'He's a freak': Teammates reveal how much quicker Rieko Ioane is than Will Jordan
He’s long been recognised as one of the fastest members of the All Blacks squad, but it’s now been revealed just how quick Rieko Ioane is.
The 24-year-old flyer was named by former Blues teammate James Parson as his pick for All Blacks player of the year on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod following a stellar season of test rugby.
Flitting between the wing and the midfield throughout the course of the year, Ioane was a standout in a subpar All Blacks campaign as he established himself as a first-choice player in either position.
Parsons, who played alongside Ioane at the Blues between 2016 and 2020, told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that what was most impressive about the utility back’s season was how he utilised his pace both in attack and on defence.
“I think Rieko’s had a massive year,” Parsons, the former two-test All Blacks hooker, said.
“Just in attack, his ability to put the team first, whether he’s at centre or he’s on the wing, he did what was asked of him in those moments, but, more importantly, the efforts we saw from Rieks on [defence].”
A prime example of Ioane’s defensive speed was seen when he backtracked about 50 metres to tackle Wallabies fullback Tom Banks during the third Bledisloe Cup test in Perth nearly three months ago.
In the wake of that match, the All Blacks claimed on social media that Ioane reached a top-end speed of 38.5km/h in that piece of play, and Parsons said it was that “lethal” turn of pace that makes him “a freak” and a highly-valued addition to the All Blacks.
“I don’t know if you remember in Perth, he chased back about 40 or 50 metres to stop a try,” Parsons said.
“He did it the other day against the French as well, and we’re seeing more often, I suppose, his speed allowing him to make some real big defensive plays as well as the attacking stuff, so I think Rieks should be really proud of his year and what he delivered for the All Blacks.
“It’s just that injection of pace. It’s just so lethal, and we haven’t seen it, I suppose, in the defensive side [of his game].
“We’ve always known him for the attacking [side of his game], but I think he got up to 39km/h when he was chasing back [to tackle Tom Banks]… But he’s a freak when it comes to that stuff.
He is partial to a good invitational team…https://t.co/b7vCv8qFiU
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“The best thing this year, more often than not, we saw him pull it out in big moments and score good tries, but also save them.”
Parsons added that, at his peak, the fastest time he saw Ioane clock in at was almost 11 metres per second, which translates to a speed of 39.6km/h.
“I think if you’re over 10 metres per second, you’re humming. That’s a good 100 metre time, and I’m pretty sure Rieks was close to 11 metres per second [at his best] at training.”
Crusaders and Maori All Blacks halfback Bryn Hall suggested that would make Ioane one of the fastest players in rugby as he told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that an “elite” speed for outside backs is “anything over 34-35 km/h”.
By comparison, Hall said that his Crusaders teammate, and Ioane’s All Blacks teammate, Will Jordan is the fastest player at the Christchurch-based franchise with a top-end speed of up to 37km/h.
Even then, Jordan’s fastest pace would still be at least 1.5km/h slower than Ioane’s, if the claims made by Hall, Parsons and the All Blacks are all accurate.
A five-time Super Rugby champion has outlined three ways in which the All Blacks can improve from their subpar campaign heading into next year. #AllBlacks https://t.co/6LriH9ZH2c
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“Will Jordan’s the fastest at the Crusaders, and he’s like 36-37 km/h, so it just shows how fast Rieko is,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“If Rieko is at 38-39 km/h, like Jip [Parsons] is saying, then it just shows [how fast Ioane is]. We know how fast Will Jordan is. He [Ioane] is an extra two kilometres faster [per hour].”
Suggestions that Ioane is among the fastest players in the All Blacks squad were supported by his international teammate Damian McKenzie, who told the What A Lad podcast last week that the 47-cap star is the fastest player in the national squad over 100 metres.
“He’s rapid. He’s quick. Once he gets going, he’s rapid,” McKenzie said before listing himself, Ioane, Richie Mo’unga and Aaron Smith as some of the fastest All Blacks over a 10 metre span.
“All of those winger, they’re rapid. Beaudy [Beauden Barrett], they’re all pretty quick. My best is probably just over a short distance. I start to fade getting late in the 100 metres.
“Again, Rieks, Nuggy’s [Smith’s] rapid. His first couple of steps, he gets away pretty quick… And Lasher [Mo’unga], he’s pretty quick over 10 metres, too. He’s speedy.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
4 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
23 Go to comments