'Extraordinary': The player who could benefit most from Josh Lord's long-term injury
One of the standout players from the Super Rugby Pacific finals may be in line to benefit the most from All Blacks lock Josh Lord’s season-ending knee injury.
That’s the verdict from former Highlanders and Crusaders lock Joe Wheeler, who believes one-test former All Blacks utility forward Cullen Grace could receive a test recall as Lord’s replacement.
The All Blacks announced last week that Lord will be sidelined for the rest of the year after an MRI scan revealed that the two-test second rower had ruptured his ACL.
Lord had earlier been named as one of five locks in the 36-man All Blacks squad to face Ireland over the coming weeks, but the All Blacks confirmed that no replacement has yet been called into the side in place of the 21-year-old.
That may change, though, following the revelation that veteran lock Sam Whitelock played through last weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific final with a broken thumb,
Such news has cast Whitelock in doubt for next weekend’s series-opener against Ireland in Auckland, with his possible unavailability leaving the All Blacks short-stocked.
Facing the prospect of having Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa’i as New Zealand’s only second row options, Wheeler told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that the All Blacks would do well to call-up Grace following his impressive efforts for the Crusaders.
Capable of playing at lock and blindside flanker, Grace was a standout at No 8 throughout the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs as the Crusaders beat the Blues last Saturday to clinch their sixth title in as many years.
The 22-year-old played a key role in his side’s win at Eden Park in a match where the Blues struggled badly at the lineout.
Losing 10 of their 19 throws, Grace stole the ball twice from opposition lineouts, while he also won four of his side’s own throws, leading his team in both departments.
The week beforehand, Grace starred in the Crusaders’ semi-final win over the Chiefs, scoring two tries, making the most running metres of any forward in his team (41) and registering 22 tackles.
By the end of the season, Grace finished third in the Super Rugby Pacific tackle count (181) and was the only loose forward to feature in the competition’s top ten for lineout wins (39).
It’s for that reason that Wheeler to sang Grace’s praises as a player who would offer a point of difference for the All Blacks should they call him into the squad as Lord’s replacement.
“Without a doubt, I think he has throughout the whole finals series,” Wheeler told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod when asked if Grace has put his hand up for a test re-call.
“With the injury to Lord, I believe that could open an opportunity for him due to the fact that I think, in terms of that loose forward balance, they probably were looking at Tupou Vaa’i to cover the six role alongside Akira Ioane.
“I believe, in the last couple of weeks, Cullen Grace has been extraordinary for that Crusaders side. He offers something different to Tupou Vaa’i and Akira Ioane in terms of his work rate.
“He’s a different player. He’s not the ball-carrying threat that maybe Akira Ioane is, but what he does is he smashes rucks, he smashes people in the tackle, and he’s a brilliant lineout exponent.
“I think you saw that on the weekend. He just doesn’t go away, and I think his stocks, you look back two years when he first got named in this All Blacks side, he’s starting to find that form that catapulted him into that team in his rookie season.
“He’s a hard-nosed, no-nonsense footballer who does all the simple things really, really well with a real hard edge, so I think he’s going to come back into this conversation in terms of maybe getting called up with the injury to Lord.
“I know they said that they probably have got sufficient cover, but I think Tupou Vaa’i covers both loose forward and lock.
“I think that opens up an opportunity to either bring in a [Shannon] Frizell or a Cullen Grace into that squad because I think we’re a little bit light in those really hard-nosed, high work rate loose forwards to play in that six jersey.”
By contrast, former All Blacks hooker James Parsons noted that Chiefs loose forward Luke Jacobson couldn’t be overlooked as a potential replacement for Lord.
Jacobson was among a slew of high-profile omissions from the All Blacks squad that was announced last week, but Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that the versatile back rower could yet come into the reckoning due to his broad skillset.
“I don’t think we can forget about Luke Jacobson, either. I think it does provide an opportunity for him,” Parsons said.
“He’s massive in the similar areas you’ve sort of just touched on, so I think maybe they’re waiting to see the form of locks, if they need extra, or they are making that decision, ‘Should we bring in another loosie and be able to cover ourselves in that way?’.
“There’s definitely an opportunity up for grabs now that Lord’s out for the season.”
The All Blacks will kick their test season off at Eden Park on July 2, when they will host Ireland in the first of three tests across New Zealand.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ouch. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 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 comments