All Blacks star Will Jordan 'only a chance for the third test' against Ireland
All Blacks captain Sam Cane says young star Will Jordan isn’t likely to feature until the third test of New Zealand’s upcoming series against Ireland following his Covid diagnosis.
Jordan was ruled out of this Saturday’s series-opener against the Irish in Auckland after he became the sixth member of the All Blacks camp to test positive for the virus on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old starlet joins midfielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue, as well as coaches Ian Foster, John Plumtree and Scott McLeod, in isolation ahead of the highly-anticipated at Eden Park after they all contracted Covid over the past few days.
Their absences leave the All Blacks short-stocked on players and coaches, forcing them to call four-test utility back Braydon Ennor and soon-to-be national selector, and former Ireland boss, Joe Schmidt into their set-up.
Regardless of who they call into their camp, the loss of Jordan will be hard-felt by the All Blacks given the game-breaking qualities that made him 2021 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Like his Covid-infected colleagues, Jordan will be required to undergo a seven-day isolation period, as per New Zealand’s Covid protocols, which will theoretically make him available for the second test against Ireland in Dunedin next week.
However, Cane told media on Tuesday that Jordan won’t “realistically” be ready for All Blacks selection until the final test of the series in Wellington on July 16.
“Obviously not chatting to him because he’s in his room,” Cane joked when asked if he had been in contact with Jordan since his Covid diagnosis.
“To be honest, it’s terrible timing for everyone who’s got Covid, but we feel for him.
“Haven’t had a chance to chat, we only just found out this morning, had meetings and straight to training.
“We’ve talked about before, there’s a lot of depth and competition for places. I don’t know if [Jordan] was going to be starting or not, but I’d say he was a pretty good chance, but it just means someone else will step up in his place.
“Hopefully Covid doesn’t knock him around too much and, realistically, he’s probably only a chance for the third test.”
Losing a player of Jordan’s influence for the majority of the test series would be a significant blow for the All Blacks as they look to reassert their dominance over an Ireland side that has gotten the better of their Kiwi counterparts in recent years.
In saying that, though, the temporary addition of Schmidt to the coaching group in the absence of Foster, Plumtree and McLeod should go some way to offsetting Jordan’s unavailability.
Formerly the head coach of Ireland between 2013 and 2019, Schmidt guided the Irish to their first-ever win over the All Blacks in 2016, when they ended a 111-year winless drought against New Zealand with a 40-29 victory in Chicago.
Two years later, Schmidt masterminded Ireland’s maiden victory over the All Blacks on home soil in an impressive 16-9 victory in Dublin.
Replaced by his assistant Andy Farrell following Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of the All Blacks in 2019, Schmidt watched on as his former side beat New Zealand for a third time in five tests last November.
In the immediate aftermath of that 29-20 defeat at Aviva Stadium, the All Blacks hired Schmidt as a national selector to replace long-serving occupant Grant Fox.
Schmidt’s appointment brought with it plenty of intrigue and anticipation, but the 2018 World Rugby Coach of the Year wasn’t expected to join the All Blacks until after New Zealand’s test series against Ireland.
The recent Covid outbreak within the All Blacks camp has changed those circumstances, though, as a lack of coaches available on the ground has resulted in Schmidt being fast-tracked into the national side just days out from their clash against his old team.
Equipped with vast intel and knowledge of how Ireland operate, many view the premature arrival of Schmidt as a huge acquisition for the All Blacks.
While Cane agreed with that sentiment when asked about Schmidt’s influence in his first day on the job, the New Zealand skipper also downplayed the impact Schmidt has had in his limited involvement with the All Blacks.
“How lucky are to be able to call on someone like Joe Schmidt. It’s been awesome,” Cane said.
“To be honest, he’s only just been in this morning, and he’ll only be in Tuesday and Thursday to help out on the training park. He’s helping out with defence predominantly, but it’s nice to have some wise eyes looking over things.
“He was predominantly helping out the backs this morning, so, to be honest, I haven’t actually worked with him on the training park.
“I think we’ve got our structures and our things in place which is Scott McLeod, defence coach, his set-up, and we can’t imagine Joe Schmidt’s going to come in and change anything about that.
“He’s just about lending another pair of eyes and chipping in and being able to coach on the run at trainings and give instant feedback to players, but nothing that’s sort of new.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments