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'Put him in straight away': Ex-All Black wants Roger Tuivasa-Sheck fast-tracked
All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan has called for cross-code Blues star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to be called into the New Zealand squad immediately.
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Tuivasa-Sheck was named by former Highlanders and Crusaders lock Joe Wheeler in a Form All Blacks Team announced on The Breakdown on the back of only three appearances for the Blues since his move to rugby union from the NRL.
Wheeler said Tuivasa-Sheck’s would offer the All Blacks with “something really, really different that we haven’t seen since Sonny Bill [Williams]” due to “his ability to break the line” and “keep the ball alive”, which he said is “what this All Blacks side needs”.
Despite having only just returned from a shoulder injury, Kirwan agreed with Wheeler’s selection of Tuivasa-Sheck in his Form All Blacks Team.
“For me, he is Sonny Bill Williams,” Kirwan told The Breakdown.
“For me, he has come into our game, I think he’s got x-factor, and I would – and I wouldn’t say this, don’t get me wrong people, I’d never say this about the All Black jersey – but I would put him in straight away, just because we’ve only got 18 tests to go.
“I’ve seen enough in his two games, with his feet especially, he will get us over the advantage line.”
Wheeler added that Tuivasa-Sheck’s development is set to progress rapidly by playing inside star Blues first-five Beauden Barrett, with both players back in action after sideline spells.
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“Once he gets in that Blues side alongside Beauden Barrett, I think we’re going to see his development go through the roof, his understanding of the game, the pictures he’s going to see, because he hasn’t played in a long, long time,” Wheeler said.
Barrett also featured in Wheeler’s Form All Blacks Team on the basis of his recent performance against the Crusaders and rival first-five Richie Mo’unga.
There, Barrett forms a halves partnership with halfback Aaron Smith, who Wheeler said warrants selection despite “not at the top of his form”.
“He’s world-class and I just don’t think we can have an All Blacks side without Aaron Smith running the cutter,” Wheeler told The Breakdown.
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Elsewhere in the backline, Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku edged out Blues speedster Caleb Clarke in the No 11 jersey, while Wheeler had Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett at centre, right wing and fullback, respectively.
Up front, Wheeler picked Highlanders powerhouse Ethan de Groot at loosehead prop and expressed concerns about New Zealand’s depth in that position following an injury to Crusaders veteran Joe Moody against the Blues on Friday.
“Ethan de Groot gets the nod at loosehead prop, and this is worrying because Joe Moody went down on the weekend. I’m seriously concerned about our depth at loosehead prop at the moment.”
The remainder of the front row was filled out by Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and Blues prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, both of whom Wheeler described as “outstanding”.
Crusaders captain Scott Barrett and Chiefs youngster Tupou Vaa’i were both selected in the second row, while the loose forward trio was comprised of Crusaders flanker Ethan Blackadder, All Blacks skipper Sam Cane and Hurricanes No 8 Ardie Savea.
Wheeler’s bench also featured Asafo Aumua, Nepo Laulala, Aidan Ross, Josh Lord, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Mo’unga and Clarke.
“Obviously Dalton with his performance on the weekend, obviously unlucky not to get the nod,” Wheeler explained on The Breakdown.
“Finlay Christie, some may say controversial, but a great Tasman lad who’s playing some outstanding footy for the Blues at the moment, and Caleb Clarke, again, he’s been top of his form.”
Former Black Ferns star Kristinia Sue questioned the lack of bolters in Wheeler’s side, listing Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, Crusaders prop Fletcher Newell and Blues hooker as players who were unfortunate to make the cut.
However, Kirwan said it’s too close to the World Cup for the All Blacks to be selecting too many newcomers, adding that the only exception would be if a player was in such good form that it would be too hard to deny them a place in the squad.
“I just don’t think we can [have too many bolters]. I just think we’re way too close to the World Cup to actually start adding too many. I think if there’s a Nehe Milner-Skudder and he’s just outstanding, then yeah, but nah.”
Joe Wheeler’s Form All Blacks Team
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
4. Scott Barrett
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Sam Cane (c)
8. Ardie Savea
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Will Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett
Reserves
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Nepo Laulala
18. Aidan Ross
19. Josh Lord
20. Dalton Papalii
21. Finlay Christie
22. Richie Mo’unga
23. Caleb Clarke
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 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.
24 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 commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments