'The black jersey is above all': George Bell on missing Canterbury's final

George Bell is back in the All Blacks after a delayed start to his sophomore Test season. While the international arena is always the goal, the 23-year-old admits there was a hint of mixed emotions upon returning to camp.

Bell has been a key cog in Canterbury’s run to Saturday’s NPC final, after missing selection for the first two All Blacks squads of the season, and has contributed heavily to his province’s top-seed finish and competition-best defensive record.

Having started in both the quarter and semi-finals, Bell’s departure on the eve of the big dance inevitably left a sense of unfinished business.

Now, he can only hope the All Blacks’ travel to Chicago goes to plan and he makes it to the hotel in time to watch the contest live.

“There are obviously a few emotions not being able to play,” he admitted when speaking with reporters in Auckland on Thursday. “But your dream is to be in this environment, so I moved on from that pretty quickly.”

The youngster had every confidence in his teammates to get the job done in his absence. Canterbury has the luxury of filling Bell’s starting spot with the man he replaced in the All Blacks camp, Brodie McAlister.

The pair swapping places was the only non-injury-enforced selection change for the Northern Tour, and rewarded Bell for his form in the NPC.

He said the only feedback he’d been given when missing selection in the two earlier All Blacks squads was to simply play more rugby. The youngster missed much of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a turf toe injury.

“I’ve been happy with how I’ve been playing, just having the mindset around having lots of fun out there, and playing the game. Canterbury’s got such a good culture this year, so I’m really enjoying my time in there.”

Bell’s absence from tomorrow’s final isn’t without contention, as Canterbury coach Marty Bourke was sure to ask his All Blacks counterpart, Scott Robertson, about the potential of delaying the hooker’s arrival in the national setup.

“I think he tried pretty hard, but the black jersey is above all,” Bell said.

Bell played just 31 minutes on last year’s Northern Tour, with 30 of those minutes coming against Japan, while the other one minute saw him take the field just in time to make one carry against Ireland in Dublin.

He’s hoping to earn some more opportunities on this year’s tour.

“Obviously, I was in the non-23 for quite a bit of the tour last year. It was epic to be in there, and it was epic to experience it all, all of those big stadiums like Twickenham. It was unbelievable.

“But I think this year, I’m definitely hungry to get on the field and apply myself. But whether I’m in the team or not, I’ve just got to do what’s best for the team.”

He’ll have to earn selection ahead of either Samisoni Taukei’aho or fellow Crusader, Codie Taylor. The latter has been a mentor for Bell throughout his young career and continues to be a role model for him.

“I keep pestering him with lots of questions. Honestly, just watching Codie go about his work in camp, you see a lot of the off-the-field stuff; his mobility, his recovery and all of that stuff that he’s so diligent at—seeing what it takes.”

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When asked what areas Bell seeks Taylor’s wisdom on, he said “all aspects” were covered.

“Yes, technical, but a lot on the mental game as well. There’s so much pressure; there’s a lot riding on it. His ability to keep a cool head and go about his work is something that I’ll keep working on.”

Bell says the pressure factor is important to overcome, and he does so by staying true to himself.

“There’s obviously lots of pressure, but for me, it’s just not overthinking it and seeing rugby as a game that I really enjoy and love to play.

“If I keep true to myself and keep loving rugby, all of that pressure just takes a step to the side. That’s when I play my best rugby; when I’m loving it, enjoying it.”