'There's a couple areas to his game that the others don't offer' - The bull case for Lachlan Boshier to get an All Black call up
One of breakout stars of both seasons of Super Rugby in New Zealand was Chiefs flanker Lachlan Boshier, who was a force over the ball in the first edition of Super Rugby racking up a league leading 13 forced ruck and maul turnovers.
As the Chiefs embarked on a winless Super Rugby Aotearoa, Boshier’s effectiveness wasn’t as visible in the early rounds as new rules played out over the competition. Speaking on this week’s Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Chiefs halfback Brad Weber explained that the rules made players like Boshier less valuable as anyone could win turnovers getting over the ball.
“You do still need to survive the cleanout a little bit,” Weber argued. “In that first game, Damian McKenzie got two turnovers just by touching the ball.
Blues hooker James Parsons agreed that there needs to be a balance to allow those with the skill to survive the cleanout to flourish.
“I reckon that is the beauty of it, because the guys that can survive the cleanout, that’s what makes your point of difference. Every guy in a team has a clear role, and some guys have made a career out of that. I think you have to absorb at least one cleanout,” Parsons said.
“That takes away from guys like Lachlan Boshier, who could potentially make 10-to-12 years living out of being good at that one thing.”
Boshier’s turnover stats dropped at the beginning of Super Rugby Aotearoa as the new ruck interpretations were taking hold of the game, but came back as they changed later in the competition.
“They [turnover stats] came back again in the last couple of games, he was back into it because the interpretations changed and they made you have to survive the cleanout a little bit more,” Weber explained
“So it was interesting at the start, he did drop off but then they came back.”
Parsons had another theory on why Boshier was less effective in the early rounds, as his form in the original Super Rugby season had put him on the radar as a major threat to opposition teams.
“Because he was such a force before Covid, it’s like ‘I want to run at that guy, make him tackle’ because you don’t want that guy hovering.
“Teams were going in with a plan, if we can make Lachlan tackle, it’s going to be one of the other loosies who aren’t as effective as him.
“So that’s why his stats dropped heaps, it wasn’t due to his inefficiency, he was too big a threat that you want to make tackle.
“From a ref’s point of view, they should just take a picture and that’s what it should look like. If it doesn’t look like that, you shouldn’t get the turnover. His feet are directly underneath him and he’s holding his own weight, whereas some guys feet are way back.
“It’s incredible. The way he absorbs the hits, I get nervous for his knees and hits every time.”
Weber added: “He’s just hyper flexible, he can put himself into a suitcase.”
Boshier ended Super Rugby Aotearoa with the third most total turnovers and third most at the breakdown, behind Highlanders duo Dillon Hunt and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u. Parsons likened Hunt’s work to that of current All Black captain Sam Cane, a “traditional seven” who will “tackle his heard out”.
“Dillon’s a good link player, he’s a traditional seven. He will tackle his heart out, he will be good over the ball and he’s one of those guys who will have those support lines,” he said.
“He’s not your Ardie Savea, your Du’Plessis [Kirifi] or Dalton [Papalii] who you can put into that power seven bracket as well. He’s a similar mould to Sammy Cane I suppose, he just hits hard and works all day tirelessly for the team.”
With so much competition in the back row for the All Blacks, there are no guarantees Boshier will be there but Weber is backing him in to be capped, particularly if international rugby is played under the old breakdown rules where he had dominated in the early rounds of Super Rugby.
“He’s 100 percent earned it. Particularly, pre-covid with the old interpretations, if they are going to run with those in international rugby, you got to look at that and think wow, Lachlan will be an absolute beast under those interpretations.
“I certainly think he’s earned his way. He’s only 24 I think so he’s got plenty of years left.”
Parsons also added that diversity in Boshier’s skill set gives him an added edge over some of the other sevens in the mix.
“I think he’s got a point of difference to get him into the team though, his line out work. There are not many sevens as tall as him and have the ability on the ground. I’m thinking from a hooker’s point of view, the more options the better. We’ve already spoken about his breakdown work.
“Gilly [All Blacks trainer Nic Gill] would get him in there and get a bit of size on him, because he would need to bulk up a bit at international level for a seven but there’s a couple areas to his game that the others don’t offer. His ability in the air, his height and that consistency around the breakdown.
“If the All Black selectors listen to this podcast, Boshier’s in,” Blues hooker James Parsons joked, “I want Papalii in there, I’ve got to stop pumping him [Boshier] up.”
Listen to the full episode of Aotearoa Rugby Pod below.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments