'He's a cheeky fella': Blues star Rieko Ioane responds to Sevu Reece's try-scoring celebration jibe
Blues star Rieko Ioane says the try-scoring celebration jibe by Crusaders wing Sevu Reece has provided him extra with motivation to beat the Crusaders in their reverse fixture in Christchurch next month.
Reece caused a stir on social media for celebrating his 78th minute try by mocking Ioane’s signature cross-armed pose during his side’s 43-27 win over the Blues at Eden Park on Sunday.
After dotting down in the right-hand corner following a clean run to the tryline, the 24-year-old crossed his arms and stared at the crowd, replicating the celebration Ioane dished out after scoring against the Hurricanes and Highlanders earlier this season.
Speaking to media at training on Tuesday, Ioane said he was aware of Reece’s taunt and was eager to get one back over his All Blacks teammate when the Blues next face the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium on April 25.
“He’s a cheeky fella,” Ioane said of Reece. “It’s awesome gamesmanship. It’s good to know I’m not the only one doing it and that people actually notice as opposed to just mocking me.
“Full credit to them, winners reap the rewards, he scored so it’s awesome for him. I definitely wasn’t happy about it, don’t get me wrong. It’s stuff like that that gets you going and adds to fire.
“Having Sevu get one up on me, or your mates in the other team get one up or you, is a pretty hollow feeling. You definitely park that deep and once we face them again or even the next game it will be more fuel to the fire.
“I actually didn’t see it during the game so he came round and asked if I saw it. It’s good gamesmanship from them so I enjoy that sort of banter on the field.”
Ioane has become renowned for his try-scoring celebrations in recent seasons, and the 24-year-old midfielder said it’s likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future, even if he has drawn criticism from some viewers for his on-field antics.
“It’s spur of the moment,” he said. “I like to express myself through my game, that’s why we train so hard all year round. When it comes to that 80-minute window that’s the fun time of the week so I like to have a bit of fun with it.
“It’s some peoples’ cup of tea and others not. I’ll keep being me.”
After copping their first defeat of the season at the hands of the four-time reigning champions, the Blues will look to bounce back against the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato this Saturday.
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The Hamilton-based franchise broke their record-equalling drought last weekend as they beat the Hurricanes 35-29 to notch their first win in 11 matches.
That should give Clayton McMillan’s side plenty of confidence moving into the second half of the competition, and Ioane was relishing the prospect of coming up against his side’s local rivals.
In particular, the head-to-head battle with fellow All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown will provide Ioane with a stern test as he continues his full-time transition from the wing to centre.
“Playing week to week against your All Black mates the challenge never gets any easier. I know Anton is at 13 now so I’m looking forward to Saturday night,” he said.
“It was an awesome comeback they made against the Canes. The battle of the Bombays is always a big one. It wasn’t long ago they had 20 on us at their home so it’s no easy feat going there and coming away with the win.”
The Blues currently lie in second place on the Super Rugby Aotearoa standings and are scheduled to kick-off their clash with the Chiefs at 7:05pm on Saturday NZT.
Comments on RugbyPass
I do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
4 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
27 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
27 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
20 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to comments