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Irish newspaper claims All Blacks have undermined their own culture selecting Sevu Reece 12 months after IRFU tore up contract offer
An extraordinary year in the life of Sevu Reece is poised to deliver an extraordinary payback in Tokyo on Saturday. It was just 54 weeks ago when Irish rugby seemingly left the 22-year-old’s fledgeling career in limbo.
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He had agreed to sign for Connacht in May 2018 but his involvement in a July altercation with his girlfriend on a night out in Hamilton had a court sequel where he acknowledged he had an issue with alcohol and was reprimanded with a fine after he pleaded guilty to assault.
The matter didn’t end there, though. With the IRFU feeling the need to hold its players to higher standards of behaviour in the wake of the Paddy Jackson/Stuart Olding controversy that resulted in the sacking of the Ulster pair, the administration in Dublin let it be known to Connacht that their new singing was no longer welcome and the contract offer was to be torn up.
That was confirmed on October 4 last year but if the IRFU thought that was the last that would be heard of Reece they have been sadly mistaken.
After finishing the domestic Mitre Cup competition as top try scorer with Waikato, he was handed a Super Rugby lifeline last December when called into the wider Crusaders squad as cover during pre-season.
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What has since unfolded has been the stuff of New Zealand fairytale – and potential Irish World Cup nightmare. Israel Dagg’s injury-enforced retirement opened a slot in the Super Rugby franchise’s roster and from there Reece lethally worked his way up the selection ladder.
Come the end of the Super Rugby season in July, he not only signed off with a winner’s medal in his back pocket but he also bagged the accolade as the tournament’s top scorer which an eye-bulging contribution of 15 tries.
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No wonder Steve Hansen took an interest. By the end of that month, the Fijian was capped by the All Blacks, making his debut in the win away to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Ireland name a strong team for Saturday. #IRLvsNZL #RugbyWorldCup #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/4559bmzvi3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2019
Now, after four tries in five Test appearances, he will line up on the wing in the World Cup quarter-finals against the country that forcibly told him he was not welcome to earn a living there.
His selection by Hansen for the Saturday showdown in Tokyo hasn’t gone down well in some Irish quarters with the Irish Independent, that country’s biggest selling newspaper, damningly headlining a piece on the player: ‘New Zealand have undermined own values by giving Sevu Reece starring role’.
In the article, it was stated that “he’s so good at rugby, the All Blacks have made peace with his indiscretions and selected him anyway… he has made the most of that chance and the All Black threat is all the stronger for his inclusion in the team.
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“But selecting him has left them open to the accusation that they have undermined their own culture for the sake of the win.”
An excellent record in 75 matches in six years boils down to a single 80 minutes in Tokyo for Joe Schmidt as Ireland go head to head against his native New Zealandhttps://t.co/4ur0hNf9oj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 18, 2019
It’s not an accusation that has just played out in just the newspaper either. With Reece wheeled out at a media event in Tokyo, it was put to him that he could well be playing his rugby this week in Ireland had he pleaded not guilty in court.
It was a query he wasn’t too enamoured about. “That’s a tough question,” he responded. “Like I said before, I’m here now, I can’t dwell too much on what-ifs. It’s just sort of, for me, moving forward, about how I carry myself and contribute to the team on Saturday.”
That is a contribution which will be viewed with immense interest by the IRFU, given their contract termination unwittingly handed the All Blacks one of the most potent current weapons in Hansen’s arsenal.
WATCH: Jim Hamilton makes his predictions for all four World Cup quarter-finals in the latest episode of Don’t Mess With Jim
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI 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 comments