'Getting him on the field in whatever position is key': The 'point of difference' Pablo Matera can bring to the Crusaders
A future teammate of Pablo Matera has had his say on what the fiery Argentinian captain can bring to the Crusaders next year.
Few rugby fans will forget Matera’s inspirational impact last year in leading his country to a first-ever victory over the All Blacks in Sydney. On that day, the Stade Francais and Leicester loose forward showcased an immense work rate and astute breakdown ability, and current Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall believes that the Crusaders can expect more of the same from the 27-year-old come 2022.
“It’s a great signing”, said Hall speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod this week. “We’re pretty fortunate to be able to get a player of that calibre, especially playing Super Rugby. We only need to look at those pictures when he played against the All Blacks, him showing that, in Maori terms, mana; he shows that Argentinian flair and energy and enthusiasm.”
Whilst many fans have perhaps rightly held fears that the Argentinian’s inclusion could present a roadblock to the future nurturing of regional talent, Hall interpreted the signing as being a positive for all parties.
“To be able to have a [player of that calibre] in our environment, it’s not only going to be great to have him as a player,” Hall said, “but for the young guys coming through, having a player like that who can add knowledge to our group, it’s only going to benefit us moving forward.”
Former Blues hooker James Parsons agreed that, from a technical standpoint, Matera could add excellence and flexibility to Robertson’s team whilst competing for places with the current crop of talented loose forwards at the Crusaders.
“What I like about it is around that breakdown and improving that breakdown area – a guy like him, with the young guys in your group, he can only enhance their ability to improve in that area,” Parsons said.
“When he steps on the field, he is automatically going to improve that area, and he can play six, seven and eight I believe.”
The ability of the Argentinian to set breakdown and defensive standards, be it at club level with the Super Rugby runners-up in 2019, or at national level for the Pumas, makes him a valuable asset and an intelligent signing that both Hall and Parsons agree has the stamp of Scott Robertson all over it.
“It’s a Razor signing,” commented Hall. “He likes to think outside the box and I think Digby Ioane was another one that came in in 2017 and Roger (Ronan O’Gara) in coaching and Mark Jones as well. [He] just thinks outside the box.”
David Havili has been banging on the #AllBlacks' selection door for some time now – but it's his somewhat surprising move to the midfield that could cement his spot in the national set-up. @CrusadersRugby
Analysis from @TheChaseRugby.https://t.co/xKj0tNnm6S
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That unique thinking is something Parsons also sees in the signing.
“I think he’s a point of difference player, isn’t he? He’s not a typical style loose forward that we’ve got here and he just brings something different. It’s just Razor’s style is about doing things differently and he’s seen something in him. I think we all admire his style of play and I think someone like him wants to come over here and test himself in our competition. I think it can only be a good thing.”
Far from a foregone conclusion, both players also commented that the at times controversial Matera would face stiff competition for places down in Christchurch with a starting place not assured around the likes of an in-form Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Sione Havili, Whetukamokamo Douglas and All Black Cullen Grace.
“He’s coming into a competitive area, but one that he’ll enhance and grow as well and
,” said Parsons. “That ability to play all three positions is just so powerful and important, because he’s good over the ball, because he’s a good carrier, because he’s abrasive, he’s good in the lineout, he just covers all aspects needed in an international signing because you can only have a few of them in your squad.”The prospect of increased depth and greater injury cover also marks the importance of the signing for Hall.
“If we continue to keep playing Super Rugby Aotearoa, I look at our loose forward trios around having injuries throughout the year and just adding that depth,” he said.
“Ethan was out for a couple of weeks with his neck injury, Culley was out for a week, Tom Saunders was out for a long period of time so any time you can add depth in that kind of position, especially if we continue to play this crash-and-bash, high-tempo Super Rugby Aotearoa adding a guy like that… Yes he’s world class, but any time you can just keep adding depth, especially into the loose forward position, is going to be a massive move forward.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments