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Mike Blair on Kirifi: 'There's some pretty impressive players in front of him'
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While Dave Rennie had the opportunity to give Anton Segner a maiden All Blacks call-up, there was also a difficult conversation to be had with Hurricanes captain Du’Plessis Kirifi.
Segner, one of the four uncapped players to be named in Monday’s 34-man squad, was likely battling Kirifi for one spot in Rennie’s loose-forward mix.
Both players had exceptional seasons, but Rennie and his coaching staff opted for the German-born Blues No.7 over the eight-Test All Black.
Despite Kirifi co-captaining his side to a Super Rugby Pacific title, assistant coach Mike Blair said that the loose-forward position was tough to pick, and there are a number of players who missed out.
“He’s [Kirifi] a quality player, isn’t he? He’s played well, and he’s led really well for Hurricanes,” Blair said on Millsy & Guy on Sport Nation NZ.
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“But in saying that, there’s some pretty impressive players in front of him, so there will be more guys who do go to South Africa, an extra 10 guys or so.
“So the option to bring him in certainly isn’t closed, but you know, there’s some great players in front of him, he’s unfortunate.”
The Sky Sport Breakdown crew also agreed that the Hurricanes’ co-captain was unlucky, with former All Blacks Jeff Wilson and James Parsons explaining that he couldn’t have done much more.
“I don’t think he could [have done any more],” Parsons said of Kirifi on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown.
“There’s no way he could have played any better, like statistically and visually.
“It’s the best season he’s had, and I think as a leader he’s been exceptional as well. But I think it’s like the captain [Savea] to me, it says he will be at seven, and there’s no intention of subtle him off, that’s 80 minutes.”
When asked about injured All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku, Blair suggests they still weren’t sure where they may have played him.
“I mean, he’s a player of incredible capability, isn’t he? His footwork, his power, his skill set, and he’s done an incredible job at seven for the Crusaders, as he has in the centres, and probably more so in the in the back three.
“So he’s someone who sadly, due to his injury, gives us more time to think more about how he could potentially be used, but the fact that you can play in those multiple positions makes him a player of real interest.”
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