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Will Jordan opens up on ‘jitters’ before All Blacks return
After almost 300 days away from international rugby, winger Will Jordan was back in black last weekend as New Zealand ran away with a big win over rivals South Africa in Auckland.
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Jordan made his highly anticipated return to the Test arena on the right wing for the All Blacks, and was nothing short of sensational during his masterful performance.
The No. 14 impressed with a couple of game-breaking carries early on – but the best of Jordan’s brilliance was yet to come.
Just over four minutes into the clash at Mt Smart Stadium, the rugby magician created something special out of nothing.
Jordan ran around two Springboks defenders with ease, including World Cup-winning centre Damian de Allende, before setting up veteran Aaron Smith for the All Blacks’ opening try of the night.
As Smith, Jordan and the All Blacks began to celebrate the score, so did New Zealand. With just two months to go until the World Cup, Jordan was back in black.
“There was a few nerves to be honest,” Jordan told reporters after the 35-20 win. “Been away for a while, there’s always those natural little jitters.
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“It was good to get a few touches early on to sort of settle in a little bit.
“A good night for footy so I thought we exploited space really well whether, again, through the kick or through the run.
“Just ultimately loved being back out there, love the competition so definitely missed it while I was away.”
Jordan missed last year’s end-of-season tour with an inner-ear issue, but was still named in World Rugby’s Dream Team for the second year in a row.
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That’s how good the 25-year-old is.
But Jordan wasn’t out of the woods just yet. Migraine and vertigo symptoms continue to sideline the electric outside back during the majority of Super Rugby Pacific.
Whether it was on a Thursday or a Friday, there was always an extra element of interest as the champion Crusaders named their team to play each week.
Fans wondered when and if Jordan would return for the Christchurch-based franchise, and eventually, so did the nation. With the Test season rapidly approaching, New Zealanders wanted Jordan back.
Jordan’s return seemed inevitable, and eventually, that proved true.
The All Black returned for the Crusaders against the Western Force in round 11, and ended up winning another title with the franchise.
But again, Jordan wasn’t out of the woods just yet.
Jordan didn’t travel to Argentina with his All Blacks teammates ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against Los Pumas in Mendoza.
After missing the Test, and with the All Blacks returning to Aotearoa, Jordan was given a “licence” to attack against the Boks by coach Ian Foster.
“I had a bit of a mindset to get some touches early on,” Jordan added. “A bit of it was just the way the game went.
“Fossie has been keen for me to try getting to the middle of the park as much as possible, even from the wing. I was able to do that a couple of times.
“Just eager to try and make an impact after so long away. If you’re able to spot a couple of gaps and go through, it was a bit of a confidence boost early on.
“I think it was good to have last week off. Obviously, with us making the final, it was a bit of a tight turnaround.
“Been feeling really good the last couple of weeks which is great, it really helps me go out on the park and do my thing.
Will Jordan & Aaron Smith, you beautiful men 😍#NZLvRSA pic.twitter.com/A5ozZ3UEQy
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 15, 2023
“Appreciative of Foz and the medical team being really understanding of that and I think I’m in a good place at the moment so happy with how things are going.”
After starting their season with two big wins, the All Blacks can secure The Rugby Championship title with another positive result against the Wallabies in Melbourne later this month.
The All Blacks will also face Eddie Jones’ men in Dunedin before travelling to Europe for their final World Cup warmup Test against the Springboks in London.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
1 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
2 Go to comments