'He's another one that has to be on the radar': The 'big body' Crusader making a case for All Blacks selection
The Crusaders’ 26-25 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton put the side’s recent form under the spotlight, after a hard-fought golden point victory against the last-placed Hurricanes the week before, the defending champs have only won one from their last three starts.
The side was constantly under the pump as the Chiefs stood up and controlled proceedings, not giving the Crusaders much of an opportunity to spend time with the ball.
That put the rejigged Crusaders pack under pressure to get through a huge workrate in defence, but one man who impressed former Blues hooker James Parsons was the makeshift openside flanker, Tom Sanders, who was filling in for Sione Havili Talitui.
“The man that played 7 in the opposition, who’s not a usual 7, was exceptional,” Parsons said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “Bryn, you guys must have been rapt.
“You guys must have wanted a big body in there, he definitely got around the field, but also made his presence felt on the night, this is Tom Sanders I’m obviously talking about.”
Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall, who came on towards the end of the game off the bench, said that Sanders has been training the house down to recover from his injury last year and his performance was ‘exceptional’ in a losing side against the Chiefs.
“He was exceptional. For a guy that had such a great season last year and was rewarded with the South team, to unfortunately have that injury and not being able to regain that form and play footy, he’s come back roaring,” Hall said.
“He did his due diligence around his recovery. He was a ‘hundy’ around training, he’s one of those guys that always put you on edge.
The Crusaders loose forward finished with 15 tackles and two turnovers along with seven carries in attack, but Hall highlighted his work off the ball securing the Crusaders ruck as crucial.
“It’s a position he hasn’t played a lot, but on the weekend he had a great couple of good steals, and big moments, and his work rate off-the-ball around the park as well. You talk about breakdowns, he was great at our breakdown getting quick ball being that bigger body.
“He’d a great game and fingers crossed he can stay injury-free, because he’s been great for us in the last 12 months, and when he’s been injury-free he’s had some great performances for us.”
In Wellington, the Crusaders quickly dealt to the Hurricanes. They weren't so efficient against the Chiefs on Saturday. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CHIvCRUhttps://t.co/8VCaLuHpcI
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Parsons claimed that the 27-year-old ‘has to be on the radar’ for higher honours with the All Blacks, highlighting his big performance in the North vs South game against the best players in the country and now coming back from injury and performing at the same level.
“He’s another one that has to be on the radar as well, because of that performance in that North versus South game.
“He was put in that environment, and he had a big game that night. And now, after another injury, he’s come back and performed out of position. That is a big statement in itself,” Parsons said.
Crusaders teammate Bryn Hall said that the versatility that Sanders has shown can give him an edge, as All Blacks’ selectors look for players who can cover multiple positions.
“I think it is. The fact that you know he can play 6, he’s played 8 for us as well, and now that opportunity to play 7, all three positions. We talk about squad members and been able to pick on versatility, if he gets the chance to play 7 again and plays like that he has to be in the conversation,” Hall explained.
The All Blacks loose forward picture is congested, however, with Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Ardie Savea, Cullen Grace, Akira Ioane and Shannon Frizell all in the squad last year, although the injury to captain Sam Cane does open up the spot for potentially one more loose forward this season.
Tom Sanders is one more option on the cusp along with Chiefs openside Lachlan Boshier and Hurricane Du’Plessis Kirifi, who was called into the squad as cover last year. The likes of Ethan Blackadder and Luke Jacobson have also impressed this year.
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Ben Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
23 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
28 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI 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).
5 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.?
28 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.
4 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
4 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?
28 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…
22 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 comments