After an almost three-year absence, Sam McNicol is finally ready to do some more damage for the Chiefs
Sam McNicol made his Super Rugby debut at just nineteen years of age.
Five years later, you could be forgiven for assuming the former Napier Boys’ High student had clocked up almost a half-century of caps.
Fate had other plans for McNicol, however.
“I’ve had a pretty patchy sort of last four or five years, on and off with rugby,” said McNicol at the launch of the 2020 Super Rugby season. “I haven’t managed to string too many games together.”
Patchy doesn’t quite capture the run of bad luck the Chiefs outside back has faced, however.
Continue reading below…
Since 2016, when he was signed as a fulltime player by the Waikato-based franchise, McNicol’s managed just 18 appearances – including 11 in his first season.
Concussion has been the primary cause of the Hawke’s Bay flyer’s lack of caps – it’s what’s been keeping McNicol off the park for the Chiefs since part-way through 2017.
Fortunately, it’s been a while since rugby’s most insidious injury has reared its head.
“The melon’s good,” McNicol said. “I haven’t had a concussion for probably nearly two years.
“I had a couple of pretty long bouts of symptoms where they’d sort of last between two to four months. You just don’t know how you’re going to wake up feeling on any given day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7SEWU0AcgL/
“You might start pretty well for a couple of hours then you might do some activity because you think you’re pretty good and then it might catch up with you for the rest of the day.”
Concussion wasn’t the end of McNicol’s problems, however.
A wrist reconstruction limited his club appearances last year and then in Hawke’s Bay’s first game of the Mitre 10 Cup season, McNicol succumbed to a high ankle sprain which ultimately ended his year.
“It was pretty frustrating but it sort of helps you grow as a person as well,” McNicol said. “Obviously we’re all passionate about rugby, but once that gets taken away from you for a brief period, you still have to find other things to keep you occupied.”
“I did a little bit of coaching stuff, just other things to keep me busy while I couldn’t have that competitive release, I suppose.
New @ChiefsRugby recruit Quinn Tupaea could add an extra dimension to the Chiefs midfield for their 2020 @SuperRugby campaign. @TomVinicombe spoke to the 20-year-old ahead of the upcoming season.
https://t.co/jIEAWhJ5fr#SuperRugby— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 3, 2020
“It was a good refresher mentally, but it was tough as well because obviously all you want to do is be out there and compete with your mates.
With fresh young talents announcing themselves every year, McNicol’s string of injuries could have been absolutely disastrous for the young outside back’s career, with his Super Rugby contract with the Chiefs originally set to expire in 2019.
“We were hoping I’d get a little more Mitre 10 Cup under my belt so I could sort of prove that I’m still up to (Super Rugby) level,” said McNicol.
“My Chiefs contract ended last year but they gave me an extension. 2020 is now my last with the Chiefs but I’m hoping to stay on.”
The contract extension could prove a saving grace, with McNicol now finally having the opportunity to once again showcase the skills that saw him picked to make his Super Rugby debut as a teenager.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7evKFPAj4n/
It’s on the wing where he made a big impression for the Chiefs, but McNicol is equally as comfortable at fullback or in the midfield. So, where does the speedster hope to make a name for himself in 2020?
“Just on the paddock, really!
“At the moment I’m playing in the outsides with the Chiefs, spending a lot of time on the wing and fullback at training. I’ll sometimes slide into the midfield at training just to get some reps in there because you just never know how the season will pan out.
“I love midfield because it’s physical and you’re always involved but, then again, it’s pretty exciting out wide when you’ve got a little bit of space, especially when you’re playing outside people like Damian (McKenzie), who can create magic out of nothing.”
McKenzie’s return is certainly one of the most widely-anticipated events for the 2020 season after rupturing his ACL during 2019, and he’ll play a key role in the Chiefs’ back three. In fact, the outside backs will be pretty well-stocked if everyone is at full fitness.
David Denton held nothing back in a fascinating Rugby Journal interview that addressed the concussion which ended his career https://t.co/JA39NrznaV
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 12, 2019
Alongside McNicol and McKenzie, Solomon Alaimalo and Shaun Stevenson have also spent plenty of time on the sidelines over the last few seasons due to injuries. Factor in the likes of Quinn Tupaea, Bailyn Sullivan and Sean Wainui, who can all cover the midfield and the wings, and new coach Warren Gatland will have to make some incredibly tough selection decisions.
Tupaea, along with injured wing Kini Naholo, will be entering their first season of Super Rugby this year.
“Those young boys have been outstanding,” said McNicol.
“As young as the players are now, they’re really professional when they come in, they don’t have to have a real teething period. They’re in there and they’re just straight into it right away.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ZPuORl9GA/
“There’s gonna be a lot of competition for spots this year – which is awesome in a team environment because it makes everyone better at the end of the day.”
Despite all the set-backs that McNicol has faced over the last three seasons, he has absolutely no reservations about returning to the fray.
“I think if I was sort of doubting myself and questioning myself then I’d also question my position in the team,” he said.
“I don’t really have any second thoughts about the physical stuff – it just happens. Rugby’s a game that’s physical, so injuries are gonna happen, I’m going to get injured again. But I love the physical side, that’s why I play.”
WATCH: Catch all the highlights from Round 2 of the 2020 Japanese Top League.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments