Why Shaun Stevenson believes he’s ‘ready to play Test rugby’
Make no mistake, Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson believes he’s “ready to play Test rugby.”
Stevenson has been labelled a potential bolter for the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup squad for quite some time – and the high-flying outside back has shown no signs of slowing down this season.
Fans, pundits and even retired greats, including legendary All Black Ian Jones, want to see Stevenson don the coveted black jersey when New Zealand pursue rugby immortality in France later this year.
The All Blacks XV took the field for the first time last year, and Stevenson was one of the standouts. Already on the cusp of national selection by playing for the ‘B’ team, the outside back was sensational.
Stevenson crossed for a double against Ireland A, with All Blacks great Ian Jones later saying that the outside back was “ready” for Test rugby.
That’s high praise – but with that comes pressure and expectation.
But again, Stevenson has shown no signs of slowing down.
Stevenson has been one of the form players of Super Rugby Pacific this season, having scored the most tries out of any player in the competition after 11 rounds.
The Chiefs have won all 10 of their matches this season, including two against the champion Crusaders, and the 26-year-old has held the key to their success.
While Stevenson has had to overcome being dropped and other challenges throughout his young career, the opportunity to play for the Maori All Blacks and All Blacks XV has left him feeling confident.
So confident, in fact, that the exciting talent believes he’s “ready to play Test rugby.”
“Those ups and downs and playing Maori All Blacks and All Blacks XV, I think I am ready to play Test rugby,” Stevenson told RugbyPass.
“If I do get a callup I’ll be very grateful to represent my country, if I do get the opportunity to represent my country I’ll try to take it with two hands.
Is there a better sight in rugby than Shaun Stevenson in full flight?#CHIvHIG #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/sZe8CAJA3m
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 10, 2023
“With the confidence that I’m trying to play with at the moment, hopefully I can put that on the field and not shy away that it’s a step up but it’s the same players you’re playing in Super Rugby.
“Once we get there I’ll have to lean on some of the older boys in terms of some experience if I do get to that point, but I do feel like I am ready to play Test rugby.”
For Stevenson, the ability to play with such unwavering confidence and belief began against Ireland last year.
While the All Blacks were preparing for their titanic three-Test series against Ireland in July, the Auckland-born prospect was included in the Maori All Blacks squad to play Andy Farrell’s men.
Stevenson crossed for the teams second try during their incredible 32-17 upset win in Hamilton, and scored another five-pointer in the second match against Ireland a couple of weeks later.
Since, Stevenson has gone from strength to strength at all levels of the game – revealing that the secret to his success has been “time in the saddle.”
“It kind of started from the Maori’s if I’m going to be honest, last year when we played Ireland as well,” he added.
“I’ve had a few media people ask me, ‘What’s the reason behind the confidence and stuff?’ To be honest, it’s just game time, time in the saddle.
“I always knew that I could do it… I’ve been through where I haven’t been picked in previous years… you obviously grow a lot from those ups and downs of not getting picked.
“I knew that I always had it in me and I guess I got to a point where I was like, ‘Oh well, if I make a few mistakes, it’s not the end of the world.’
“As you get older you just go with the flow and I guess I’m just riding the wave at the moment.”
For rugby players in New Zealand, the opportunity to go to this year’s Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks would surely be a childhood dream come true.
But not everyone gets to go. It’s an exclusive group of 33 players, but Stevenson is gunning for a spot.
Coach Ian Foster recently named Stevenson and Chiefs teammate Emoni Narawa as potential bolters ahead of The Rugby Championship and beyond.
The pressure appears to be on, but Stevenson isn’t fazed.
“Obviously you live in New Zealand so it’s quite a small country, you’re gonna be hearing stuff around about your name.
“Obviously it’s nice that people are talking about you and I’m glad that my footy is reflecting in that hopefully.
“I’m just happy to keep doing myself and be the best I can be for my team.
“The Chiefs haven’t had a championship for a while… the main goal is to win the championship here, it’s been 10 years so it’s time that we’re due for a championship.
“Obviously external noise is good noise.”
Stevenson has been named at fullback ahead of the Chiefs’ clash with the Queensland Reds in New Plymouth on Friday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 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 commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to comments