'It'd be awesome': All Blacks star calls for return of North vs South clash
All Blacks star Will Jordan has called for the permanent return of the annual North vs South fixture in their form of either a one-off match or a three-match series.
The historic inter-island clash was resurrected last year for the first time since 2012 as New Zealand Rugby [NZR] was forced to think outside of the box in terms of its scheduling amid a year heavily disrupted by Covid-19.
The match, which effectively doubled as an All Blacks trial played the day before Ian Foster named his first-ever New Zealand squad, was just the second of its kind to be held in the professional era, with the other being the 2012 clash.
Prior to that, the last time the North vs South match was played came in 1995, but the fixture had been held on a near-yearly basis between 1897 and 1986.
With such strong historical background, and the added lure of seeing New Zealand’s top players pitted against each other, plenty of hype surrounded last year’s game, which was played in front of an empty Sky Stadium in Wellington under Covid-19 restrictions.
The match – the 81st meeting between the North and the South – lived up to expectation as the South Island scored an upset 38-35 win over the North Island when Jordan latched onto a Josh Ioane cross-kick in injury time to score a dramatic match-winning try.
Given the intrigue and anticipation that was associated with the match, and the free-flowing and attacking nature in which it played out, many hoped the fixture would become a mainstay of NZR’s calendar to give rugby union its own version of rugby league’s State of Origin in Australia.
However, the game wasn’t renewed this year as the All Blacks resumed a full year of test matches, and no indication has yet been given as to whether the clash will return in the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, Jordan called on NZR to reinstate the fixture during an appearance on the What A Lad podcast, hosted by former Hurricanes fullback James Marshall.
The 23-year-old flyer, who this week won World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, spoke highly of last year’s edition of the match and said he was eager for it to return annually, either as a one-off fixture or as a three-game series.
“That was just such a cool game. If they can find any way to get that game, or even a wee series, into the national calendar, it’d be awesome, I reckon,” Jordan told What A Lad.
“I think everyone really seemed to buy into it and the game itself was really cool. It was just a shame there was no crowd because it would have been a pretty cool atmosphere if there had been.”
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Jordan impressed in last year’s game, scoring two of the South Island’s five tries, which helped pave the way for a maiden All Blacks call-up the following day.
His second try saw him leap over the top of his Tasman teammate, and ex-Crusaders teammate, Mitch Hunt to catch Ioane’s cross-kick and score the match-winning try five minutes after the full-time siren.
While recounting the try on What A Lad, Jordan paid tribute to Ioane’s accuracy under pressure after calling the play alongside South Island fullback Jordie Barrett following a prolonged period of pressure inside the North Island’s half.
“I think before that, we had about three penalty advantages right in their attacking zone, and I had been calling for it [the cross-kick] before that,” Jordan said.
“Just knowing the physical difference between me and Hunty, I thought the cross-kick might have been a good option, but it didn’t really get out there, so me and Jordie went and talked to Josh Ioane, who was at 10, and said, ‘Look, if we get the advantage again, just pull trigger on it and just kick it’.
“To be fair, it was an on-the-money seed from Josh. He was under quite a bit of pressure. They came quite hard at him, and he did very well to execute that under pressure and put it on a dime.”
A good friend of Hunt’s, Jordan added that only recently has he begun to give the Highlanders playmaker grief for his missed opportunity to save the match for the North Island after initially feeling somewhat guilty for condemning his mate to defeat.
“As time goes on, I’ve given him a bit more banter about it. When I saw him in the sheds after the game, and probably sort of the coming week or two after that, I didn’t really give him too much stick about it,” Jordan said.
“I felt pretty bad about it actually – I didn’t feel bad, but he is obviously a good mate of mine and it was unfortunate that it had been over him.
“It would have been better if it was someone else, but, certainly as time’s gone on, I’ve started to give him more stick about it.”
Listen to Will Jordan’s interview on the What A Lad podcast below:
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There’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to comments