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Vern Cotter on Blues rookie: 'I think Dave Rennie was probably looking at him'

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 16: Malachi Wrampling of the Blues is tackled during the round 14 Super Rugby match between Blues and Hurricanes at Eden Park, on May 16, 2026, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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Blues rookie Malachi Wrampling produced another powerful performance in a tough round 14 loss to the ladder-leading Hurricanes on Saturday night, with his head coach Vern Cotter suggesting after the match that the display could have caught the eye of the All Blacks selectors.

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Wrampling returned to Auckland after two seasons with the Chiefs ahead of the 2026 season, having missed out on a Super Rugby debut while in Hamilton as he battled injuries and an overcrowded loose forward unit.

Previously, when the now 22-year-old represented New Zealand at the U20 Rugby Championship in 2024, he had quickly established himself as the nation’s most damaging ball-runner. Now, finally getting his chance in Super Rugby, he’s making a similar statement.

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The Blues were in desperate need of a spark after falling into a 21-0 hole by halftime at Eden Park, and the young flanker was the only man looking likely to provide it. Come the 49th minute, Wrampling’s damaging form translated to points as he collected the ball off a quick tap seven metres from the try line, with three steps to gather momentum before colliding with former England flanker Brad Shields, who couldn’t contend with the youngster’s leg drive and was dragged over the line.

The line Wrampling took into contact saw him evade the diving tackle of Devan Flanders, while the pace he was able to carry in his post-contact metres took the surrounding Hurricanes defenders by surprise, and despite being close by, they were too slow to react, with Wrampling powering over the line as Shields’ back-up arrived.

The Blues didn’t have many opportunities with the ball in hand in the match, but Wrampling’s contributions in that area were unmistakable. He ended the match as the Blues’ leading carrier and claimed the most carry metres in the process.

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Following the game, Cotter was asked for his thoughts on his new recruit’s performance.

“I think Dave Rennie was probably looking at him as well,” the coach said, as captain Patrick Tuipulotu nodded in agreement.

“It was a strong match from him. He’s growing. He’s becoming more consistent. He had a very promising early career as a young player, a schoolboy and such, so to see him now at this level doing what he does, I think he’s a great asset for the Blues.

“When more people can step up and play, grab the ball and just get us over the gainline, things become easier; you get everyone involved, and you loosen the shackles a little bit and have a crack.”

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Comments

14 Comments
B
B 31 days ago

Beauden was dreadful and out played by Ruben who needs some serious lower limb conditioning..

Also Caleb who was limping inside the first ten minutes with the tackle on Viljeon an AB's selection saver.


From where I sat..AB's prospects(Blues), Wrampling, Segner, Darry, Clarke…

(‘Canes), Numia, Aumua, Tosi, Lakai, Love, Jordie, Proctor…

J
JW 31 days ago

For me for what SR is it’s pretty perfectly balanced at the mo, with guys like this able to have a good impact at the age of 22 in a rookie season. If all had gone well injury wise he would have made debuts and a couple of appereances for the Chiefs but in terms of an actual rookie season he has good standards (certainly no means complete).


The only thing I’d like to see is a top club competition underneath this, with something provincial as well - that is better placed than the new development competition by having it’s own interested fans - to have given these players (in their previous seasons) good chances to develop and show their ability.

B
Bazzallina 31 days ago

Club rugby is a tough one you could have higher density of top players in the main city’s but then that doesn’t help the NPC there is so much history in club rugby but times change and less clubs with better facilities for both men and women is the way forward I reckon

c
cnw 31 days ago

Agree. Would build local interest and develop the next generation. As our under 20 performance is showing, there is something missing after school level - player drift or poor managed in those 2-3 years after school. They seem to find their way to the top eventually but there is a gap there.

c
cnw 31 days ago

I don’t know what was in the water 20-25 years ago but somehow NZ has managed to produce a crop of top loosies like raindrops in spring -


Malachi

Bowden

Che Clark

Lucas

Sititi

Lakai

Flanders

Segner

Barnes

R
RD 32 days ago

The Chiefs have been shipping a lot of talent from their schools. Wrampling Bros / Sullivan Bros / Hotham, Roigard, Kemara, Reece, Moorby …

M
MM 31 days ago

The Sullivans came from Hawkes Bay I think you’ll find.

T
The Economist 31 days ago

So, to greater or lesser extent, has every club – that’s the definition of professional footie. For example, the Crusaders list includes: Darry, Segner, Barnes, Mullen, Hutchinson, McKenzie, Taumoefolau, McAlister, Delaney, Punivai, Holland, Dunshea, Shearer, Lienert-Brown, Robinson…

S
SB 32 days ago

👀

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