'He's not throwing much chat with his s*** haircut': Jack Goodhue's former midfielder partner relishing potential Bledisloe Cup reunion
It’s been seven years since new Wallabies midfielder Irae Simone last played alongside All Blacks star Jack Goodhue.
The pair could be in line to meet again in about two-and-a-half week’s time, though, with the former Mount Albert Grammar School 1st XV teammates set for a Bledisloe Cup reunion, albeit while playing for different teams.
Born and raised in Auckland, Simone was Goodhue’s midfield partner at the esteemed rugby nursery, which has produced previous All Blacks such as Sonny Bill Williams and Steven Luatua, as well as current newbie Caleb Clarke.
However, the 25-year-old – who was part of the Super Rugby AU title-winning Brumbies side on Saturday – revealed he had no ambition of joining that list while growing up.
“My parents, they got an old video, they asked me what what team I wanted to play for, and I said the Wallabies,” he said on Tuesday.
“I looked up to a lot of players in the All Blacks, but I’ve never wanted to play for the All Blacks. My family’s huge Wallabies supporters, so they’re pretty stoked about this.”
He credited his allegiance to Australia to his childhood hero Matt Giteau, a five-eighth with 103 test caps to his name and two Super 12 championships with the Brumbies.
“I just loved watching him, in terms of his skills, mindset, just how he approached the game. He’s a player that I’ve always looked up to,” Simone said.
“Then you have the greats like [George] Gregan, so back then, the Wallabies were at their peak. It’s probably fair to say that’s dropped down a few the last couple of years, but I’m with a special group here.
“There’s something special that’s brewing within this group, and hopefully we can turn that into a winning mindset in a few games.”
An uncapped prospect who has flourished since moving to the Brumbies from the Waratahs earlier this year, Simone may get a chance to realise his long-held dream after being named in Dave Rennie’s 44-man Wallabies squad a fortnight ago.
That opportunity to don the green and gold jersey might come earlier than first expected after rising Reds star Jordan Petaia suffered a hip flexor injury in his side’s 28-23 Super Rugby AU final defeat to Simone’s Brumbies.
Injury-plagued #Wallabies youngster Jordan Petaia is reportedly in doubt for the opening match of the #BledisloeCup in Wellington next month.https://t.co/WpHyFGg8uM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2020
Many tipped the three-cap Wallabies utility to slot into Rennie’s midfield alongside either franchise teammate James O’Connor or Rebels playmaker Matt To’omua, but he is now in serious doubt to make the cut for Bledisloe Cup opener on October 11.
Petaia’s misfortune could pave the way for Simone to earn his maiden Wallabies cap against his nation of birth in what the latter said would be “a dream come true”.
“There’s a process and there’s a lot of hard work that needs to be done before that,” he added. “But, if the opportunity comes, I’ll definitely be looking forward to that.”
Should Simone be named in Rennie’s first-ever Wallabies team, there’s a fair chance he will be tasked with marking Goodhue, who he said hadn’t given him much banter leading into the clash.
“He sent me a message a few days ago, but no chat at the moment. He’s not throwing much chat with his s*** haircut at the moment,” Simone joked, referring to Goodhue’s recent decision to part ways with his famed mullet.
The Wallabies are expected to fly out of Australia on Friday to undergo a two-week quarantine period in New Zealand leading into their first match.
Comments on RugbyPass
I 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.?
27 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.
3 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
3 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?
27 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…
21 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 commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to comments