'Too tough to ignore': ABs hero expects two bolters in RWC squad
Former All Black Stephen Donald believes two bolters will be named in next year’s Rugby World Cup squad, including an in-form outside back who will be “too tough to ignore.”
After an up and down international season, which began with a first ever series loss in New Zealand against Ireland, the All Blacks seemed to hit their stride in the back end of the year.
While they had to overcome a genuine scare against a valiant Japan side in Tokyo, New Zealand went unbeaten throughout their end-of-season tour.
The All Blacks recorded an emphatic win over Wales in Cardiff, before beating Scotland in Murrayfield and then drawing with England in London.
But with the season now over, and with a year of international blockbusters now just a collection of memories and history, the focus has already shifted to next year’s World Cup.
New Zealand begin their World Cup campaign against tournament hosts France at Stade de France in early September, in what promises to be a crucial clash for both nations.
It’s undeniable that the All Blacks will have to be at their best to not only beat Les Bleus, but to win the tournament – so just as they did with Nehe Milner-Skudder in 2015, they may look to some fresh faces to spur the team to World Cup glory.
Rugby World Cup hero and icon Stephen ‘Beaver’ Donald, who famously kicked the winning penalty in the 2011 final, believes Shaun Stevenson will be on the plane to France.
“Shaun Stevenson will finally get the No. 15 jersey for the Chiefs for the entire campaign, he will flow on from his magnificent Barbarians and New Zealand XV form, and he will just too tough to ignore,” Donald said on SENZ’s The Run Home.
“He will be next year’s Nehe Milner-Skudder scenario.”
While Stevenson has simply been phenomenal in every jersey he’s played in this year, it’s still a bold call from Beaver considering the depth the team has in their outside backs.
Donald believes Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie will all make the squad along with Stevenson, which leaves a number of stars potentially battling it out for one spot.
All Blacks stars Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Mark Telea and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could all, theoretically, by vying for the final spot in the 33-man squad.
“My outside backs right now and this is obviously ridiculous, Leicester I am going to keep me all in on Leicester. I think there’s x-factor galore there,” he said.
“Will Jordan, obviously he’s going. Damian McKenzie, you’re going. This is where it gets tantalizing.
“Clarke, Reece, Telea, Ennor, RTS all scrap it out for one spot for me and I give that one spot to Sevu Reece.”
But Stevenson wasn’t the only bolter in Donald’s way-too-early World Cup squad.
The All Blacks have talented halfbacks in their ranks, but two World Cup hopefuls are in a race to be fit for the sports biggest tournament after sustaining injuries this year.
Folau Fakatava and TJ Perenara are both set for lengthy stints on the sidelines, which could open the door for a up-and-coming 22-year-old Hurricanes scrum-half.
“My smokey, I think Cam Roigard could well and truly be in the mix.
“I’m thinking Fakatava and Perenara are going to struggle fitness wise to be really in cosndieration if we’re being realistic.
“Therefore you’ve got Smith obviously starting, and then you could go Christie and Weber but for me the three of them are absolutely like for like.
“The reason I’ve always said that Perenara’s days are never done is because he’s different to all of them, he’s probably more like Fakatava.
“Maybe it’s Smith, Weber, Roigard three.”
With Perenara out for up to nine months are rupturing his Achilles in the dramatic draw with England, Roigard may be the Hurricanes’ go-to starter throughout next year’s Super Rugby campaign.
While he’s starred for Counties Manukau in the Bunnings NPC, and has played some valuable minutes at Super Rugby level, this could be his best chance yet to prove himself.
And what a time to potentially be given that opportunity.
“He’s a bigger body, defensively bigger, strong around the fringes and he’s gonna get the opportunity to start every game for the Hurricanes this year.
“We saw what he did in the NPC. Maybe this is the bolter.
“There’s always a bolter, always a bolter.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt 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 commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments