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Biggest crowd in a decade turn up to see Will Jordan

292 days ago

Will Jordan of the All Blacks runs through training drills during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 04, 2024 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

All Black fullback Will Jordan was one of twelve players released this weekend to play pre-season provincial rugby where he played for Tasman.

The Makos played Southland in Christchurch in the pre-season fixture, at a neutral venue at Christchurch Rugby Club.

Thousands turned out to see the All Black in action which was the biggest crowd the club has seen in a decade. The fullback turned out 60 minutes and scored a try in his first provincial game for a few years.

“Firstly, it’s great to be back in the Tassie colours,” Jordan told 1News.

“It’s been about 4-5 years since I last played.

“The game was pretty open, so there was more running for the legs than contact for the shoulder, but I’m feeling really good.”

The returning Crusader is in need of game time after missing the entire Super Rugby season with rehab after undergoing shoulder surgery.

After missing the July series against England and Fiji, Jordan has been picked for the Rugby Championship where Argentina is the first opponent.

Jordan has a blistering try scoring record against Los Pumas, from his two tries on debut in 2020 to his four in the Rugby World Cup semi-final last year.

Another returning All Black, midfielder David Havili, also turned out for the Makos this weekend where he looked to improve on a disappointing Crusaders season.

“I definitely didn’t play the way I wanted to play during Super Rugby, but I’ve got something to improve on after 50 minutes today, 40 minutes last week,” Havili told 1News.

“I’m looking forward to getting into camp and getting stuck in. I also love playing for my home union whenever I get the chance.”

Comments

8 Comments

JK 288 days ago

Will Jordan...not Michael Jordan....ooohh

PM 291 days ago

No way. No fire Power. No Havilli. N.Z got heaps of young

talented stars with Fire power.

Need to move forward

PM 291 days ago

Huge jump up in class for Will Jordan to play for all blacks after

2 years with hardly any game time. Did play in World cup final,

where he with a few other all blacks performed poorly

d 290 days ago

he certainly needs to prove he can defend better as a fb than he did as a wing, although all our wings need to work on that, even Reece, normally one of our better defensive wings but got stepped by England

Andrew Nichols 291 days ago

Score?

Toaster 291 days ago

Great to see him back

Well I guess we will all get to see how good the hype is when he plays at fullback for the ABs - probably next weekend

Bruiser 291 days ago

Anyone but Havilli

SC 291 days ago

Havili is an excellent choice as a squad player- he can cover 12, 15, wing off the bench.

You cannot have a specialist 12 or 13 as your fifth midfielder. You are selecting a player who is not going to start any tests unless there are 2 injuries at one midfield position. Their role is to play off the bench and cover multiple positions in the backline, if they are required.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 10 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 10 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 10 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 10 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 10 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 10 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍