'I was having a few words with Marcos Kremer': Blackadder's confident start at 6
All Black loose forward Ethan Blackadder got his first test start since the Fiji clash in Dunedin against Los Pumas and put in an impressive 80-minute performance as one of New Zealand’s best in the 36-13 win at Suncorp Stadium.
The 26-year-old hasn’t seen much game time since July as the All Blacks coaches stuck with Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Ardie Savea for all three Bledisloe Cup fixtures.
Blackadder saw action from the bench in the third test in Perth, before another bench appearance last week on the Gold Coast.
Returning to the starting line-up, Blackadder finally got to wear the No 6 jersey on the blindside, a position he played all year successfully with the Crusaders that led to his national call-up.
“It was really cool wearing the six jersey for the first time for the All Blacks last night. I really enjoyed the first 80 minutes in that jersey, it’s been a few months since I’ve played a full game,” Blackadder told the press on Sunday.
“I like any sort of role in the loose forwards, but especially wearing that jersey was one I won’t forget.”
Blackadder made 12 carries in his fifth test, as well as 15 tackles and winning one turnover in a performance with a high work rate and industrious endeavour.
“My game is probably that [high work rate], it’s something I’ve always done,” Blackadder said on looking like he’d run a marathon by fulltime.
“I’m working on other areas I want to get better at with the staff and coaches we’ve got here. I suppose you play to your strengths as such, it’s a game where you are always constantly trying to be sharp and work on other things.
The inexperienced Blackadder wasn’t shy against the experienced trio of Marcos Kremer, future Crusaders teammate Pablo Matera and Juan Martin Gonzalez, having a run-in with the fiery Argentine openside at a scrum late in the first half.
Blackadder was seen sharing words with Kremer while tapping his mouthguard on his own chest repeatedly.
“I was having a few words with Marcos Kremer, the No 7 for Argentina, we were having a bit of a set-to. It was a bit of fun in the end,” he said.
After battling to stay fit, Blackadder doesn’t feel his injury setbacks have been a hindrance, instead seeing them as an opportunity to work on his game and improve his areas that aren’t so strong.
“It’s not really misfortune I don’t think, I thank all the injuries I had because it gave me a chance to do other things and get better at my game I feel,” he explained.
“It’s just furniture in the game and we just have to accept we are all going to get an injury at some stage and fortunately at the moment I’m having an alright run with no injuries.”
Staying fit is just one part of the puzzle for getting game time within the All Blacks, where the loose forward stocks are up there as one of the strongest position groups, leading to intense competition for places.
Blackadder says he is learning a lot from being in the group and making sure to “not take things for granted” in pursuit of getting more minutes in the black jersey.
“To be honest, it is an environment where you learn heaps of everyone. In the loose forwards for example, we are a really tight group and there are just so many different opinions so we are constantly having conversations, just a great bunch of blokes to learn off.
“That is thing, there is so a lot of competition among the loose forwards. Doing the one percenters and just not taking things for granted and not completing things, that’s what I try and do with my game and recovery and everything else that goes with it.”
Although he doesn’t call anyone in the group a specific mentor, Blackadder said he did model his game as a loose forward on a few players including former Highlanders and All Black Liam Squire.
“There has been a few [players], my old teammate and friend Liam Squire, I used to like the way he played dating back years and years ago,” he said.
“I actually ended up playing with him 2019, so that was pretty cool. I’d say him to be honest.
“He is a helpful dude. I used to always ask him questions and he was always willing to help, so that was pretty cool of him.”
Compared to Super Rugby, Blackadder rated his 80-minute game against the Pumas as one of the toughest of his career taking into account the speed and humidity around the air in Brisbane.
“Yeah it probably was, being on the international stage and the humidity and heat of the game, and it was pretty fast too to be fair. It was.
“Most games I’m feeling it to be honest, and that was definitely up there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen 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.
30 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.
9 Go to comments