Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

The lesson that can be learned from the 'phenomenal' Ethan Blackadder

By Alex McLeod
(Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)

All Blacks scrum coach Greg Feek says the work ethic of rookie loose forward Ethan Blackadder should serve as a lesson for those aspiring Kiwi youngsters aspiring for test honours.

ADVERTISEMENT

Blackadder was among the standouts in just his fifth test, and only his second start at international level, as the All Blacks completed back-to-back victories over Los Pumas with a 36-13 win over the Argentines in Brisbane.

Despite his match-high penalty count, Blackadder was arguably the busiest player on the park as he chalked up 11 carries, three offloads, 11 tackles, three lineout wins and one turnover to continue their undefeated run through the Rugby Championship.

Video Spacer

Handre Pollard snaps back at question over South Africa’s attitude in loss to Springboks

Video Spacer

Handre Pollard snaps back at question over South Africa’s attitude in loss to Springboks

The 26-year-old’s immense output in all facets of the game marked his continual rise through the ranks after he was handed his first All Blacks cap in July on the back of a superb Super Rugby campaign with the Crusaders.

Such a performance could lead to speculation over whether Blackadder, the son of ex-All Blacks captain Todd, will feature in this week’s heavyweight bout against the Springboks as the All Blacks aim to clinch the Rugby Championship title for the first time in three years.

Blackadder faces tough competition for a place in this week’s match day squad given the prominence of Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson this season, but his recent performance certainly warrants consideration for selection.

Regardless of whether he plays the reigning world champions in Townsville on Saturday, his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by Feek, who told reporters on Sunday that Blackadder’s rapid rise is a testament of his unrelenting work rate.

ADVERTISEMENT

“One of the things for him, and it’s a real good lesson for all young, aspiring All Blacks out there, is how much work he puts into learning his role,” Feek, a former 10-test All Blacks prop, said.

“I know that sounds like a bit of a cliche, but it’s diving into it and diving into it and he’s so clear about what he wants to do. He never stops working with that, he’s always doing extras.

“Whether it’s little micro things around whether it’s around offloading or jackling the ball or carrying the ball, he’s so studious with what he does and I think what you’re seeing on the paddock is the direct reflection of the work that he’s put in.

“I know his old man and his family and everyone watching will be extremely proud of that. The work he’s put in is phenomenal. A lot of respect for that.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Feek added that Blackadder’s massive inner drive is reflected in the way in which he plays and trains, as the back rower left no blade of grass uncovered against Argentina at Suncorp Stadium.

“You can see that part of that is there’s just a lot of drive, internal drive, but I just think he’s loving what he does and you can’t take that away from your motivation,” he said.

“If you love what you do, you just don’t want to stop, like you say… When you know your role, you can enjoy it more, and that probably ties in with that.”

Blackadder’s relentlessness around the park could be of significant benefit for the All Blacks if they do choose to pick him against the Springboks, whose form has wallowed after successive defeats against the Wallabies over the past fortnight.

The success of a series win over the British and Irish Lions last month now feels like an eternity ago as the South Africans found themselves in a rut against the Australians, whose attacking style of play was enough to run the conservative Springboks off their feet over the weekend.

Losing the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time in three years has left the Springboks licking their wounds as they head into their 100th test against the All Blacks at Queensland Country Bank Stadium this weekend, but Feek is guarding against complacency in the lead-up to the blockbuster clash.

“There’s a lot of history with the Springboks and the All Blacks and I’m pretty excited to have my first with the All Blacks against them. I know the boys will be up for this. We need to be pretty clinical, very clinical, actually, to match them.

“Obviously their set piece, their scrum and maul are two of their x-factor parts of their games, so we’re fully aware of that.

“What do we need to do? We need to make sure we get ourselves right first. We always look at the opposition and, with South Africa, we’ve always respected them, so that’s probably the key, really, getting ourselves right and going up another gear from the weekend.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 9 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

35 Go to comments
A
Adrian 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

35 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough' Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough'
Search