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 shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments