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Chorus grows louder for Sevu Reece national call-up as ex-All Black endorses his selection
Former All Blacks great Christian Cullen has joined the growing chorus of calls to include Crusaders rookie Sevu Reece in the All Blacks squad at the end of the Super Rugby campaign.
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The 22-year-old has been in outstanding form in his debut season at this level, scoring six tries in four starts, with two of his most recent scores coming during the Crusaders’ 36-10 win over the Lions in Christchurch last Friday.
Both tries were spectacular efforts which have sent much of the New Zealand public into a frenzy about Reece’s talents, which Cullen believes could be good enough to earn him selection into this year’s All Blacks World Cup side.
“We’ve seen it before with Nehe Milner-Skudder [in 2015],” the 60-test veteran said, according to Stuff.
“He [Sevu Reece] has been playing really well, he’s got all the tools. But in saying that, he’s playing outside a pretty good Crusaders team. I guess you’ve still got to score the tries and do the work, he’s been doing that.
“I don’t think he would let anybody down. There’s probably a couple of blokes that could fit into that spot that wouldn’t let the team down.”
Regardless of whether he is selected for the All Blacks or not, Reece looks set to play test match rugby.
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As the only member of his family living in New Zealand, a call-up to Fiji isn’t out of the question, as Fiji head coach John McKee reportedly approached Reece about the prospect of playing for his side, according to the Fijian Sun.
However, his mother Amelia confirmed to the news outlet that Reece, who has re-signed with Waikato for the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup, is set to receive a New Zealand passport later this year.
“We will not interfere, but it will be a pleasant surprise if he gets selected for the All Blacks,” she said.
While Reece has been capturing the imagination of the New Zealand rugby public with his scintillating performances, Cullen praised the efforts of Hurricanes youngster Wes Goosen, who has played admirably for the Wellington-based franchise this year.
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“The thing about Wes, he can cover the midfield, as well, and he’s been playing pretty well,” Cullen said.
“He’s a finisher and he’s deceptively quick. Some of those tries he’s scored over the last couple of weekends have been pretty good.
“They’ve both put their hands up, I think.”
Others to have impressed Cullen in the outside backs throughout Super Rugby have been Crusaders duo George Bridge and Braydon Ennor, both of whom he admitted have put pressure on incumbent All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo, who has been badly out of sorts for the Highlanders this season, and remains out of action with a knee injury.
While Bridge, who attended the All Blacks’ ‘foundation day’ camp in Wellington earlier this month, has predominantly played at left wing, Cullen didn’t see any issue with him moving to the right wing to accomodate Rieko Ioane.
“I don’t know how difficult it is. I just moved from fullback to the right-wing, I never played left. I’m sure it can’t be that hard. I’m sure a guy like Bridge could move to the right-wing if needed.”
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
A long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates live or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is hear and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
5 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
2 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
5 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
5 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
2 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore 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.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 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
28 Go to comments