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World Cup dreams still alive for discarded All Blacks duo
Asafo Aumua may have been among the first players to be cut from the All Blacks this season, but his desire to to put his best foot forward remains the same.
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The 22-year-old hooker was one of five players cut from New Zealand’s 39-man Rugby Championship squad by head coach Steve Hansen ahead of the Bledisloe Cup series, and didn’t get any game time after missing out on the match day sides to play Argentina and South Africa.
Despite his limited involvement with the squad, Aumua – who played two non-tests for the All Blacks against the Barbarians and French XV in 2017 – said it has enhanced his drive to succeed and be part of the national set-up.
“One hundred per cent, especially when you don’t play [it makes you hungrier],” the blockbusting front rower told Stuff.
“The team is named early in the week and you don’t get named, but you prep like you’re playing and feel the energy off the players that are playing.”
Aumua revealed that the All Blacks coaches left him with a parting message once he was released back to Wellington for the Mitre 10 Cup campaign.
“I get that question asked all the time and always have the same answer: set piece like always. I still struggle there a bit, but I’m giving it my best.”
Like Aumua, All Blacks utility forward Vaea Fifita has hit the ground running since rejoining the Lions as one of nine All Blacks released for provincial duty this weekend.
After having been involved in the All Blacks’ first two tests of the year against the Pumas and Springboks, Fifita wasn’t needed throughout the Bledisloe Cup series against Australia, despite surviving the five-man drop.
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However, he will still be wanting to put an impressive performance out on the park when Wellington face Canterbury at Westpac Stadium on Friday, as his World Cup aspirations may depend on it.
Hansen will name his 31-man World Cup squad next Wednesday, meaning this weekend presents one last opportunity for Fifita to establish his credentials.
With at least one loose forward needing to go from the current six that were named for the Wallabies tests – and probably two should Liam Squire make himself available after exiling himself from the national side – the pressure is on Fifita to perform.
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Given that Kieran Read, Ardie Savea and Sam Cane are all certainties to go to Japan, and Matt Todd likely to travel as the preferred bench option, the final loose forward spot will be a straight shootout between Fifita and test rookie Luke Jacobson.
Although Jacobson has made a name for himself as a versatile defensive machine, Fifita can cover the second row – which has been hit by injuries and suspensions to Brodie Retallick and Scott Barrett – as well as blindside flanker.
That, combined with two years of test match experience, could be enough to book the 11-test star a ticket to Japan, but Wellington coach Chris Gibbes said Fifita has shown no complacency since coming back into the Lions squad.
“He’s come back full of energy and excitement, and he knows, as well as the whole country, that there is a lot to play for,” Gibbes told Stuff.
“Credit to Vaea, he’s come back straight in and has got around his role through us and is excited about playing in the jersey against Canterbury on Friday. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do out there.”
Despite the short turnaround from being with the All Blacks to training with Wellington, Gibbes was confident that Fifita can make an impact in two days’ time.
“He’s only going to have a day and a half with us before Friday, so if we start loading too much into him we’re just not going to get anything out.
“Playing his natural game is the key for us and we want him to be in the best spot to do that.”
The Season – Series 3:
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments