Anton Segner: 'I'll admit my confidence was at rock bottom'

A giant vacancy exists in the Blues’ starting XV in 2025 after the departure of club centurion Akira Ioane. One man looking to fill that vacancy is German-born flanker Anton Segner, a workhorse athlete who has come a long way during his eight years in New Zealand.

Initially arriving on Kiwi shores to attend Nelson College, the 23-year-old admits he was overwhelmed as he got his first taste of rugby in New Zealand’s famous schoolboy scene.

However, it does of course take a chest of courage to pack up your bags and pursue your dream on the other side of the world in your mid-teens, and Segner says he’s had the right people around him since then to unlock that confidence once more.

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“When I first came to New Zealand as a 15-year-old, I’ll admit my confidence was at rock bottom,” Segner told RugbyPass after a sunny Blues training session in central Auckland.

“First of all, I didn’t really know what to expect. I obviously thought, growing up and watching the All Blacks and being told by the Kiwi coaches that were coaching in Germany, that New Zealand is the greatest rugby nation in the world. Which it is.

“So, I was very nervous coming in. But, what grew my confidence was the people I surrounded myself with. I’ve had some great players and some great coaches when I was playing for Nelson College, then at Tasman, and now here at the Blues.

“The likes of Akira Ioane and many others – coaches like Rangi (Leon MacDonald) and VC (Vern Cotter), they help you develop and as you feel yourself developing it obviously builds your confidence too. The best way to build your confidence is by playing and that’s my goal for this year, to get even more game time.”

Nelson remains a second home for Segner, who spent plenty of time there over the summer visiting his partner, jokingly admitting “They don’t like me as much down there any more” since his recent NPC allegiance switch.

After three seasons and one title with Tasman, Segner’s move to Auckland for the 2024 NPC season meant Ioane was on hand for one last stretch of mentorship before the 21-time All Black jetted off to Japan.

“He’s actually played a huge role in my career,” Segner explained, keen to offer his former teammate credit for his growth.

“Obviously, since coming to the Blues he’s taken me under his wing a little bit and I guess the perfect way to explain it is a bit of a mentor for me.

“He knew that I’d be one of those guys coming up the ranks and he’s obviously a through and through Blues man, so he lives by the values of leaving the jersey in a better place and part of that, in his belief, was making sure the young guys coming up are ready once someone like him leaves.

“Still now, we keep in touch as well on social media, we text each other and stuff. He’s played a huge role since I came to the Blues.”

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While the likes of Ioane, current All Black Dalton Papali’i and Adrain Choat have each kept Segner’s minutes down over recent seasons, it’s not just the players ahead of him he’s competing with in the selection race.

Former All Blacks Sevens star Che Clark has made the move to 15s and signed with the Blues. Segner is familiar with the game-breaking 21-year-old’s game after playing alongside him at Tasman.

“He’s a freak athlete man. He’s one of those guys that you can chuck pretty much into any position, apart from the front row maybe, on the rugby field and he’d do alright. Especially out in the wider channels, he’s got a freakish offload game – he won us that (2024 preseason) game against, I can’t remember who it was, with that offload out to Caleb Tangitau who then scored.

“He’s pretty strong and obviously tall too, so he’s a handy man to have in the lineout, a handy man to have in the wider channels and he loves the dirty work too. He’s a very impressive kid and definitely someone to keep an eye on.”

With talent in abundance, Vern Cotter’s decision could come down to who can fulfil the required role in his attacking system the best.

In 2024, the Auckland club evolved their pick-and-go carry game into a steamroller with an efficiency that had all opponents reeling, including in the competition final.

Ioane was one of the players who made the biggest shift in style of play to buy into the game plan and leaves big shoes to fill as one of the competition’s most physical ball-runners. Segner knows if he wants more minutes in 2025, he needs the ability to rumble over the gain line.

“Obviously Vern, he likes all of his forwards to be nice and tight and be able to do those tough carries, so in that case, I’ve been working hard on my body height. Physically, putting on a bit of weight helps as well, I’ve put on three kilos over the break – good weight!

“So, I guess a combination of that, if I can get low and have a good amount of weight on me, then that’ll usually make it harder for a defender to get a dominant tackle on you. Those are the two things, and maybe a bit of footwork in between as well will help me get over that gain line.”

While the race for the vacant six jersey is far from run, the contenders won’t be left wondering where growth is needed thanks to coach ‘Stern Vern’.

Any member of Cotter’s teams will tell you the nickname is an appropriate one, all personnel know where they stand with a coach fluent in saying it how it is. You could say the injection of Cotter’s direct communication has given the Blues environment a more German flavour, much to Segner’s delight.

“I’ve been thinking about it a bit because, for most of us players, you want a coach who’s a straight shooter. Most Germans are pretty straight up and Vern’s definitely like that, he gives you honest and straight-up feedback and he just wants you to get the job done so, I guess stereotypically, that’s a pretty German mindset to have: to be efficient, put your head down and work hard.

“I think that’s part of the reason why I’ve been enjoying myself, I enjoyed myself here at the Blues before he was here, but I really enjoy his style of coaching.”