Ruben Love: 'You get kind of frustrated just training the whole time'

Ruben Love will make just his second start for the All Blacks when the team take the field against Wales in Cardiff, having bided his time behind what he describes as a ‘Hall of Fame’ trio over the opening two years of his Test career.

The 24-year-old joined fellow Hurricane Peter Lakai as a travelling apprentice during the All Blacks’ opening campaign of 2024, before earning his first official squad selection for the following Rugby Championship. A debut off the bench then came against Japan on the Northern Tour, but he had to wait until 2025’s July series against France for a starting debut.

Despite impressing in that Hamilton win at fullback, only bench cameos on the wing could be found during this year’s Rugby Championship, and Love hadn’t been seen at all during the Quilter Nations Series until Thursday’s team naming press conference.

“It’s special. I think any time you get named in an All Blacks team, it’s kind of like the first time,” Love said, reacting to his selection. “So, I’m grateful to get the opportunity, but I know there’s a tough game ahead with Wales, and the way that they’ll prepare and the way that we are as well, bouncing back from England. I just want to do my best, play my part, and give a performance I can be proud of.”

Now, with another long-awaited chance to prove his worth, Love knows exactly what he wants to inject into the game.

“A bit of vitality, good energy, and a little bit of X-factor. But at the same time, being a calm head. I’ve been in this environment for two years now, so I feel like I’ve got a good understanding of how we want to play the game, and I’m just making sure that I can be a reliable teammate.”

Team Form

Last 5 Games

0 - 73

26 - 52

24 - 23

28 - 52

22 - 31

26 - 52

33 - 19

17 - 25

13 - 26

14 - 28

2

Wins

4

2

Streak

1

15

Tries Scored

21

-113

Points Difference

47

2/5

First Try

4/5

2/5

First Points

3/5

1/5

Race To 10 Points

4/5

The young speedster had an understanding attitude towards his lack of selection, although he admitted the lack of game time had got to him at times.

“When you’re behind three future Hall of Famers in Beauden (Barrett), DMac (Damian McKenzie), and Will (Jordan), you have to be pretty patient, and I’m just grateful that my family has supported me along the way. There have been times where, I wouldn’t say impatience is the word, but you get kind of frustrated just training the whole time. But that’s when you’ve got so many coaches who put their arm around you and help you grow as a player.

“I’m still young, so the only way I’ll see it as a failure is if I don’t learn from each training. We’ve got great coaches, and again, Beauden, DMac and Will, they help me out as much as they can.

“Again, this is a team environment, there’s no ‘I’ in it, so I’ve just got to make sure I do the best I can for this team.”

Expanding on the mentorship roles the more experienced players in the team have played in Love’s early All Blacks career, he said the veterans had taught him “heaps”.

“Seeing them prepare for games, Test matches require so much preparation and input on the mental side of things as well, so seeing what it comes down to. Beauden’s done it for over a decade now, so there’s no shortage of legacy and legendary features there.”

The contestable kicking challenge of Test rugby in 2025 is as heightened as ever, but Love is keeping to his familiar recipe for success when planning how to control the backfield in Cardiff.

“Every highball that I’ve had in my life, I’ve had one clear fact, and that’s go get it. So, that’s going to be no different this week.”