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Goggles pioneer on Ardie Savea's new equipment: 'I'm sure there's probably a few nicknames and a bit of teasing going on but I think he's a big enough character to brush that aside.'

Ian McKinley is one of the players that have helped Benetton Treviso become a PRO14 force this season (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

NZ Herald

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Ian McKinley, the first professional rugby player to wear protective goggles, has advice for All Black Ardie Savea: get used to the insults.

Savea will wear rugby goggles in the All Blacks‘ clash against Canada – after trialling them in training this week – to avoid losing his sight further after having deteriorating vision in his left eye.

“A couple of years ago I realised I had bad vision in my left eye. Everything’s kind of blurry,” Savea explained. “I told All Blacks Doctor Tony Page that it was getting worse and now we’re doing something about it. Doc notified me that World Rugby had some goggles that were approved and everyone has been really supportive.”

The Irish-born Italian playmaker McKinley applauded Savea for the decision to don the goggles but warned that he might get a few insults as a result.

“I would imagine so,” McKinley told Radio Sport Breakfast when asked if Savea will be on the receiving end of any insults.

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“I have a fair few and anytime you play in a game you’ve got people in the crowd that would say things to you but you just learn to get on with it as part of the game. But I’m sure there’s probably a few nicknames and a bit of teasing going on but I think he’s a big enough character to brush that aside and not look at it as an issue.

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“It is a courageous decision for Ardie I’m sure. It does take a lot of balls to do it with the slagging and all that sort of stuff but I think the people that do it are doing it for the right reasons and they know that they’re playing in safety or their performance levels will benefit from it. So I think it’s full respect for him lining up against Canada with them.”

McKinley, who has played at first-five for Italy and Pro14 side Benetton, lost vision in one eye after getting a stud in the eye during a match, which caused his retina to detach. He has worn goggles on the field as protection since 2014.

The rugby veteran admitted that there could be some initial issues for Savea as he gets used to the goggles, one of which is keeping them on.

“I personally wear a scrum cap,” McKinley said. “I suppose the goggles are likened to ski goggles so you’ve got a strap that goes round the back of your head. I would wear a scrum cap just to make sure that they stay in place.

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“I don’t know how he’s going to approach it, but from experience – I’ve been using these since 2014 – anytime I don’t wear a scrum cap they would tend to fall off. Obviously he’s going to be in the breakdown quite a lot, maybe a bit more to me considering that I’m a first-five eighth, so I would imagine he might use it (tape or a scrum cap) but I don’t know.”

McKinley says it’s just a matter of getting used to the goggles.

“Obviously when it’s a new product it takes a little time for me to get used to it. So weather conditions, with rain and that sort of thing, can be a little more tricky but you just learn through that. For many years I’ve been adapting to them. So it’s almost like wearing a gum shield or wearing a scrum cap for the first time. You get used to it.”

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.

England hooker Jamie George has responded to Willi Heinz’s comments that the forwards are giving Heinz sweaty balls:

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J
JW 32 minutes ago
Super Rugby is booming, but is it actually helping the All Blacks?

Theres still the problem of it all being behind doors, no consultation or notice of their decision to remove injury checks on the field, an attempt ambitious but which wholly had failed when it had to be removed half way through the competition. How may they have introduced that better if they had of consulted fans and teams? The new body still has a long way to go to be a real pro body like those mentioned.


I certainly hope they can show they can evaluate feedback and reintroduce the idea in an improved concept next year.

two hemispheres.

LOL are you a flat earther as well Gregor?

The average game length (excluding half-time) was 90 minutes and 11s, compared with 91 minutes and seven seconds in 2024.

This stat combined with the ridiculous amount of overtime played must mean theres more than 5minutes of rugby played in SR than any european competition. Incredible.

As an entertainment product, Super Rugby is starting to rebuild itself as one of the game’s hottest properties.

But what’s not clear yet, is whether it’s is going to deliver on its other goal: a competition with the necessary physical and competitive intensity to prepare New Zealand’s best players for what they will encounter in the international arena.

It has been since it’s formation. It was the second attempt and what the Aratipu report considered the best way forward for the game. Which was a move away from the orginal foundations of SR as being just a test ground for the respective National teams. It was time to make it a financially successful competition instead.

And this is the reality of picking an All Blacks squad in the Super Rugby Pacific era

It’s always been the reality even for Super Rugby, even if much less so for ALL other pro sports.

he was practically hinting to media they shouldn’t always be seduced by what they see in Super Rugby

Sititi was the form SR selection, it’s the only reason he made it in.

This year, there could again be a few surprises. Could Dalton Papali’i– a prominent force for the Blues – miss out to the rugged Simon Parker who has been a workhorse for the Chiefs, carrying with an impact his 1.96m, 117kg frame enables?

That would be selecting of form, not who you believe is best test suited.

but will it be the Highlanders’ Fabien Holland who wins a spot because he carted the ball up the middle of the field thanklessly and relentlessly

Yes hopefully, he’s been the stand out Lock this year.

or will the latter’s deft touches and smart kicking be preferred?

Depends on what the teams lacking.

is it mad to wonder whether the combative and defensively adept Finlay Christie is better equipped to play Test rugby

Yes, he’s been proven to not be good enough.

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