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'It was always just at the back of my mind' - Rejected All Black reconsiders test aspirations
One-test All Black halfback Brad Weber has admitted he was too intent on trying to get re-selected into the national side last season after being left in the international wilderness four years on from his test debut.
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The 28-year-old made his solitary appearance in the black jersey against Samoa in Apia in 2015, and hasn’t been seen in an All Blacks squad since.
A regular starter for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, Weber was usurped by teammate Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi in the national pecking order last year, with the All Blacks selectors picking the latter as the third-string halfback behind incumbents Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara.
Things went from bad to worse for Weber, as he missed out on Steve Hansen’s extended 51-man squad for the Japanese leg of the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour in October, with Crusaders duo Bryn Hall and Mitchell Drummond selected instead.
The Hawke’s Bay veteran was quick to phone All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster for the reasoning behind his omission, while also requesting advice on how to stay in contention for the upcoming World Cup.
Although he now knows what is required of him to get back into the test arena, Weber said he has cast aside any hopes of a national recall, as he believes that was the hinderance that allowed opposing halfbacks to overtake him in the national set-up.
“It’s always going to be motivating, I guess, to aim for that [All Blacks selection],” he told Fairfax.
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“But I probably let it creep into my thoughts a bit too much and it probably affected me. It was just always in the back of my mind, where I was at.
“To be honest, this year I’m not really even thinking about it anymore, it’s just trying to play way freeer, and with less on my mind I think it will benefit my rugby. And I’m pretty keen to win a championship here with the Chiefs. I love this team. So that’s the main motivating factor at this stage.”
Weber, who is entering his sixth season with the Chiefs, is contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2020, but has the option for an early release should offshore clubs come calling.
However, Weber is adamant that rejection from the World Cup squad would not play a part in his decision to leave New Zealand a year early given that he would have to give notice before that team is selected.
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With all that in mind, the livewire halfback – who claims he is “in the best shape of my life” – is solely focused on performing well for the Chiefs this season, starting tonight in Hamilton when they open their Super Rugby campaign against the Highlanders.
“It’s been tough, they’ve been thrashing us. But it’s been good,” he said of the Chiefs’ pre-season preparation leading into tonight’s clash.
“The weight doesn’t change too much, to be fair, just the fitness is the best it’s ever been in terms of testing. I’m pretty happy that the speed’s still there, which is obviously one of my points of difference.
“I find the game’s way easier if I’m fitter, especially for a halfback, having to get to every ruck, and especially at the pace that we want to play. I know if I want to play for a decent amount of minutes then I’ve got to be real fit.”
Rugby World Cup City Guides – Kumamoto:
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to comments