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Six Nations statement: Tom Curry 'Tunnelgate' incident
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'It's up to us': Rising star Love backed as one of 'four' Hurricanes RWC 'bolters'
By Finn Morton
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland believes the team can have “three or four” All Blacks bolters at this year’s Rugby World Cup, including rising star Ruben Love.
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Before they were legends, some of the greatest players in the history of rugby union were once considered bolters for the sport’s most prestigious event.
All Blacks Michael Jones, Jonah Lomu and Nehe Milner-Skudder, as well as Wallabies great John Eales, are among the greatest no-names to take the tournament by storm.
There’s truly something special about players coming from nowhere to achieve the impossible, as they etch their names into rugby folklore with startling performances.
Every four years, fans from around the world debate the topic with purpose: who will be the next great World Cup bolter?
Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase and Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson are seemingly among the frontrunners,.
But don’t sleep on the Hurricanes.
Playmaker Ruben Love played a starring role in the Wellington Lions’ NPC triumph last season, and was also among the standouts at Super Rugby level.
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The 21-year-old also played representative rugby with the All Blacks Maori and All Blacks XV. Clearly, Love is the cusp of greatness; he’s certainly in the mix for higher honours.
“He had a pretty special season for the Lions at 15, Rubes,” coach Jason Holland said.
“The time and space thing was awesome for him and we saw how effective he is with ball in hand.
“We take a lot of satisfaction in players being selected as All Blacks, especially the bolters who haven’t had a look in before.
“Behind the scenes we have a drive as a management to get as many players into that All Blacks set-up, and hopefully there’s more than Rubes as we reckon we could have three or four bolters.
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“It’s up to us to play some good footy and to win some footy so they get those rewards.”
Holland added that Jordie Barrett is set to play at inside centre this season for the Hurricanes, which could see love play regular minutes out the back in the No. 15 jersey.
The Hurricanes begin their Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a trip across the ditch, where they’ll face the Reds at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on February 25.