'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
Ben 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.
19 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.
7 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.
19 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.
26 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 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments