How debutant Fletcher Newell earned a spot on the bench for Springboks rematch
Perhaps the biggest story to come out of the All Blacks named to take on the Springboks in Johannesburg this weekend is the selection of uncapped prop Fletcher Newell in the reserves.
Newell’s elevation isn’t necessarily a surprise; the 22-year-old was in impressive form for the Crusaders throughout Super Rugby Pacific this year and many were calling for the youngster to be elevated into the Test squad for last month’s series with Ireland.
As it happened, Newell missed selection for July but with injuries striking down regular tightheads Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tuungafasi, he received an injury call-up ahead of the South Africa leg of the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship campaign.
Now, Newell has the opportunity to make his debut against one of the most fearsome scrums in world rugby – and he’s not exactly surrounded by experienced front-rowers for Saturday’s match.
Starting props Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax – who also weren’t a part of the July squad – boast just 20 caps and four Test starts between them while the man in the No 2 jersey, Samisoni Taukei’aho is also only relatively fresh on the scene.
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On the bench, reserve loosehead George Bower has 15 appearances to his name but there is some experience in the form of Codie Taylor.
Still, the props who will be on display for the All Blacks on Saturday night are a far cry from the men they fielded against Ireland, at least when it comes to runs on the board.
“First of all, two of the July ones are injured, so that makes your arithmetic pretty simple,” coach Ian Foster said when queried about the fast-tracking of his props. “So it’s a great opportunity for some younger props to have a chance at this level.
“I’d put Ethan [in that category], I’d certainly put Fletcher Newell in that camp. He’s come in, trained really, really well, impressed us, and so we really feel it’s a great opportunity for him and it’s an area that we want to grow in terms of our depth and options anyway so what better place to do it?”
Newell made his Super Rugby debut last season, earning three appearances off the bench, but took on considerably more responsibilities this season following the departure of Samoan international Michael Alaalatoa.
While he wasn’t in the first All Blacks squad of the year, Foster said the young prop has already impressed the powers that be within the New Zealand set-up.
“I think the fact he’s come in, jumped on a plane, come here, trained really well last year and he’s impressed with his demeanour and he’s gone about his work, that’s earned him the right to be considered,” Foster said. “The fact he’s in there reflects what he’s done the last two weeks.
“How he’s feeling… he’s not the easiest guy to pick, really, in terms of picking his mood. He’s very level but underneath there he’s very excited and should be very proud of what he’s done and I’m sure when he runs around that park, there’ll be a few butterflies and stuff but first scrum will settle him into it.
“I think you talk about an athlete and talk about their potential but right here and now, he’s in a great spot to start for the All Blacks.”
Taylor, a teammate of Newel’s at the Crusaders, echoed Foster’s sentiments.
“He’s a man that doesn’t say much. It’s just his personality, not because he’s shy or anything. But when he does, he does so with authority with his voice. He’s only 22 and to see someone like that come into this environment and put his hand up is a credit to who he is.
“His family’s really proud. Pretty sure his old man’s on a bird at the moment trying to get over here for the Test. I’m just hugely excited for him and his family to get an opportunity like this at one of the greatest parks in the world.”
Should Newell take the field at Ellis Park on Saturday, he’ll become the fourth new front-rower under Foster’s tenure, following Alex Hodgman, Bower and Taukei’aho.
Comments on RugbyPass
I think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to comments