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'Should make it into All Blacks': Peter Umaga-Jensen impresses with first half brace of tries as All Blacks selectors watch on

(Photo by Masanori Udagawa/Getty Images)

Don’t be surprised to hear calls for Peter Umaga-Jensen to earn a surprise call-up to the All Blacks squad in the wake of the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby Aotearoa clash with the Chiefs.

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The young midfielder put on a clinic in the first half of the round nine Kiwi derby – of which the Hurricanes need to win with a bonus point to keep their faint title hopes alive – in front of a crowd that featured All Blacks selectors Ian Foster, John Plumtree and Grant Fox.

That trio of spectators will no doubt have sat up and taken notice of Umaga-Jensen’s opening half performance, where he stood up in the absence of injured teammate Ngani Laumape to wreak havoc with the Chiefs’ defence.

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Aaron Mauger speaks to media

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Aaron Mauger speaks to media

Going into Saturday’s clash without having picked up a bonus point at all throughout the competition, Umaga-Jensen led the charge to keeping the Hurricanes’ season intact with an early try inside the first seven minutes.

A sequence of solid build-up play by the hosts from an attacking lineout kept the Chiefs pegged inside their own 22, before halfback TJ Perenara fired a deft flat ball for Umaga-Jensen to run onto at pace.

There was no stopping the imposing 22-year-old, who made easy work of Alex Nankivell and Anton Lienert-Brown to dot down under the posts.

It took only 20 minutes for Umaga-Jensen to double his score tally and continue his good run of form that played a vital role in taking down the Crusaders in Christchurch a fortnight ago.

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Running a backline move off an attacking scrum, the former national schoolboy and age-grade star split apart the Chiefs defence with a good running line before setting Wes Goosen away down the left wing.

Playing the role of support player, Umaga-Jensen was on hand to receive a last-ditch offload from Goosen as he was bundled into touch and was quick to dot the ball down despite the tackle attempt of Mitch Karpik.

Twitter was quick to react to Umaga-Jensen’s two-try salvo, with many praising the youngster’s efforts as the Hurricanes stayed alive in the competition for another week by picking up a 31-18 bonus point win over their North Island neighbours.

https://twitter.com/Lambish__/status/1291996193439059968

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https://twitter.com/SolehinMustafa_/status/1292009106732023808

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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