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Dalton Papalii's cheeky dig at former All Blacks flanker
All Blacks flanker Dalton Papalii has taken a cheeky dig at one of his predecessors in the lead-up to New Zealand’s season-opening test against Tonga.
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Papalii has been named to start at openside flanker for Saturday’s clash at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in what is widely-viewed as good reward for a stellar Super Rugby season with the Blues.
The four-test international is in esteemed company when it comes to those who have worn the No. 7 jersey for New Zealand.
The most famous is, of course, two-time World Cup-winning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, while, in recent years, current skipper Sam Cane and Ardie Savea have jostled for the openside flanker spot.
Speaking to media on Thursday, Papalii listed all three as some of the best openside flankers New Zealand has produced.
“It’s just awesome to be in that jersey,” he said. “When I was growing up, that seven jersey was locked in by a couple of greats of the game. You’ve got the McCaw’s, the Ardie’s, Sammy Cane. They’ll come down as legends of the game.
“I’m just happy to go in there [to Mt Smart Stadium] and get amongst it.”
While Papalii’s answer seemed innocuous enough, he didn’t include former All Blacks great Josh Kronfeld in his list, despite the 54-test international being present at the press conference as a reporter for Sky Sport‘s Crowd Goes Wild.
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When asked by another journalist, “What about Josh?”, a roar of laughter filled the room as Papalii realised his notable omission.
“Oh yeah, I can’t forget, sorry, sorry. I was talking about the recents,” the 23-year-old said, before he and teammate Dane Coles laughed at the mishap.
Kronfeld played for the All Blacks between 1995 and 2000 and attended two World Cups with the national side before calling time on his playing days in 2003.
Papalii still has some way to go before he can emulate Kronfeld – or McCaw, Cane and Savea – at international level, but the youngster is ready to stake his claim in the test arena after impressing on the Super Rugby scene in recent years.
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That form hasn’t yielded plenty of opportunities in the black jersey, though, as Papalii’s four test caps have been spread out across three years since his international debut against Japan in 2018.
His last two outings, against the Springboks in Wellington in 2019 and the Wallabies in Sydney last year, only saw him pick up a collective total of about 25 minutes of playing time Cane and Savea have dominated the No. 7 jersey.
In fact, this weekend will be the first time Papalii has started for the All Blacks since his test debut in Tokyo, so it’s no surprise he is chomping at the bit to face off against ‘Ikale Tahi.
“I’m just going to go out there and do my job. I’m not going to try think of all the razzle dazzle stuff. I’m learning my role in and out, the No. 7 role, and I’m just going to go out there and do the basics well because that’s what All Blacks are bought on.
“When you have a team that just knows their job and do the job right, then the one-or-two percenters will come along, so I’ve just got to nail that.”
Kick-off for Saturday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm NZT.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments