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'Stood up': Former All Black pleased with the growth of Chiefs lock
By Henry Lee
Despite only making his tenth appearance for the All Blacks this morning against Scotland at Murrayfield, Chiefs lock Josh Lord has stepped up in back-to-back games without captain, Scott Barrett, who is out with a leg laceration.
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Lord was asked to play huge minutes off the bench against Ireland in Chicago last weekend, with Barrett going off in the 2nd minute with a leg injury. He didn’t return, meaning Lord was tasked with the lineout calling duties, which in itself is a big job, let alone in your ninth Test.
This week though, the 24-year-old was in the starting XV and started the game with a hiss and a roar in Edinburgh.
The All Blacks had the ball in midfield, in what looked like a regular ruck with halfback Cameron Roigard, before the 2.02m lock saw some space in and around the breakdown.
Scotland’s defensive line was fragile, so Lord took the opportunity to scoop up the ball and charge towards the home side’s line with ball in hand.
Just as you thought the Scottish defence would bring the big lock down, he freed up his arms and offloaded to Roigard who strolled in for the All Blacks’ first try at Murrayfield.
Former All Black halfback Steve Devine, who played ten Tests for the All Blacks, said that Lord was his player of the match in the 25-17 victory.
“It was a tough because I thought everyone played pretty well in this match, but I’m going to go Josh Lord because I think it’s the best they’ve played in an All Black jumper,” Devine said on Sport Nation’s Rugby Run with Mark Watson.
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“I thought that’s the best All Black performance that he’s put in, special note to Damian McKenzie with a couple of big plays at the end. But I thought Josh, he really stood up today and proved himself on the international scene.”
His All Blacks coach also was impressed with Lord and his locking partner Fabian Holland, who have a combined 21 Tests between them in their short careers in the black jersey.
“Just the engines from them, from last week to this week, and they executed their role really well. Was really pleased, and they’ll be better for that,” Robertson told media post-match.
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