Roger Tuivasa-Sheck won't have space at 12 like he does in rugby league
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at 12? Honestly, I’m not sure.
It’s easy to like RTS. The man’s been a model professional athlete, carrying himself in a manner that’s been a credit to himself, his family and every team who’s contracted him.
He was a very fine player at the Sydney Roosters, but was unable to make a demonstrable impact at the New Zealand Warriors. That wasn’t his fault, more a reflection of the calibre of those two NRL clubs.
We’re now eager to see what Tuivasa-Sheck can do in rugby, where many expected him to pop up on the right wing.
Instead, we’re told second five-eighth will be his position, which I have to admit feels like a stretch.
I mentioned the goodwill towards Tuivasa-Sheck, because that’s important. People will give him the benefit of the doubt and will forgive whatever missteps the 28-year-old takes, as he returns to the game of his youth.
But the man has made his name – and his millions – playing as an outside back and now faces an uphill task to suddenly turn himself into a serviceable international midfielder.
I say international, because Tuivasa-Sheck won’t have come cheap. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) will want some bang for their buck, which means the man will need to quickly establish himself as an All Black to justify their spend.
The fact he’s not being seen as a wing – who are frankly a dime a dozen in these parts – probably tells you why the former Dally M fullback of the year is about to play 12. It simply doesn’t make economic sense to have a bloke who’ll be 29 in June chasing and returning kicks, when you could pay someone with less miles in their legs to do it for practically nothing.
Let’s look at the man’s strengths. He has good feet, is quick off the mark, strong, brave, a useful ballplayer and occasionally effective short-kicker.
If I think of a rugby player in my lifetime with a similar skillset, John Schuster comes to mind. Like Tuivasa-Sheck, he was a 12 before going on to play wing in rugby league.
Tuivasa-Sheck has been an adequate first or second-receiver in rugby league and can organise quite well. He’s vocal and a leader and possessed with decent vision.
But he was at his best in the NRL when in space. It was rare for the first tackler to stop him on a kick return, given his ability to step off either foot.
Tuivasa-Sheck won’t have space at 12. He’ll be taking the ball flat with loose forwards and all sorts to contend with.
He’s not built to be a battering ram or known for an ability to offload in the tackle. Nor, beyond a grubber or two, is he a noted kicker.
And, as Ngani Laumape will tell you, not being able to punt expertly off either foot can be seen as something of a disadvantage when you play 12.
I could see Tuivasa-Sheck at centre, carrying the ball in a fashion similar to Rieko Ioane. Tuivasa-Sheck lacks Ioane’s power and outright speed, but centre would afford him more space to beat defenders one-on-one.
If I’m absolutely honest here, I think he’s been a poor buy by NZR. I think his rugby league career was in decline and that rugby has offered him a soft landing.
Frankly, I don’t think it’ll be long before he ends up playing in Japan.
I get what’s good about him and I readily accept he’s a model pro who will bring a lot to a team environment. I just struggle to see him nailing down a position in the 15-man game, given his age and decade away from the code.
In earmarking Tuivasa-Sheck to play 12, I honestly believe we’re putting him in the least advantageous position possible.
Well, that’s not quite right. He could be following in Benji Marshall’s footsteps and trying to learn to play first five-eighth.
I don’t throw that name in there frivolously, either. Marshall and Tuivasa-Sheck’s games have a wee bit in common and we all saw how badly Benji struggled at the Blues.
I want to see Tuivasa-Sheck succeed and I know that I’m not alone there. He’s a man with a legion of admirers, who was capable of amazing things in the 13-man code.
But I also wrote on this site not long ago that Jordie Barrett wasn’t a bad bet at 12 for the All Blacks and I meant it. We need a physical threat in midfield and Tuivasa-Sheck doesn’t provide it.
I look forward to being proved wrong and to finding RTS can adapt to rugby and can be credible second five-eighth. I’m just not holding my breath.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sounds like quite a bit of development has occurred regarding Mo’unga’s situation. Either NZR has stepped up their offer (big time) or RMo has had a reality check on what it will be like to be outside of the high performance environment of AB rugby. Maybe both. It reads like there are only a few remaining details to be sorted out before it is a done deal.
1 Go to commentsCurrently, a prop that has been substituted can go back on field if his original replacement gets injured. Can a red carded prop go back if his replacement gets injured, or will it be uncontested scrums?
11 Go to commentsWhat about a free kick from a scrum? Can you call another scrum? Or are they just giving straight penalties now?
28 Go to commentsLoved that comment by Andrew that the ‘water boys’ rule was changed in 2020 just to stymie the Boks!
28 Go to commentsOne of the best the Boks have ever produced. PSDT has an engine that goes non-stop for the full 80 min.
5 Go to commentsThe real deal.
5 Go to commentsIt’s been said that Nienaber will head back to SA too before next World Cup , hoarding all the amazing IP gained in Irish system … get a grip … Irish system needs to Milk the likes of Barrett . First time a leading all Black in his prime has gone to Ireland for any period of time . Enjoy it .
20 Go to comments20 min RC is the only good solution of a bunch of bad solutions. Ridiculous that it has taken this long and caused so many uneven contests. In general these are all very good changes - one is surprised that NH brokers were able to see sense at long last.
11 Go to comments“While a red card will mean a temporary team disadvantage, the replacement system will focus punishment on the offending player instead of disrupting the game itself.” This might work for amateur rugby, where players just want to be on the pitch for as long as possible, but hopefully we’ve got to a point where top level professionals care about the success of their team much more than about whether they personally are on the pitch or not.
11 Go to commentsa lot of focus on the targeting of south africa, but aspects of this are positive. The croc roll; the offside law; and time limits on set pieces are all good. calling for a mark off kick offs is baffling, but I guess we’ll see how it plays out in practice
28 Go to commentsSpeeding the game up is great, but I think we will find that the increase in viewership this year mostly comes down to the competition being more competitive…the fall of the Crusaders has been a boon for viewership. This should be at the heart of super rugby changes - how to make the comp more even
23 Go to commentsThe fact that the press were largely to blame for his taking a break is nothing short of disgusting. He’s made a few mistakes but difficult to name a player of any substance who gives it a full go hasn’t also made mistakes? On behalf of a large number of Bokke fans, bring back Farrell !!!!!
1 Go to commentsPSTD is a fantastic flanker. He could benefit from a bit of self-promotion / flair and he is not quite the danger man that Ardie is. That said, he is my 1st pick to build a backrow around. His speed and hustle made up for Duane who got quite a bit slower at the 8.
5 Go to commentssurprised, disco lights haven't been banned by world rugby board
28 Go to commentsToo many changes. Too often. I’m tired of this WR administration. How do we vote these fockers out? Bill needs to go.
28 Go to commentsDu Toit, 2 time W.Cup winner yet rarely mentioned a “Great “…if one looks back on his stellar carrier perhaps someone will one day elevate him to “Richie” status…a quiet, polite yet devastating loose forward that knew action speaks louder than words..
5 Go to commentsI like the offside rule, but this won't affect my team because all their kicks gets chased and that putts everyone on side. Lekker manne!
28 Go to comments20 minute Red Card is untenable. If you don’t punish the whole team, coaches won’t be sufficently incentivised to pick players with, or coach better tackle technique.
11 Go to commentsI can only think of One time ever a team has opted for a scrum from a free kick… Why the law change I wonder
28 Go to commentsYeah, its not going to work. But we see you World Rugby.
28 Go to comments