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Thursday

12:00

International

'Different game': Will Jordan on the evolution of the high-ball in his career

By Henry Lee

4 hours ago

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 05: (L-R) Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan and Finlay Christie during the New Zealand All Blacks captain's run at Eden Park on September 05, 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Another year, another World Rugby team of the year for All Blacks fullback Will Jordan, after starting all thirteen Tests in 2025 and playing all but ten minutes throughout the whole season.

Jordan, who has now played 54 Tests for the All Blacks, was able to play a near full season without any injuries, a change from previous years where some minor head issues prevented him playing all of a calendar year.

Speaking to Millsy & Guy on Sport Nation NZ, Jordan is pleased with his busy campaign, saying that he played around 28 games this season.

VIDEO

“Yeah it was really good actually, I think by the end of the year I played 28 or 29 games, which is a pretty decent haul, it hasn’t been the smoothest path over the last couple of years injury wise, so racking games up for the Crusaders who I missed a lot of footy for, was really good.

“I guess a bit better of a flow, so yeah enjoyed that this year,” Jordan told Sport Nation NZ.

The All Blacks have consistently struggled in 2025 under the high-ball, a skillset that Jordan says they will continue to work on over summer, before a big 2026 calendar year.

“I think we struggled a little bit in particular in the Rugby Championship, obviously in the game against Argentina which we lost, I had a tough evening in the air, and then in the second half in Wellington against the Springboks we struggled as well.

“I thought as the year went on, we improved in that space, and by the end of year tour, I think we’re certainly getting closer to other teams in that space. So something to focus a little bit on. I know some thought will go into how we can improve our skills in that space, looking at other sports, AFL and how they do it, and we’re yet to try with that.

“But it’s certainly a different game than it was when we first came in, like two or three years ago when you’re looking to catch probably 80 to 90% of the balls. And now I guess it’s a bit more 50/50 , and how you get bodies around the ball and positions to pick them up and try to get more than half I guess.

“But yeah as a group we will keep looking to try and get better in that space,” Jordan said.

Comments

1 Comment

JW 2 hours ago

No doubt we will see the tactic coming into SR as well, so players will be far more accustomed with how to deal with it.

Jordan was one of the best leapers just a couple of years ago, he ruled the skies against SA that year (23) and then came into the WC and was incorrectly carded (red?) against France and they stopped any offense contestable kick strategy after that. I blamed Foster at the time but with how it felt the players lost all confidence in their ability this year, making matters even worse, you have to think some part of that played with the decision to drop the skill in 23.

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