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Blues coach's rave review of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ahead of new season

Image by Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry has lathered star recruit Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in praise as the Auckland-based side continues its preparations for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

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Tuivasa-Sheck has dominated headlines as the competition’s major signing of the off-season after it was announced last year that he would switch to rugby union following 10 seasons in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors.

The 2013 NRL champion and 2018 Dally M Medal winner has since caught the eye of his peers and new coaches after linking up with the Blues for pre-season training in the lead-up to the beginning of Super Rugby Pacific.

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Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has been vocal in his admiration for the 28-year-old’s training efforts in recent weeks, and Caleb Clarke revealed how hard Tuivasa-Sheck pushed him as they stayed fit together during last year’s lockdown in Auckland.

Now, fresh after inking a two-year contract extension with the Blues, Coventry jumped on the Tuivasa-Sheck hype train.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, the Auckland-based franchise’s forwards coach spoke highly of the former rugby league star’s contribution at training and how well he has integrated himself into the side’s all-star squad.

“Roger’s been awesome. Roger’s a real pro. He’s formed a really strong relationship with Caleb. I don’t know if he mentioned that, but those two have been training really hard,” Coventry said.

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“Roger’s a sponge for information. He finds space and time to go and talk to a coach or one of the players around some of the things that are confusing for him but he’s contributing also around some of our attacking shapes at the moment.

“He’s asking a little bit more of some of our boys around some of the lines he’d like to run around them. He’s contributing in a really good way and we’re looking forward to seeing him play.”

Coventry’s comments echo the sentiments of MacDonald, who was impressed by the intensity and physicality at which Tuivasa-Sheck has trained.

Likewise, evidence of Tuivasa-Sheck’s seamless integration into the Blues set-up was reflected by Clarke, who made note on Tuesday of how his new teammate has leaned upon the side’s chief playmakers and leaders for guidance.

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“Now he’s got all the coaches, he’s got boys like Stephen [Perofeta] and Harry [Plummer], and it’s just awesome that he’s really growing in the game and he’s helped me with a bit of my footwork,” Clarke said.

“It’s helped me out on attack, but I don’t think it’s helped me much on [defence]. I’m still getting stepped here and there, but it’s been good, though. It’s just been real cool having someone of his calibre here at the Blues.”

Tuivasa-Sheck will have the chance to make his official Blues debut next month when his side opens Super Rugby Pacific against cross-town rivals Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.

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Andrew 1011 days ago

I do hope with all this massive hype that he succeeds. Not many return to Rugby successfully. Benjie Marshall was a flop

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AM 44 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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