'He's come back a big boy': The late All Blacks addition that's set for a massive season with the Crusaders
Before the 2020 test season kicked off, Crusaders prop George Bower was probably on few rugby fans’ radars. Even now, ahead of the 2021 Super Rugby season, there are probably many across the country who couldn’t pick the burly prop out from a line-up of men.
The Wellington-born 28-year-old was called into the All Blacks late last year ahead of the Tri Nations competition in Australia.
It was a quick rise for Bower, who only debuted for the Crusaders in 2019 and has spent most of Super Rugby caps riding the pine behind Joe Moody.
The Crusaders, of course, are a certified propping factory and despite having stalwart looseheads Moody and Wyatt Crockett on the books for the majority of the last decade, Bower and fellow No 1 Tim Perry have both also earned spots in the national squad.
While Bower didn’t get the opportunity to actually wear the black jersey last year, the late bloomer still has time to earn a maiden test cap – and that journey begins when Super Rugby Aotearoa kicks off at the end of the month.
Already, he’s packed on a few extra pounds ahead of the pre-season that will help him make a case for higher honours.
“He’s come back a big boy,” said Crusaders assistant coach Andrew Goodman of Bower. “The All Blacks’ set-up was ideal for him. He was over there for a month, two months on hotel food where he didn’t have to worry about getting his meals prepared and the ability to train in the gym for a lot of the time because he wasn’t out on the field playing so many minutes.”
Were it not for an incredibly tough decision two years ago, Bower would not even be warranting a mention in the national prop discussion.
In early 2019, Fiji coach John McKee approached Bower with an eye towards including the front-rower in his World Cup squad.
“I had to tell the coach at the time that I think it would be best to stay with New Zealand and chip away at Super Rugby a bit more,” Bower told Stuff following his All Blacks call-up.
“I had just started scratching the surface last year and so, in a way, it’s kind of a blessing in disguise I didn’t take that opportunity. I’d love to play for my home country but the All Blacks has definitely been a dream of mine, to put on the jersey.
“But that definitely was a hard decision I had to make.”
The @AllBlacks and Les Bleus are set to square off at the 2023 Rugby World Cup – and the French have now indicated when they'd prefer to go to battle with their arch-rivals. #AllBlacks @FranceRugbyhttps://t.co/gO0bob1sn1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 3, 2021
Ahead of his call-up to the All Blacks last year, Bower revealed that he’d had chats with the NZ scrum coach Greg Feek over how he could push his name into the selection equation.
“We sat down and had a good meeting and just a bit of advice in how to better my game and what I can do to really put my hand up to be an option kind of thing,” he told RNZ.
“I got a lot out of that and also [All Blacks assistant coach] Brad Mooar – I know Brad Mooar from last year when he helped the Crusaders. Just throughout the week we’d talk and things like that, so I know what I need to do to be an option in case of an injury or something like that.”
Evidently, the 28-year-old took the feedback in his stride.
While the Crusaders still have Moody to call on in 2021, the quick-fire high-intensity nature of the Aotearoa competition means that Bower will have plenty of opportunities to press his claim this year.
Likewise, Isi Tu’ungafasi and 20-year-old Fletcher Newell will also be hungry for minutes, while the tight-head side of the scrum will be propped up by Samoan international Michael Alaalatoa, Irishman Oli Jager and youngster Tamaiti Williams.
Bower, by the end of the season, will certainly have a few opposition players quaking in their boots when they see the big man’s name on the teamsheet – perhaps some fans will take notice too.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments