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'He's got energy, he's got an excitement factor, he's got pace': Why the Hurricanes' teenage pivot could cause havoc for the Crusaders
New Hurricanes first five Ruben Love will have a mission on his hands on Sunday afternoon, lining up against on-form All Black Richie Mo’unga – but he may be able to cause some damage of his own.
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The 19-year-old, in just his second Super Rugby match, has replaced Counties Manukau’s Orbyn Leger and has the tough task of trying to help the Hurricanes get their season back on track after succumbing to the Blues last weekend.
The Wellington-based side have just one win to their name this year – against the Highlanders late last month – but a victory over the table-topping Crusaders would be the boost the side need to push on and turn their season around.
Despite all that’s at stake, Hurricanes coach Jason Holland is confident that Love can get the job done.
But what exactly does he expect from the teenage pivot?
“I just want him to be Ruben Love,” Holland said ahead of Sunday’s match. “He’s just got to do what he does.
“I know he’s an absolute student of the game and will have done his homework, so all he has to do is go out there, make decisions and have a crack at whatever he sees.”
Love was named as an outside back when the Hurricanes confirmed their 2021 squad late last year but the 19-year-old spent time all across the backline for Palmerston North Boys.
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Holland indicated last week that they still viewed Love as an outside back, first and foremost, but that a move closer to the action wasn’t out of the question.
“He’s a talented young kid who can play anywhere in the backline,” Holland said. “We see him at the moment as an outside back who can cover 10 so who knows where that will end up but at the moment that’s where we see him.”
Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has offered teenage playmaker Ruben Love some words of advice ahead of the youngster's first start in Super Rugby against the Crusaders on Sunday. #HURvCRU #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/SIX3e9SFsH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 10, 2021
Speaking on Friday, Holland suggested that just because he’s wearing the No 10 jersey this weekend, that’s not necessarily where his long term future lies.
“I don’t think he’s in any hurry to decide exactly where he needs to be, but he’s a really competent 10 and 15,” the coach said.
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“We’ve known what a talent he is and he’s had time to get into the environment; now he gets the opportunity.
“His prep is like he’s a 15-year pro; he does all the right things during the week. He’s got energy, he’s got an excitement factor, he’s got pace and acceleration, he can step – all those things are exciting. He’s an attacking player and will be an attacking 10, but he’s also got the smarts to know when to get a bit of depth and when to kick and pass.
“He’s just a small cog, but I’m confident he’ll just slot in and do his job.”
With the likes of Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett in the backline, the playmaking duties won’t fall solely on Love’s shoulders.
Still, it’s a big ask of the teenager – but once which he’ll undoubtedly welcome with open arms.
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments