'Came of age in that third quarter': Will Jordan earns Foster's trust
All Black flyer Will Jordan continued his blistering try-scoring pace in Cardiff, coming up with a stunning long-range individual effort to break the game open against Wales with a little over a quarter of the game to go.
Fielding a long uncontested box kick from Tomas Williams, Jordan began a patient run with a skip and turn to the outside before turning on the jets to gas around reserve lock Will Rowlands.
At full speed into the Welsh backfield, he summed up his options quickly before putting a chip over scrumhalf Williams and outpacing him to field the perfect bounce to stun the Cardiff crowd.
The moment of individual brilliance came after the All Black right wing found himself getting more involved the game after the break after a relatively quiet first half.
Head coach Ian Foster said his young winger ‘came of age’ in the third quarter and praised his progress within the squad.
“I thought Will Jordan came of age in that third quarter,” Foster said.
“He’s making some really good progress, I was delighted with him. At the end I really wanted to keep Jordie [Barrett] on to finish the game with his brother, I thought that would be quite special, so there was a little bit of juggling at the back.”
Foster was pleased with the way Jordan bounced back after being subbed early against South Africa in Townsville a month ago. The Crusaders outside back missed the follow up match that the All Blacks lost on the Gold Coast, with Sevu Reece getting the nod for a start.
Jordan returned to the line-up last week in Washington against the USA and immediately returned to try-scoring form, bagging a hat-trick at FedEx Field.
“He’s new to the All Blacks, I know he’s scored lots of tries and admittedly some of those were against softer opposition but if you looked at his game, he’s just been progressing,” Foster said.
“I thought the South African game, he learnt a little bit about what it is like in those big tests. The physical side and the decision-making side, and we’ve challenged him in that space.
Jordan found his way into the game in the second half making some key aerial grabs to win back possession for the All Blacks, using the kick return opportunities to find some running lanes.
After fielding a kick in the 43rd minute, Jordan found some hesitant tackles landing back on the ground and exploded through a small crease for his first line break breaking off a 30-metre run before going to ground with the ball.
The All Blacks soon found three points through the boot of Jordie Barrett to extend their lead to 21-3. His next touch proved to be deadly for Wales, as they kicked it deep inviting Jordan to run it back again from which he scored his try.
“I thought he came back really, really strong tonight. Again, it took him a little while but it does for everyone when they come up here and you are playing a different type of game, and the field feels a bit smaller, the crowd is louder, and it feels like there is more pressure.
“Delighted with the way he grew into it, he looked quite physical in that third quarter which was pleasing.”
Jordan’s score against Wales was his 16th test try in just his 11th appearance, and his 14th of the calendar year for the All Blacks.
His try-scoring season is reminiscent of teammate Rieko Ioane’s breakout season in 2017 where the left wing scored 10 test tries, including two at the same ground in Cardiff four years ago.
Halfback TJ Perenara lauded Jordan’s abilities, highlighting that his chip and chase try ‘isn’t an easy thing’ to pull off going on to say the ‘sky is the limit’ for a player like Will Jordan.
“He’s got all the skills in the world,” Perenara told media in the post-match press conference.
“He’s fast, he’s bigger than I thought he was, he’s probably running around at anywhere between 98 to 100 kgs, so he’s strong. He’s got silky skills, he showed with that try today the chip and chase.
“That’s at high speed, a chip like that and to be able to get there and score it, isn’t an easy thing to do.
“The sky is the limit for a player like that with all the attributes.
“For him to be able to work at his craft, is something we need to do throughout our careers, add strengths to your bow, to sharpen the sword each and every day is something that he will look to do I assume.
“Like I say, he’s a class player with all the attributes and sky is the limit for him.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“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.
25 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
6 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.
10 Go to comments