Zarn Sullivan's breakout campaign with the Blues finishes with a flourish as the young fullback draws Beauden Barrett comparisons
Before the Super Rugby Aotearoa season kicked off, many fans were curious how Blues coach Leon MacDonald would utilise new utility back Zarn Sullivan.
The 20-year-old was a standout performer for Auckland last year in his first full-time season with the province but spent his formative years at first five for King’s College. With the likes of Otere Black, Harry Plummer and Stephen Perofeta on the books, however, there weren’t exactly vacant positions in the matchday 23 for Sullivan to fill.
Still, the youngster boasted enormous potential and many expected to see Sullivan rushed straight into the action.
MacDonald, himself a former All Blacks fullback, took a more conservative approach – not handing his charge a Super Rugby debut until the Blues’ final game of their Aotearoa campaign, a dead-rubber match with the Chiefs.
Sullivan wore the No 15 jersey for that game in place of regular fullback Perofeta and the 20-year-old looked right at home – though was admittedly lining up against an inexperienced Chiefs lineup.
What a way to sign off your career with the @BluesRugbyTeam ? #SuperRugbyTT #BLUvHIGhttps://t.co/W1p1OVFplO
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He finished the game with a well-taken try – courtesy of his handy turn of pace – but it was his kicking game that was most impressive, keeping the Chiefs back three honest and minimising opportunities for easy metres on the counter-attack.
When Super Rugby Trans-Tasman kicked off two weeks later, Sullivan retained his spot against the Rebels and hasn’t looked back since, starting the remainder of the Blues’ matches, including Saturday evening’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final victory.
MacDonald was impressed with the performance put on by his young fullback, with Sullivan again peppering kicks in behind the Highlanders outside backs to minimise the opportunities handed to danger men like Jona Nareki and Josh Ioane.
That’s especially important for the Blues, whose forwards are some of the bigger players in the competition, which naturally comes at the cost of some mobility.
“Zarn has been doing a little bit of what Beauden [Barrett] was doing for us last year with his left foot and having kicking options for us,
MacDonald said.
“It’s an important part of our game, getting that kick balance right, because of our big men. We can’t ask them to defend, then ask them to scrum, then ask them to tackle their hearts out and then we can’t run them around by chucking the ball everywhere. Zarn’s been really good in that space.”
In 2015, the #AllBlacks had the luxury of picking from the likes of Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga, Colin Slade and Tom Taylor to wear No 10. That luxury is long gone – but perhaps a new dawn is approaching.
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For a gauge on how important Sullivan’s role is to the side, just look to Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon, who acknowledged that a big factor in the final result was the Blues’ dominant field control.
“Our territory wasn’t quite right tonight,” he said following the match. “We didn’t quite get in there and Zarn Sullivan and the other boys were putting it behind us a lot and had a great kicking game.”
It’s one thing for an experienced player to take a big game by the scruff of the neck, but it’s another entirely for a 20-year-old to do the same.
MacDonald also acknowledged one big advantage that Sullivan has over teammate Perofeta – his sizeable frame.
“He’s been physical – I thought our back three’s actually become one of the more physical back threes in the comp,” MacDonald said. “Bryce [Heem], in particular, has lead the way there and Mark’s come back after being dropped, he’s come back and brought a real edge.
“[Sullivan] is a 100kg fullback who’s strong in the tackle as well. It’s so pleasing to see young guys like that step up in the big time and he’s enjoying himself and he’s got a lot to offer. He’s just starting really.”
While regular first five Otere Black is now heading overseas, Sullivan is likely to remain at fullback in 2022 thanks to the return of Beauden Barrett, who’s spent the season on sabbatical in Japan.
Code-hopper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is also joining the outfit next season and could slot in across the backline but MacDonald is confident that Sullivan will continue to develop in the No 15 jersey and that 2021 is just the beginning for the youngster.
“We’ll keep him at the back at the moment,” the coach said. “We’ve obviously got Beaudie there and Oates is going but Stephen Perofeta is playing good rugby and you saw Harry [Plummer] step up to the mark so we’re pretty blessed with some good depth at 10.
“And at the moment, I think, just nailing one job at the moment. And I think he’s got the attributes to become a very good 15. I see the skillset’s perfect and he just keeps growing in confidence and understanding, there’s no reason why he couldn’t become a 15 full-time.”
Sullivan and Plummer will both link up with Auckland for the upcoming NPC season and will likely operate as a playmaking duo, in a similar vein to Sullivan’s combination with Black at the Blues.
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to comments