'He's too good to be sitting at third': Ex-Blues star calls on forgotten All Blacks hopeful to move away from Hurricanes
Former Blues hooker James Parsons has called on third-choice Hurricanes rake Ricky Riccitelli to move away from the Wellington franchise to help revive his All Blacks aspirations.
Riccitelli was a standout for the Hurricanes in their 35-29 defeat to the Chiefs at Sky Stadium on Saturday after he was handed a rare starting opportunity following the injury-enforced absences of All Blacks pair Dane Coles and Asafo Aumua.
The 26-year-old was a constant threat with ball in hand for the home side as he scored a try, made two clean break and ran for 48 metres, the most of any forward in the latest round of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Riccitelli also posted an impressive 12 tackles and was faultless with his lineout throwing in an effort that evoked memories of his stellar performances in the early stages of his Hurricanes career that led to multiple call-ups to the All Blacks in 2017 and 2018.
The South African-born No 2 was never needed by the national side in any tests, though, and he has since had his playing time at the Hurricanes slashed as a result of the involvement of Coles and Aumua in recent seasons.
In fact, Saturday’s match was the first time Riccitelli had started for the Hurricanes, who he debuted for as an injury replacement player in 2016, since their season-opening defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town last February.
That spurred Parsons to urge Riccitelli to survey his options at Super Rugby level and look for a potential move to another New Zealand franchise in the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“You forget, like he had about two years where he went really well – I think Colesy was injured and Asafo Aumua was finding his feet – and he played, I think, two years straight for the Canes and ended up touring with the All Blacks,” Parsons said.
“He didn’t play [for the All Blacks], but [he was] playing really good code back-to-back-to-back, and then he’s just fallen away as that third-string for the Canes.
“I was really happy to see him just remind people, ‘Hey, I’m here, I’m chipping away’, and it doesn’t seem like he’s a guy who drags his lip.
“He’s just been training in the background, doing his hard graft and now he’s got his opportunity again. He’s always that guy, when he gets his opportunity, he delivers.”
Parsons conceded that Riccitelli had made a costly blunder during the Hurricanes’ 33-16 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch earlier this month as he overthrew a lineout deep inside his own half which led to a Codie Taylor try.
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However, Parsons told fellow panellist and Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall that Riccitelli made amends for his mishap as that game wore on and that he deserves more minutes than he’s currently getting at the Hurricanes.
“I know against you guys [the Crusaders] he had his one hiccup with the overthrow, but after that actual overthrow, he still had a good game against you boys and he put on a big shift the other night,” Parsons said.
“I thought, for someone that hasn’t had a lot of minutes at Super Rugby level, to come back – he’s always fit, he’s always ready to go – and he just gave it a little shot across the bow, I reckon, just to say, ‘Hey, let’s just not forget about me, I’m still a good, quality rake’.
“I think, to the other four franchises, if I was looking around and you want to do a bit of recruiting, I think he’s off-contract at the end of this year, he’d be a hell of a pick-up. He’s too good to be sitting at third, for me.”
When asked which of the other four Kiwi franchises Riccitelli should join to rekindle his All Blacks prospects, Parsons pointed to his former side, the Blues.
The two-test All Black reasoned that Riccitelli would provide good competition with the franchise’s current crop of hookers and joked that he could move in with his former Hurricanes teammate Beauden Barrett, who signed with the Blues in 2019.
“He’d be a good fit. It’d be good competition for Kurty [Kurt Eklund] and Lu [Luteru Tolai], that’s up here. It’d be great.”
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Hall agreed with Parsons’ sentiments that Riccitelli was too good to be playing third-fiddle at the Hurricanes and added that the 2016 Super Rugby champion would provide any of the other New Zealand clubs with some good experience.
He’s played a lot of footy, so I think any time you can add depth, and especially if you’re talking around the Blues… He consistently plays well when he needs to,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“You’ve got Asafo there and Dane there, who’s obviously injured at the moment, but, for a guy who’s probably ranked third down there, you go to the Blues or another franchise, he’s a guy who’s proven, as well.
“He was in that All Blacks squad not too long ago, so it was just a gentle wee reminder that he’s still there.”
For Hurricanes fans eager to see Riccitelli stay on board with the franchise, there is a glimmer of hope as Coles, a franchise veteran of 13 seasons, indicated earlier this year that this may be his final campaign with the club as he closes in on retirement.
Should the 34-year-old decide to hang up his boots at the end of this season, Riccitelli may be persuaded to remain with the Hurricanes as a regular in Jason Holland’s match day squads over the coming years.
With Coles (calf) and Aumua (shoulder) continuing to work their way back from their respective injuries, Riccitelli is in line to feature for the Hurricanes again this Friday when they face the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
Very unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to comments