All Blacks rookie asks coach for debut against Fiji this weekend
All Blacks rookie Ethan de Groot is hoping to make his test debut in front of a home crowd at Forsyth Barr Stadium this weekend.
In fact, the uncapped prop is so eager to don the black jersey for the first time in his brief professional career that he asked assistant coach John Plumtree to be included in the match day side to play Fiji in Dunedin on Saturday.
A Southlander who plies his trade for the Highlanders in Super Rugby, numerous local supporters of de Groot are expected at the match this weekend, but Plumtree kept his cards close to his chest when confronted with the 22-year-old’s request.
“I think he said to me yesterday the whole of Gore is coming up so he’d be appreciative if he could be selected, but I said, ‘You’ll have to wait til Thursday, buddy’,” Plumtree told media on Tuesday.
It wouldn’t be out of the question to see de Groot make his first appearance in international rugby this weekend, though, given how much he has impressed the All Blacks coaches since he arrived in camp two weeks ago.
“He’s really just jumping out of his skin to play and it’s great to have that type of young enthusiasm in the team. He’s been really good with us and he’s improving all the time,” Plumtree said.
Also working in de Groot’s favour is the fact that the New Zealand coaching staff have been open about wanting to see their whole squad get a run over the course of the July test window.
Given he didn’t feature in the All Blacks’ 102-0 thumping of Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland last weekend, de Groot is likely to play in one of the two, if not both, tests against Fiji over the coming week-and-a-half.
If he impresses as much in those matches as he has done off the field over the past fortnight, de Groot could force his way into the All Blacks’ full-strength match day side in the opening Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies at Eden Park on August 7.
“We’ll make a few changes,” Plumtree said. “We’ve got a squad that’s pretty hungry to impress and we’ve got one more game after this before we get into the Bleds, so these players all want to have a crack and we want to give them that opportunity.”
This window of opportunity could also see new All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho thrust into mixer as early as this weekend after he was called into the squad as injury cover for the concussed Asafo Aumua.
Plumtree said the uncapped 23-year-old was a prospect the All Blacks selectors had kept track of for a long time given the potential he had shown at Super Rugby level with the Chiefs.
Could the All Blacks’ dual-playmaker system be improved by this man’s inclusion in the starting XV? #AllBlacks #NZLvFIJ https://t.co/ACDDgLaL5L
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 6, 2021
“We’re pretty excited with how he played for the Chiefs consistently through the year. Thought his throwing improved and just his set piece skills, so definitely a guy we’re going to keep an eye on and one for the future.”
Plumtree wasn’t so keen to address the implications Taukei’aho’s selection for the All Blacks might have on a potential test career for Tonga, though.
Born and raised in the Pacific Island nation, Taukei’aho moved to New Zealand after accepting a rugby scholarship to attend St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton in 2013, a year after he toured the country with the Tonga U15 team.
Since then, he has gone on to play for New Zealand Schools, Waikato and the Chiefs, and he could soon add the All Blacks to that list.
However, his inclusion in the All Blacks may draw the ire of some critics in the wake of Tonga’s pummelling at the hands of the New Zealanders as World Rugby’s strict eligibility laws come under scrutiny once again.
Deprived of many of their top players, due to global travel restrictions and players of Tongan heritage opting to play for tier one nations, ‘Ikale Tahi were drastically under-prepared and under-resourced for their clash against the All Blacks.
Forced to field 13 debutants, many of whom have spent this year playing club rugby at grassroots level across New Zealand, Tonga were out-classed in all aspects as the All Blacks clocked a century of points for the first time since 2008.
All Blacks star Sevu Reece has revealed how close he came to representing Fiji instead of New Zealand ahead of the 2019 World Cup. #AllBlacks #NZLvFIJ https://t.co/9NiJpeNS0K
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 6, 2021
Calls have subsequently been made by the rugby public for World Rugby to relax its eligibility laws to allow Tonga, and the other Pacific Island nations, to select their best players to prevent such blowouts from occurring again.
Some may view Taukei’aho’s selection by the All Blacks as counter-productive to achieving such equity in the test arena, but Plumtree said the onus was on the player himself to choose which country he wants to represent.
“I haven’t really given that too much thought, but, right now, I think he’s signed a new contract with the Chiefs, his future’s in New Zealand,” Plumtree said.
“He certainly is a player we’ve been watching, so ultimately, at the end of the day, he’ll choose which country he plays for, but he’s been pretty impressive.”
Meanwhile, Plumtree confirmed loose forward Shannon Frizell has shaken off an ankle injury to become available for selection this week, while Ardie Savea (knee) and Anton Lienert-Brown (elbow) are continuing to recover from their respective injuries.
The news isn’t so positive for Dalton Papalii, though, as a calf injury sustained in the victory over Tonga could keep him out of the selection equation for this weekend’s match.
The All Blacks will name their side to face Fiji on Thursday morning, while the match is scheduled to kick-off on Saturday at 7:05pm NZT.
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
46 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments