Anton Segner labelled 'non-negotiable' All Blacks selection by Super Rugby champ

The drums continue to beat for an Anton Segner All Blacks call-up after the flanker’s clean sweep at the Blues Awards night, where he was recognised as the club’s best in four categories.

The German-born Tasman product won Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, Fans’ Player of the Year and Forward of the Year, triggering yet more debate over his All Blacks credentials.

The analysts on this week’s episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod offered strong endorsements of Segner’s case for higher honours, highlighting the key statistics where he ranks either first or second among New Zealand’s openside options.

With one round of games to go before the playoffs start, Segner’s Blues sit third on the table, and have benefited from his 13 breakdown steals, a number good enough for first-equal alongside Leicester Finag’anuku, his 88 per cent tackle completion, which is second only to Du’Plessis Kirifi, and his nine dominant tackles, which is second only to Ethan Blackadder.

“He’s been tremendous,” long-time commentator Tony Johnson said. “It’s always a fascinating question, because we always seem to have so many good players in the loose forward position. You look around the country and see young (Lucas) Casey and think, gosh, he’s got some star quality, that guy, as well.

“But Segner, you look at his numbers, the metres after contact, strong carries; he’s really learnt to use his body and his power very effectively. It’s got to the point now where I’d be surprised if he wasn’t in the All Blacks, even for the early part of the year.

“I think he’s played his way into contention. But there are other strings to his bow: his defence is very good, his tackle stats are really good, and that lineout game that he’s really developed. He’s definitely been, in a Blues team that’s fired in fits and starts a bit this year, consistently outstanding.”

Bryn Hall, a six-time Super Rugby champion, compared Segner to departing Blues running mate Dalton Papali’i, saying he is tailor-made for the No.7 jersey and ready to be Ardie Savea’s understudy.

“We’ve always known that he’s a very good jackler; I think he’s probably the best jackler in the competition. He’s so efficient in that space,” said Hall.

“But the area I’ve really enjoyed from him this year is his attack. If you look at the stats, he’s probably played the most minutes with over 900, which highlights his consistent ability to be on the field. He’s carrying over the gainline at 74 per cent, which is very, very important at Test level. That efficiency actually surprised me; the best is (Veveni) Lasaqa at 84 per cent, having not played as many minutes, but the rest of the opensides are around 60, 55 per cent.

“I think with his form, I think he’s a non-negotiable. He’s done it for a long time and is still a young man, just 24.”

You can watch the full episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod on RugbyPass TV here.