Latest All Blacks call-up hasn't had 'a good history' with Ireland

With injuries and illness hitting the All Blacks‘ locking stocks this week, the All Blacks were in need of cover for the remaining matches of their July series with Ireland. With Sam Whitelock, Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord all sidelined, that void has been filled by none other than Patrick Tuipulotu.

Tuipulotu was not initially eligible for the squad due to spending the former part of the season playing in Japan but due to the number of key players unavailable at present, the 41-test All Black received a surprise call-up this week.

“I wasn’t expecting to get called in this early,” said Tuipulotu following confirmation he had joined the squad. “I was just at home, pretty much getting (daughter) Pama ready – got a phone call from John Plumtree asking if I’d be available to come in. So here I am – and it’s good to be back in camp.”

Ardie Savea and the All Blacks react to their win over Ireland

Ardie Savea and the All Blacks react to their win over Ireland

Complicating matters, Tuipulotu’s partner, Phoenix Karaka, was already in camp with the New Zealand national netball side – meaning the All Blacks lock had to call in some favours.

“It was quite a messy morning,” Tuipulotu said. “Phoe had been in camp since Sunday, in Wellington with the Silver Ferns. She gets out today so she’ll be back home with the little one but had to call my parents over – they were over pretty quick, as soon as I made the call, so pretty grateful for all of the family that can help out. I was able to sort the little one out before I could get here.”

With Whitelock unavailable for much of last season, Tuipulotu was given ample opportunities in the second row, partnering the likes of Brodie Retallick, Lord and Vaa’i but so four other recently capped locks in New Zealand at present, the 29-year-old will need to make every minute count this season in order to push himself up the pecking order ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.

That opportunity to press his case has come earlier than anticipated – and there’s no easier team to get motivated to face than an Irish side that Tuipulotu hasn’t always enjoyed the best of times against throughout his career.

“I haven’t had a good history with Ireland,” he said. “My first time I played against them was the first time we lost against Ireland in USA.

“Obviously, Ireland are a very good side now and we’ve seen that in their wins against the All Blacks. I’ve got to do my bit to put my hand up (to earn a spot in the matchday 23) but if not, I’ll do my bit to help the team prepare and get ready for a good Ireland team who are on the backfoot after last week.”

Having captained the Blues to a Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title last year, Tuipulotu spent this year’s season representing the Toyota Verblitz in the Japan Rugby League One competition. The Verblitz finished fifth in the league and Tuipulotu now enters the test campaign feeling revitalised and ready to lay down a marker.

“I’m feeling very fresh,” he said. “I’ve been back for about a month and a half, two months now. I’ve actually enjoyed the time I’ve had at home with the family.

“Enjoyed playing out there (in Japan). The toll on the body isn’t the same as what I usually get here. That in itself is refreshing. Coming back now, it’s good to start running around with the All Blacks and getting the intensity back up to where it needs to be.”

The All Blacks’ squad to take on Ireland in the second test will be named on Thursday, with Patrick Tuipulotu a good chance of slotting straight onto the bench behind Brodie Retallick and Scott Barrett.