'I don’t feel any pressure': Ruben Love has 'no reason not to feel confident'

Ruben Love is fit and firing for his second crack at an All Blacks cap, this time a starting one in front of a home crowd.

Having debuted off the bench against Japan last October, Love has bided his time waiting for a shot at his familiar No. 15 jersey on home soil, a shot he has been given in Hamilton this weekend.

New Zealand coach Scott Robertson has found it tricky to find time for the youngster in a talented field of contenders for the fullback role. Still, he had every intention of playing each of his selected players throughout the July Series, and has lived up to that intention with Thursday’s team naming.

The coach, now in his second season in charge of rugby’s most iconic brand, said Love’s consistency had earned him selection.

“Look, he’s matured nicely, he’s trained incredibly well, and he’s ready for this,” the coach told the media in Hamilton. “We expect a lot of kicking, he’s great under the high ball, and he’s got an incredible boot on himself. He gives us that depth that’s required.”

For Love, there’s an upside to being pushed to the fringes of Test selection.

“When you’re training and competing against Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Will Jordan, you gain a lot of confidence just being around them, talking to them off the field and training with them on it,” the fullback said.

“There’s no reason for me not to feel confident. I’ve been in this environment all of last year, learnt from the great coaches and the great players. This week I’ve got experienced wingers, I’ve got Anton (Lienert-Brown) inside me, so I’ve just got to go out and back my game and play my game and let the opportunities come.”

For those unfamiliar with the Hurricanes flyer’s game, Love let people know what to expect from him in the All Blacks backfield.

“I think I can bring an X-factor, but also be reliable. I feel like I’ve done well under the high ball this year, so the French will do a lot of kicking, and I’ve just got to make sure I’m adept when they put a lot of those kicks up.

“I feel like I’m good at giving players confidence as well, I’m vocal on the field, and I have a ‘never say no’ attitude. 

“I just want to be a great teammate, be reliable.”

While No. 15 is his most common position, the 24-year-old’s 2024 debut came on the right wing. This season, his minutes have been split between fullback and first five. Love says he’s preparing for both 10 and 15, should he be required to switch roles on Saturday.

“Understanding all the plays and how we want to play the game, where both first-five and fullback fit in. The way I can gather all the confidence I need is just to prepare for both roles in training at 10 and 15, and just making sure that if the moment comes, then I’m just ready to do both for the team.”

When asked how he’d manage the pressure of playing 10 at such a young age, Love had an emphatic response.

“I don’t feel any pressure.”

Expanding on that answer, the 43-cap Hurricane said some time on the sidelines recovering from an ankle surgery to begin 2025 had given him the chance to grow.

“The mental game, that was something I had to pick up. Obviously, you can’t do it physically on the field, so the visualisation and those ways to get better. I sought out a breathing coach, and really just finding ways to grow as a professional while not being on the field held me in good stead.

“I feel like I’m a lot more confident in my ability and in myself as a person, and knowing where I can contribute to a team and to my family as well.

“It forces you to look at the game a lot differently, too, being a coach rather than a player, because you’re not on the field. So I could grow a lot.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

29

24

First try wins

20%

Home team wins

100%

The breathing coach is a familiar face to many All Blacks, with Love the latest to see value in some specialist insights.

“A lot of it is to do with emotional regulation. When you find yourself on the rugby field, you can be in high-stress environments, and the quicker you can come back and regulate yourself, the better you can be as a player, and how present you can be.

“Breathing plays a massive part.”