Scott Robertson confirms Will Jordan's new position for All Blacks

Will Jordan is nearing a return to rugby and the long-awaited switch to fullback looks all but certain for New Zealand’s most prolific scoring threat.

The try-scoring phenom has plied his trade on the right wing most commonly at the international level so far in his young career, but having donned the No. 15 jersey throughout his Super Rugby Pacific career under Scott Robertson at the Crusaders, many expected the 26-year-old to make the move to his familiar backfield role under his former Crusaders coach at the next level.

Robertson confirmed that is indeed the plan for his star back, who is coming off a shoulder injury which saw him miss the entirety of the Super Rugby season.

“He’s a fullback that can play wing, he can cover there,” Robertson told The Breakdown following the squad naming on Sunday.

“We’re really fortunate with Beaudy (Barrett’s) form, he’s come in with super hot form.

“We’ve got a game this week for Will, it’s his first game in a long, long time so he’s going to have to perform straight away and own it, get back to a Test match level.

“We’re really pleased for him, that he’s worked so hard and it gives us depth, he can play fullback and cover wing.

“I’m really big on players playing two positions; their preferred position and another position. Things change really quickly and the utility factor is critical.”

Barrett’s form has indeed caught plenty of attention in the reserve role throughout the England series, with the 33-year-old promoted to the starting XV against Fiji in San Diego.

Stephen Perofeta also remains in the squad as a fullback option, having impressed in his minutes against an English side that demanded plenty of the opposition fullback.

“Beaudy is absolute class and we’ll get him on the field where we can,” assistant coach Scott Hansen told media on Monday.

“His quality is ‘you just put me where you need me to be coaches’ and he’s done that so well for us. The way he’s led our weeks. The clarity and composure whether that be at 10 or fullback, the influence he’s had on this group has been massive the last three Tests.

“He has the ability to play 10 and lead us around the field as a first ball player, he also has quality of control as a fullback as well. You’ve seen the way we play, it’s very likely Beauden is on one side of the ruck with Dmac (Damian McKenzie) on the other, so we see those roles as having the ability to influence our attack.”

The NPC is still a week away from kicking off, so if Jordan is set for some game time this weekend one has to assume it will be in some local club colours, something that should excite the Christchurch club scene.

Jordan’s shoulder issue comes after a bizarre inner-ear trouble that saw him miss plenty of games over the previous 12 months but didn’t impact his Rugby World Cup campaign.

Hansen expanded on his thoughts on Jordan’s best position.

“His great strength is his ability to play both (wing and fullback). When you talk about All Black outside backs, a strength they’ve always had is their ability to be able to cover wing,” Hansen said.

“Will Jordan is a world-class athlete and rugby player. That gives us the ability to play him at fullback where he’s been selected. But also our memory allows us to look at where he was last year on the right wing for the All Blacks, so we’re very lucky to have the ability to use Will where we need to.”

The coach said selectors weren’t too worried about the extended period without rugby.

“He is a player that can come out and play test match footy straight away.

“The best thing for Will though is to give him the confidence through our environment through his contact training and collisions and that could also look like him playing for Tasman (in the NPC) in a week or so.”

Jordan has new competition in the form of 23-year-old Hurricanes star Ruben Love, too. Love had excelled for periods of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season and while not initially selected for the All Blacks’ Steinlager Series squad, Love had plenty of opportunity to impress selectors while in the wider squad group throughout July.

“He’s had a fantastic Super Rugby campaign. He was with us for a number of weeks (as cover during the July tests). We just saw a lot of really good attributes around him learning his craft, being professional, running very well as the opposition and he gave us a lot so we’re really excited to see Ruben in.”