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'He's got so much more to give in that All Blacks jersey': Why Ngani Laumape's rumoured move to France is hopefully nothing more
Reports out of France earlier this week suggested that All Blacks and Hurricanes midfielder Ngani Laumape could be on the verge of signing to play in the Top 14.
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It’s a move that would somewhat prematurely end the 27-year-old’s career and one that Super Rugby centurions James Parsons and Bryn Hall hope is nothing more than a rumour.
Following selection in the New Zealand secondary schools side, Laumape spent three seasons playing NRL with the Warriors before making the return to union in 2016, when he signed for the Hurricanes. While he didn’t immediately set the world alight, he slowly found his feet in the fifteen-man game and in 2017, earned a call-up to the national squad.
Lauampe has never locked down a spot in the All Blacks midfield, however, playing just 15 international matches over the past four years. Injuries have at times played their part in Laumape’s non-selection, but All Blacks coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster have also favoured the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown and even Jack Goodhue in the No 12 jersey.
Regardless, losing Laumape would be a huge hit to the Hurricanes and New Zealand rugby as whole.
“I don’t think he’s fulfilled his dream yet, has he?” said former All Blacks hooker Parsons on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “I think he’s always played really well. He’s always been right there for the picking and probably the front runner for All Blacks selection and then he’s got injured.
“Again, this year, he’s in hot form again. He’s right in line to probably be starting for the All Blacks again.
“If he does go to France, I wish him well, obviously, but I hope he doesn’t because I think he’s got a huge All Blacks career ahead of him.”
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While Laumape was at one stage known as a one-trick pony – a wrecking ball on attack but not someone with as diverse a skill set as other midfielders around the country – that perception has rightly changed in recent times.
“I think it’d be a shame for him to leave,” said Crusaders halfback Hall. “I agree with Jip, he’s got so much more to give in that All Blacks jersey.
“We’ve always known how dominant a ball-carrier Ngani is. He’s had a lot of success in that All Blacks jersey and in the Hurricanes jersey as well around his running game but [look at] the changes in his game that he’s tried to implement.
“I look at his kicking game, his cross-field kicks – he’s had a couple of those this year for try assists, little grubbers inside the 22 and being able to see where that kick space is. You’d probably say, back in 2017, he didn’t have that in his repertoire.”
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"Can the All Blacks’ captain also be a bloke who picks fights with the journalists on social media?"
– Hamish Bidwell on the predicament ahead for the All Blacks' coaching staff and selectors following Sam Cane's injury https://t.co/3qYp5ItpSv— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2021
Parsons was full of praise for how Laumape has developed his skillset, also touching upon the midfielder’s burgeoning kicking game.
“We know the strengths that he has but I love his attitude that he’s taken this year,” he said. “He’s really looking to work on his kicking game, he’s really looking to work on his link game – and that doesn’t come from a player that doesn’t have a growth mindset.
“Ngani, for me, clearly has a growth mindset and clearly wants to get better every day. That tells me he’s a good leader and others will want to follow him because he’s the best in his field. So he has so much to offer than just the skillset he has on the field and that’s the sort of player you probably want to keep in the game and you want to keep in New Zealand as well.
“That’s me being the outsider looking in. I don’t know Ngani personally, I’ve only been steamrolled by him personally. But those are the sorts of things and the effort he’s putting in on his work-on areas shows a lot more about his character and where he could potentially get to and the excitement, for me, of where he could get to in the All Blacks jersey.”
A move to France, of course, would stymy any chances of Laumape furthering his international career, with the All Blacks only selecting players from within New Zealand, with the odd exception.
While Laumape would undoubtedly find success at Stade Francais, where he’s rumoured to be heading, his lack of opportunities in the black jersey to date shouldn’t signal to the 27-year-old that there isn’t still time to make a mark.
Ma’a Nonu, a player who started out his career in a similar mould to Laumape, wasn’t a regular selection in the All Blacks until his sixth year in the team – and he later went on to become one of the best No 12s the world has ever seen.
The Red Hurricanes missed an opportunity to join Kobe and Panasonic with five wins each. https://t.co/ZW3oHvzxv2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2021
Parsons suggested that with a bit of patience, Laumape could ultimately find himself in a similar standing.
“I hate comparing players – but he is like a Ma’a Nonu. He’s trending in the same direction, the way he’s growing his game.
“Ma’a was the same, he was told he needed to work on his kicking and he did that and it worked and he grew into the world’s best second five and still is playing extremely well to this day.
“I think that’s more of a like-for-like and the trajectory of his career and if we can get him hanging around and build into something like that, he’s got a hell of a lot to offer.”
While there’s a trove of talent midfielders coming through the ranks in New Zealand right now, there are none quite like Ngani Laumape and his departure overseas would be a major loss for the All Blacks and Hurricanes moving forward.
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
9 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.
10 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.
22 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments