'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
I do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
4 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
27 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
27 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
20 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to comments