Crusader's Fiji omission could leave door open for All Blacks call-up
Fiji announced their World Cup training squad today, and it is a team that looks to be a genuine threat to Australia and Wales in their pool.
Both the forwards and backs have some truly world class players, as John McKee’s team is littered with some of the biggest names in France’s Top 14. The squad will meet up in July, and will face the Maori All Blacks, Japan, Canada and Samoa in July and August, before heading to the World Cup.
However, one noticeable omission from the squad is the Crusaders’ Sevu Reece. The winger is uncapped, and is eligible to play for Fiji, having been born there, and New Zealand, having moved there when he was 14.
The 22-year-old has been in devastating form this season for the rampant Crusaders. Standing at only 5ft 10, Reece packs a huge amount of power, and has been one of the revelations of the season for the reigning champions.
Having been overlooked by the Chiefs, Reece was set to join Irish province Connacht in 2018, but that was cancelled due to an off field incident. Scott Robinson’s team have given him a chance this season, and he has taken it.
Although McKee has stated that there is still a chance for players that have not been picked to represent Fiji at the World Cup, it is bizarre that Reece has not been selected immediately. He is fit, and his form warrants a selection currently.
However, this may simply be because he is still playing in Super Rugby, and there is still a way to go in the season, particularly for the Crusaders. On the other hand, the northern hemisphere competitions are drawing to a close.
This omission may also signify that the winger has opted to take his chances with the All Blacks in the future, and potentially the World Cup. Throughout this Super Rugby season, Reece’s form, and which country he should represent, has been a keenly discussed topic, as he seems to improve week on week.
It would be a very tall order to make it into Steve Hansen’s team for the showcase in Japan, which starts in September, but with many All Blacks moving on after the tournament, such as Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo, a space may open up for the winger.
Reece still faces stiff competition from his teammates at the Crusaders to make it into the national team, regardless of whether it is before or after the World Cup. Braydon Ennor and Will Jordan are two young outside backs that are also attracting a lot of attention; part of the conveyor belt of talent that comes through the Crusaders’ system. As well as those two, five-cap peripheral All Black David Havili has also put his hand up for selection.
While there is little doubt that Reece would earn a place in Fiji’s squad, it was always going to be tougher to become an All Black. After all, Hansen probably has the greatest pool of talent to choose from in world rugby. Then again, the financial incentive is far greater for Reece, and at the end of the day, this is his livelihood. The prestige of playing for the iconic black jersey may also be too tempting for Reece.
Perhaps this may be a case of looking into something too much, but the fact that there has not even been a caveat regarding Reece’s selection after Super Rugby reaches its conclusion, could show where his international future lies.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments