The snowball effect that saw Lachlan Boshier named Super Rugby MVP and catapulted him into the All Blacks selection frame
After almost five seasons of Super Rugby experience, Chiefs flanker Lachlan Boshier is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
Boshier was first called into the Chiefs in 2016 when both Mitch Karpik and Sam Henwood were struck down by injuries.
The former New Plymouth Boys’ High student made just a handful of appearances that year but has been a mainstay in the Chiefs ever since and is on the cusp of playing his 50th game for the franchise.
While Boshier has always been a reliable force for the Chiefs around the park, 2020 has become somewhat of a breakout season for the breakdown specialist – at least from the point of view of your average rugby fan.
For Boshier, however, it’s business as usual.
“I don’t think I was playing too differently,” Boshier told RugbyPass re the five games he mustered before the Super Rugby season was called to a standstill.
“Maybe I was getting a few more turnovers, which maybe people started talking about – but I’m definitely feeling that that sort of snowball effect.”
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‘A few more turnovers’ is probably an understatement.
In the Chiefs’ first two games of the season against the Blues and the Crusaders, Boshier forced nine turnovers.
Super Rugby’s next best pilferer, Marnus Schoeman of the Lions, has managed eight turnovers in six matches.
Boshier is now sitting on 13 forced turnovers from five matches – but it’s not just the quantity of the turnovers that has everyone gushing, it’s the quality too, with a number of the steals coming while on defence inside the 22 or immediately after the opposition have made an incisive break.
Just four penalties conceded shows that the Taranaki loose forward is also picking his moments and executing well.
And while Boshier’s further down the pecking order in tackles, he’s still the 14th busiest player on the competition on defence.
Statistically, at least, Boshier started his campaign with an absolute hiss and a roar – which saw him crowned New Zealand’s Super Rugby MVP of the season.
Boshier is happy to be recognised for his performances to date but accredits much of that recognition to the snowball effect.
“I think people start talking and then more people are just hearing what others are saying sort of thing – I’m not too sure,” said Boshier.
“I’m pretty happy with my game this year but I definitely think the media have blown it up quite a bit, which has got people talking more.”
Five of last year's World Cup @AllBlacks have left New Zealand. How will that impact Ian Foster's first squad of the year, which may have to be picked on just the seven rounds of Super Rugby that we've seen so far in 2020? #AllBlacks #SuperRugbyhttps://t.co/WTohoI16W3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 18, 2020
The fact that a slew of experienced loose forwards departed New Zealand’s shores at the end of last year – including Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Liam Squire, Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, Jackson Hemopo and Elliot Dixon – hasn’t been lost on Boshier.
“Maybe that sort of cleanout after the World Cup with a few big players gone means they need to talk about someone else,” Boshier said.
Still, like all New Zealanders, the loose forwards end goal is very much national selection.
Boshier was a member of the 2014 New Zealand Under 20 side that finished in third place at the World Championships held on home soil. That side featured several of his future Chiefs teammates, including Atu Moli, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie – three men who are all now a part of the national set-up.
“I don’t really think about it too much but it’s obviously in the back of my mind,” said Boshier.
“Whether I make it or not is a different story but it’s definitely the goal.”
It’s his Chiefs teammates that Boshier credits for the progress that he’s made since he joined the 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby championship winners, particularly their healthy stocks of 2020 loose forwards.
Alongside Boshier and Karpik, the Chiefs have access to All Blacks Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson, Canadian captain Tyler Ardron, Taranaki blockbuster Mitchell Brown and young up-and-comer Dylan Nel.
The exact make-up of New Zealand's new-look loose forward trio won't be known for a while, but it's already pretty clear who'll be part of the mix, writes @TomVinicombe. #SuperRugby @AllBlacks #AllBlacks https://t.co/0eVdag2iDF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 23, 2020
The presence of three specialist openside flankers, Boshier, Karpik and Cane, ensures that there’s plenty of competition and motivation.
“It’s been us three for a while now. I think it’s been good for all three of our games,” Boshier said.
“We sort of feed off each other and that competition is good. We’re always going hard against each other at trainings and always learning off each other or picking each other’s brains.
“I definitely know all three of us enjoy having each other around. We sort of wouldn’t have it any other way, really.”
The abundance of specialist fetchers has also forced Boshier to become a bit more flexible, slotting onto both the open and blindside flanks.
“I’ve sort of mainly played seven growing up and obviously with Sam here I’ve been on the bench or not playing but being able to fill in at six,” said Boshier.
“I think that’s been good for my game, adapting to wherever – but I don’t really see too many differences going on there. You’re sort of trying to do the same thing. Seven’s attending the first ruck or first presence whereas six, maybe second or third, which I’ve adapted to.
“I’m just happy to play wherever, whether it’s on the field or on the bench – just whatever’s best for the team, really, I’m not too fazed.”
Any hopes of an All Blacks jersey – or even a Chiefs jersey – may have to be put on hold for the near future, however, with rugby at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic. Boshier is happy to bide his time and wait.
“I would have liked to just keep it going, keep the momentum rolling but it’s just the way it is,” Boshier said.
“It’s a bit of shame, having to put it to the side, but there are obviously bigger things going on in the world and you want to just kick that in the butt first and hopefully things will start sort of making their way back to normal and we can get into it again in the future.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 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 Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 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
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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.
30 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 comments