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'I haven't rung anyone as quick as that before': Latest All Black Newell on his surprise call
The All Blacks revealed that uncapped Crusaders youngster Fletcher Newell will join the national squad for their upcoming tour to South Africa after an injury to starting tighthead prop Ofa Tuungafasi.
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Tuungafasi’s neck injury furthered an issue up front for the All Blacks, as their propping stocks have taken a hit with the season-ending injury to Joe Moody and the departure of Karl Tu’inukuafe already taking a toll.
Suspended prop Angus Ta’avao, having missed the deciding test against Ireland, has another week remaining to sit out after his three-week ban was reduced to two weeks.
Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot was recalled to the squad for the Rugby Championship when it was announced last week, and now Fletcher Newell will join the squad on Friday before they fly out to South Africa.
The call up surprised the 22-year-old Newell, who revealed he missed the original phone call to hear of his selection.
“I missed a call from the All Blacks manager, he text me and said “hey it is the All Blacks manager here, give me a buzz”. I haven’t rung anyone as quick as that before,” Newell explained.
“It is pretty surreal when he gave me the news, it’s just an awesome moment. I really can’t put any words together at the moment.”
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Newell’s surprise call up has changed this week’s plans drastically, instead of heading to Oamaru for a pre-season clash against Otago he will link with the All Blacks squad to fly out to South Africa for the first time.
Although there will be plenty of familiar faces on the plane with Newell, with many Crusaders teammates in the team along with his Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan who has joined the staff as an assistant coach.
“Tomorrow I’ll train with Canterbury, I’m looking forward to it to help the boys build for a pre-season game against Otago this week,” he said.
“Then on Friday, heading off [to South Africa].
“There is a number of Crusader All Blacks and a lot of leaders in that environment. I’m excited to connect with them.
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“It is quite daunting but I can’t wait to get in there and learn from everyone. There are some really quality players in New Zealand, it’s going to be a great opportunity to learn.
“Me and Jason have a great relationship that we have built throughout the years, I’m really excited to get in there and continue to learn from him,” he said.
“He’s been a massive contributor to my growth and I can’t wait to keeping learning from him.”
The young Crusaders front rower featured in four Super Rugby games off the bench last year, but it was his barnstorming game against the Highlanders in a 17-14 win that caught the attention of the rugby public.
He scored a well earned try in the first half after hitting a gap showing off unique footwork. His big frame was a handful to deal with and he powered the Crusaders forward with incredibly strong carrying.
On Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, former All Black No 8 Stephen Bates was prepared to jump the gun and project the young prop as a future All Black candidate, which has now come into fruition.
“This is a guy that many people wouldn’t know his name,” host Kirstie Stanway explained of Newell, “he was a rock on the weekend.”
“A couple of years ago, he was the young player of the year,” Bates said of the Crusaders prop.
“He’s been around, the Crusaders and Canterbury have obviously known about him. We’ve always known he’s a big lump of a lad, I’d say he’s 130 plus I reckon, a big young man.”
“As we look forward, and I’m getting way too carried away here, if we look forward to the All Blacks, we need those kind of people that carry the ball because if we’ve learnt anything from the Six Nations, they’ve got plenty of those guys.”
The young prop holds the record for the heaviest squat ever recorded in the Crusaders Academy, besting his previous mark of 255kg in 2020 with another effort of 270kg earlier this year.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments