High profile Kiwi rugby union convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has spoken candidly about the challenges he’s faced to prepare for his much anticipated Super Rugby debut for the Blues.
RTS missed the opportunity to hone his union skills due to the impact COVID has had on the NPC competition in New Zealand, and a trial match against the Hurricanes on Saturday will be his first footy match since his NRL farewell for the Warriors on July 18.
The 28-year-old was in upbeat form as he spoke to media on Thursday, charming Kiwi writers with his enthusiasm for the task ahead – and use of the word ‘discombobulating’ as he aims to make a hit of wearing the Blues No.12 jersey.
RTS revealed he had been doing private training sessions with All Black Caleb Clarke, saying “I saw on Insta he was training and reached out. I’ve learned a lot”.
Another dual code Kiwi star Sonny Bill Williams says “for me, it’s not a case of will he make it to the All Blacks or will he thrive in the game of 15, it’s a question of how long it’ll take”.
“We’ve got to remember that he grew up as a rugby player and league boys poached him from the game of rugby and brought him across, so he shouldn’t have too much problems transitioning back.”
(Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images for New Zealand Rugby)
But RTS isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“It’s too early,” he said when asked if he felt like a rugby player yet.
“I keep telling myself it’s not until I lace up and run out in the colours it’s going to feel official. At the moment I feel like a rookie and I’m learning with everyone around me.
“It’s a tough gig because one week I feel, ‘OK, I’m starting to get it’, then the next I’m out of position. You’ve got to keep learning as you go. And creating the connections around me. As a midfielder you’ve got to connect with the guys inside and out, and I’ve got to constantly adapt.”
Tuivasa-Sheck was happy to go into depth on his learnings.
“What’s still discombobulating to me is the constant change in pictures,” he said.
“In high school, if someone was in front, OK, you attack that guy. [Now] when you look back up it’s a whole new picture. The level has gone up, and with a lot of changing pictures.
“When I’m watching from afar, you know there’s a ruck there, but to me it looks like a mess, just boys smashing in. But there’s actually some key factors and technique stuff they try to do in there – those are the little things I’m trying to learn.”
The Kiwi rugby league icon said he had also been working on changing his body mass – he wants to play around the 99kg mark, 5kg heavier than when he was in the NRL.
“There are a lot of cheetahs out there and a few hippopotamuses – so I’ve got to adapt to different shapes,” he said.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald was at the same media conference and said he was just as eager as RTS for his rugby career to “go live”.
“That’s when you really know what you need to work on,” said MacDonald.
“That’s the exciting opportunity that’s coming up in the next week or so for Roger.
“There’s only so many times you can run around against your mates. He’s built some good relationships and combinations. He understands his role really well and loves the physicality of the midfield.
“There’s no big red flags around his game. The contact area – your body height has to be lower in union and the entry to the breakdown but they’re things he’s working at every day. He’s got to the point where he’s no different to any of our other players who get it wrong from time to time.”
RTS is eager to hit the ground running.
“Just trying to get my role right, to be in the right position to add value to the players around me, and not be a barrier so I’m stopping plays because I’m in the wrong position,” he said of his self expectations.
“It’s just head down, go to work, and make myself official – earn the coaches’ respect by getting that jersey to play in a Super game.”
Cam
Roar Rookie
I was coaching park rugby around 2014 and we hosted the Bowen Mudcrabs. It is a 5 hour return drive and teams traditionally don’t travel well to or from Bowen (especially in the age of shift work). The Muddies arrived with 13 or 14 and we were able to lend a couple to even numbers. Rodney Blake played for Bowen that day and it was awesome to see he still had a great love for the sport, certainly would have been a change from playing Bledisloe matches in packed stadiums. Generally we get around 40 spectators and 3 or 4 dogs (which often stroll onto the field). As it was, we had an ex Fijian test player and an ex Tongan test player with 60 tests and 3 RWC between them and they certainly appreciated playing against the big man. $5 would get you a hot dog and a beer and you can literally stand on the sideline. You have got to love park footy.
Dougie
Roar Rookie
Still. Id like both in a perfect world.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Could be Doug, but he made a bigger impact on Wallaby performance than Cooper I thought.
Dougie
Roar Rookie
Love to ee Samu running around, but RA cannot afford him i would have thought.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
MK, Makes me wonder what Rennie is doing to bring in some backing for Kerevi?
GC Red
Roar Rookie
Nope, I actually thought you were pretty amusing. I take it you read a little more into my comment about looking forward to seeing the bloke play. Clearly you have a little itch somewhere in your life you can’t scratch. I am however at peace. Enjoy your “ casual commentary”
Tim J
Roar Rookie
He is one that I will be watching JD, hopefully he progresses further this season.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Tupaea looked very promising for a 22yo in his first season. Be interesting to see how he goes this year.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I do not understand why you would leap to such a conclusion. Could it be that I had a little free time and chose to write up a reminder of a little history? Try literal reading, make your comment on what you have read. For all I know you just did not understand a word of it - you have said nothing to suggest otherwise. I am a casual commenter here enjoying my thoughts on sport - being amused, mocking, speaking of delights, recounting things I have seen believing that others might find them interesting or informative. Do you come here angry, "holding something in" and needing to release it? Fair dinkum? How weird! Perhaps you need a life coach or an instantgram influencer ... take him to the local park sit, close your eyes and hum "Oooommm" for a couple of hours.
GC Red
Roar Rookie
Jeez mate, I feel Like you have been holding that in for a while…????????
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Exciting, isn't it? Back in 2005 they welcomed Rodney Blake in the same manner - into the Reds as the newest big thing - team Player of the Year no less, saviour of the code. In 2007 he was fast tracked into his glittering career with the Wallabies, which ended in 2007. Rodney had to head off overseas to get a start from late 2008 onwards, all over by age 25. Dunno what happened there - he had quality coaching at Homebush High, Australian Schools, Australian Under 21s and time at West Harbour under that good man Mick Ellem and Joe Barakat. Knuckles backed him for the Wallaby front row, and he had a history of being a good judge. The fellas who are supposed to know about these things - club coaches, players' families, the Wallaby fans - historically get well ahead of themselves when someone new turns up at the right ground on time, remembers to bring his boots and manages to catch and pass for a whole game. :stoked: :silly: You will recall this process was an initiative of the ARU Elite Academy Pathway Progress Plan Facility Thingy¹ repeated a couple of years later for the O'Connor, Cooper, Beale led National Code Revival and Recovery. ¹ basically a colourful two-page spread in the Union's annual report and a nicely crafted directional sign in the ARU Head Office foyer.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I wonder how SBW would have gone with those words? :laughing: Oh bro I need the toilet and hippopotamuses, aren’t they? hold on? Hippos, those 60s smokers. :laughing:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I always thought League backs played heavier than their Union counterparts due to the more combative nature of League but perhaps its the 94kg league playing weight thats the surprise. Hope it doesnt impact his step or pace. He's not a super quick player but quick enough.
soapit
Roar Guru
he was a league fullback so was probably playing pretty lean previously. probably a bit of a shift in focus from fitness to size going to rugby 12
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Glad to hear that you are okay, it always easier to put weight on that it is losing it. :silly:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He forgot "learnings" tho. Thats the new thing isnt it?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Not what you had planned eh! The wine wont go off LOL.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah it was just a couple of days of flu like stuff really but the major bonus was I lost my appetite for around 10 days so lost a few kilo's. Its back tho...LOL
Machpants
Roar Guru
It was a Blues social media challenge, he had to (and sucessfully did) use "discombobulating" "Hippopotomus" and "Nick Cage" in the media brief - good stuff
Highlander
Roar Guru
Looks like RTS has completed his first team initiation. Get the words discombulating and hippopotamus into your first interview. Good start. ABs so need this guy to be good.......