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Australian loose forward Cornelsen set to face Wallabies as a Brave Blossom
Growing up with one of Australian rugby’s most famous names and playing with now-Wallabies star Tom Banks, Jack Cornelsen certainly couldn’t see this coming.
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In fact, even just a couple of years ago, this wasn’t on Cornelsen’s radar.
But on Thursday the 27-year-old will almost certainly be named in the Brave Blossoms team to face the Wallabies in Oita on Saturday.
Good judges are even tipping the versatile forward to start, most likely in Japan’s No.6 jumper.
“It would be huge. If I do get the opportunity, it would be unreal,” Cornelsen told AAP on Wednesday.
“Growing up it wasn’t the path I imagined that I’d have taken but quickly how things can change.
“I’m obviously really grateful for the position I’m in now and it’s not a position I would have seen happening a few years ago.”
Certainly not when he first received a call from Robbie Deans to join the former Wallabies coach at the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan’s Top League in 2018.
Overlooked for an Australian Super Rugby contract, despite starring in two Brisbane club premierships with the University of Queensland and climbing the ranks with Banks and others including Tate McDermott, Cornelsen felt he had nothing to lose joining Deans.
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But he never dreamed it would lead to him turning Japanese.
“First coming over here, it was just for the experience,” he said.
“I was only playing club footy over there back in Brisbane so I just came over here to see what the go was. I had no real long-term plans.
“But the longer I’ve been here, the more I’ve loved it. So I can definitely see myself staying here long term.
“I’m a big fan of the food so that helps.”
The son of Greg Cornelsen – the ex-Wallaby who famously bagged four tries against the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1978 – credits Deans’ one-percenters for helping launch his international career.
He’s also lapped up lineout advice from world-class locks like Sam Whitelock and George Kruis and tapped into the vast experience of champion flanker David Pocock to develop into one of Japan’s most versatile forwards under coach Jamie Joseph.
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“That definitely has helped me,” Cornelsen said.
“I’ve been between lock and back row so anywhere there I’m comfortable with.
“But I’d play on the wing if they asked me to.”
Deans declared Cornelsen Test-ready back in March.
Right on cue, the late bloomer made his “pretty cool” Test debut against the British and Irish Lions at Murrayfield in June.
But running out to face the Wallabies would be next level, surreal even.
“I don’t really know how to put it into words. The excitement would be up there,” Cornelsen said.
COVID-19 will prevent his father from being at the game.
“It would have been unreal if him and mum could have gotten over here and watched the game,” Cornelsen said.
“But they’ll be watching at home with some excitement as well, probably more nervous than me.
“Dad’s always been supportive of the path I’ve gone on now. He’s backed the decision to come over here and hopefully he’ll be wearing red and white on the weekend.”
Comments on RugbyPass
More useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
22 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
1 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
22 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to commentsWho the heck is Billy Fulton?
13 Go to commentsCale has all the potential no doubt. So has Harry Wilson except for his dumb arse coach over the last few years who told him just to run at brick walls all the time. Valentini would be devastating at 6. As he was until some idiot thought oh yeah, move our best player to another position. Not mentioning any flightless or thank you names of course. I very much dislike claiming one player is the saviour, because injuries are so prevalent in the game these days as the players are bigger and faster, so the discussion should be who are at least the best two players in one position. For me it’s Harry Wilson and Cale at 8 at the moment with Valentini or Hooper from the Brumbies at 6. Great options. Seru Uru should be in the reserves too. A game changer.
21 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a card waiting to happen, Cane has been out with injury as well as playing in Japan, I think they’ll go with in-Japan-but-still-the-man Savea. Samisoni Taukeaho will be Captain after 2027, so he might get some Captain minutes against an Italy or Japan.
13 Go to commentsDissapointed that after 7 years Crusaders could not have found a coach that believed their system and improved on it. What was he expecting?
6 Go to comments