i really enjoyed as i was playing 12 every weekend
then when moving to Toulouse i started playing 10 where i found a good rythm in that
position 10 and 12 are very different positions to play the mindset is a lot different at 12
than when you are 10 and to be a good number 10 you need time playing in that position
theres a lot of responsibility at 10 which i really enjoy you are the driver of the team along
with the 9 and the players really look to you for leadership and guidance around the field
also the have to believe in your calls and have the confidence in you that they are the right
ones at the right time of the game at 12 you are the eyes and ears for the 10 you are his
right hand man as a 10 rely a lot on the players outside me to give me information on what
they are seeing as the play is unfolding.
So i enjoy playing both 10 and 12 but i would say i prefer playing 10.
3: How do you explain that the team is often defeated while playing outside?
i think every team in the competition is stronger at home than they are on the road its been
difficult for any team this year to win a lot of games away when you play at home its your
fortress. Also the top 14 teams are a lot stronger they have recruited a lot more specially
with players from the southern hemisphere making it i think the toughest competition that
rugby has to offer due to its physicality and duration of the competition.
4: What is your best memory of a match you played? What’s the best match you have ever
played?
Best memory i have a few my best would be my all black debut against the british and irish
lions. and the best match i have ever played even though we lost would be the quarter final
against france in 2007. i have a number of highlights though winning the ranfurly shield with
north harbour representing the nz maori winning the top 14 with toulouse.
5: How many yellow or red cards did you “receive”?
I've received 2 yellow cards in my career 1 for hands in a ruck and 1 for a shoulder charge on
my old team mate Yannick Jauzion 2007 world cup
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6: Why did you choose to play rugby? What do you like in this sport?
i started of playing soccer in england wasn't till i was 11 i decided to play rugby i enjoyed the
contact aspect of the game and gave me the chance to have fun with my friends.
The thing i love about rugby is the friends you make the places you get to go travel and play
in your team is like your second family and i love that.
Also being a role model for a lot of kids mixing and mingling with the fans.
9: Would you like to play with the All Blacks again?
No my time is done in the black jersey i managed to play 30 games for them which i am very
proud to say i have done but 2011 was my time move on and start a new chapter of my life
that was to become a Toulousain.
10: Do you still feel good in the team? And with your teammates?
I love this team my second family i enjoy going to work every day and especially when i get
to run out in front of our home crowd we have a really good team spirit and we have a lot of
fun.
11: Who, in the team, is the workaholic? The joker? Your partner, the one with who you
always have fun? Your “best friend” in the team?
The team is full of international players and a mixture of young up and coming talent so
there is a real high work ethic amongst the team the hard workers i would say are Pato
(Patricio Albacete) Vincent Thierry Hosea Maestri la Nyang Guthro. The jokers theres a few
Florian, Maxime, Huget and Timo (Timoci Matanavou) .
My first few years my room mate was Luke Burgess so me and lukey would spend a lot of
time together on our trips away now Hosea arrived and took his place as my roomy i have a
lot of good friends in the team everyone gets on which is the good thing about our team I'm
pretty close with guys like Hosea Yann David la Nyang Census joe Timo Clem Vince list goes
on.
12: Do you enjoy living in Toulouse? What surprised you the most when you came in this
city? What do you think about this country?
i really enjoy toulouse its a awesome city with a lot to do theres a good vibe here the people
are friendly and life isn't to serious i love the french culture and serially the french food.
13: Will you, one day, come back to New-Zealand? If yes, when?
i have no idea obviously i have my family back in nz but il be here another 4 year so i don't
know where i will be in 4 years time
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14: What’s your favourite French meal?
not sure its french but at the stade our chef christian does the best chicken legs I've ever had
every day i have them census and guthro often fight over them haha
15: What do you think you’re going to do when you stop playing rugby? What will you do
after?
i have a few things that I'm thinking about but haven't made any decisions yet so hopefully
will become clearer over the next few years.
16: What do you miss the most from New-Zealand? How is the life far from your family,
your children, and your sister?
My family thats the hardest thing for me we are a very close knit family so being 33 hours
away from them isn't easy but fortunately with Skypeand face time that makes things a lot
easier.
17: Do you have a dream that you haven’t realized yet?
Winning the heineken cup
18: How do you feel when you see the huge support you have here in France?
i feel honoured and privileged to have to support we get both as a team and individually
when i run out on to the field to play for me I'm representing family friends and the
supporters without the fans we wouldn't have this game that we love to play. its very
humbling to read tweets and messages on social media about the endless support we have
from loyal fans it really means a lot and it never goes unnoticed so a big thanks to the fans
that support me and the team through the good and the bad times we go through as rugby
players believe me if we have a loss and the fans are angry or disappointed we as players are
hurting 10 times more.
Also with social media nowadays it gives the fans a chance to get an inside as to what we are
up to in our everyday lives i enjoy mixing and talking with the fans over the likes of twitter
and instagram.
19: Have you ever been on the Official Fan Page on Facebook? If yes, what do you think of
it?
I have i often have a look to see whats going on deborah you do an amazing job for the fans i
know you put a lot of your own time into it so a big thanks on my behalf for your continued
support of me :)
20: a word to finish :
Merci :)

@Debo_T032 LukeMcalisterFanOfficiel (FB)