Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Wallace Sititi hailed by coach as ‘everything you want in an All Black’

Wallace Sititi of the All Blacks. Photo by GRANT DOWN/AFP via Getty Images

Without a doubt, one of the biggest takeaways from The Rugby Championship was the emergence of All Blacks rookie Wallace Sititi.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following an injury to Ethan Blackadder, the 22-year-old was thrust into the starting lineup and asked to add physicality to the All Blacks’ front line against the world-champion Springboks. 

A challenge that would’ve proven too steep for most, but not the rookie.

Looking like one of the best players on the park from then onwards as he locked down the starting No. 6 role, Sititi has made it clear he will be a big part of this All Blacks team for years to come. 

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

The man he needed to impress the most was All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan. As the forwards guru would reveal following the championship, Sititi made a remarkable impression.

“There’s a lot of positives about Wallace,” Ryan told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “When you talk about a young player that’s arrived at the Test level and just thrived. It’s almost like the bigger the contest, the better he goes.

“His explosive power with the ball but also jumping, through his instincts and speed of the ground really helps the speed of our line out.

“As you’d know as a hooker if the boys know they can hit the target and he might pluck out a few loose ones because of his skill in the air, well, he’s probably saved us a couple of times through no fault of anyone in particular.

ADVERTISEMENT

“But yes, he’s really quick off the ground which basically gets the ball in his hands and out of his hands to the nine really fast.”

Related

Ryan was full of pride for his young forwards and their nous at the lineout, particularly given this year begins the post-Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick era.

In an All Blacks loose forward trio that receives the odd bit of criticism for lack of height compared to their counterparts in the big leagues of international rugby, the explosiveness of athletes like Sititi and Ardie Savea has kept the New Zealand lineout competitive.

The coach’s high praise for Sititi’s skill set on the field was only equalled by his praise for the young man’s attitude off it. The coach commended his composure which has proven to be well beyond his years.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s from a great family, he’s an extremely humble young man. He’s everything you’d want an All Black to be really. 

“He gets about his work, he’s extremely grateful. He’s always looking to get better, he’s asking lots of questions but by the time it gets to the game we just want him to play and he’s done a great job of that. He’s been exceptional and I’m really proud of the work he’s done.”

Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
D
DP 41 days ago

This bloke is awesome. Play him, bed him in, that’s the next wave of quality back row player for NZ.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 20 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

1 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England' 'I don't think Borthwick picks Willis even if he's playing in England'
Search