New Zealand’s World Cup winning coach Steve Hansen has no doubt rugby league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck can seize an All Blacks jersey despite having yet to run out in a Super Rugby game.
The former Roosters and Warriors NRL star has had his debut for the Blues delayed by the postponement of their match against Moana Pacific, but Hansen believes the buzz around RTS is there for good reason.
“He’s a superb athlete and he’s not coming in 100 percent cold having played for New Zealand schoolboys rugby,” Hansen told NZ radio Newstalk ZB.
“So he’s played the game before, he has an understanding of it so he’s returning to rugby and he has every chance n the world because of his natural talent, because he understands the game albeit at a lower level.
“He’s got a great mentor in Leon MacDonald there – he’s doing a fantastic job – so I think he’s got a real chance.
“If he plays well why wouldn’t [Ian Foster] and his team be excited about having him.
“He’s an athlete and a half.”
Earlier this week RTS revealed watching an All Blacks vs. Lions Test at Eden Park in 2017 lit the fire in him that eventually led to his code switch.
“The stage that they were playing on, I kind of sat there and looked around and said, ‘Wow, this is the stage, playing at Eden Park, full stadium, these are the stages’, and because I’m a competitor, this is where I wanted a challenge, on the big stages like this,” RTS told the Breakdown The Pod host Jeff Wilson.
“A lot of times, that played on the back of my mind, ‘Should I have a crack at this or not?’, but, now that I’m here, I’m really excited about this new journey that I’m in and I’m ready to get stuck in.”
Tuivasa-Sheck had his first game of union since he was a schoolboy in a trial against the Hurricanes two weeks ago, starting at inside centre.
“I loved it. I really enjoyed it. I’d been hanging out, waiting for a game, especially as I came over quite early from the Warriors to get a game with the Auckland NPC [team], but that fell short,” he said.
“Then we went into another pre-season with the Blues, and then now, getting a game, I’m excited. ‘Here we go, we’re in the pouring rain at Rugby League Park in Wellington’. It was exciting. I was just happy to play.”
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Meanwhile Hansen, who is the architect of a proposed 12s competition was unsure how that might be affected by news that Six Nations and Rugby Championship officials are due to meet to discuss an overhaul of the international calendar.
There are plans to crown a global champion every two years.
“If the Six Nations want it it will happen because they run everything through World Rugby. All the votes are up so it is that way,” Hansen said.
But Hansen said the proposal was essentially one extra match – a final to crown the champs – and did nothing to solve wider issues in scheduling and player welfare.
“All it does is … put another gloss on what’s there but it doesn’t fix the problem of the global season,” Hansen said.
“We need a global season so we can have a European Cup and Super Rugby champion play off and we need a Six Nations and Rugby Championship playoff every year.
“What they can’t do is have it loaded one way. What I understand is they propose to play the final at the end of November, which is advantage northern hemisphere because all of the southern hemisphere sides are coming to the end of their season.
“Until they get a global season you won’t get a true reflection.”
He said that would involve someone having to give ground, and tipped it wouldn’t be the Europeans.
“Six Nations [organisers] are never going to change when they play the Six Nations – does it mean we have to play the Rugby Championship first up and then follow it with Super Rugby? It’s worthy of a discussion.”
He said a global season was possible.
“If we start thinking about our players, what’s important in the calendar stays and what’s not so important goes.
“There are a lot of games, particularly up north – they’ve followed the soccer model and have more competitions going on in one season than you can throw a stick at.
“We’re better off saying ‘what months do we want to play Test rugby, what months do we want to play club rugby, what else can we put in there, is the 12s a worthy option to spice up the game’.
“If there’s a will and a want they’ll get it done. If they don’t want to, they won’t.
“The only people who suffer when they don’t want to do that is the players.
“They’re asking the players to do a hell of a lot and there’s an expectation they play in all the teams they’re contracted for and they can only go around for so long and then they’re going to break. We see it all the time, good athletes hit the wall, physically mentally, and we don’t want that.”
He said the 12s idea was still “burning away in the background” but relies on World Rugby deciding it’s something they see value in.
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Old Bugger
Guest
The first international season of this concept will be disruptive for TRC unions but thereafter, once both hemispheres have aligned, then surely, we will have the beginnings of a global season. I mean, this is what the donkey will provide - a slow motion start before the thoroughbreds show their worth. The take-away is to get a global season that will hopefully encourage the euro-clubs, to reconsider what they may think is check-mate when it's really, only check. That means, there are more moves to come, in this game. And with CVC and SL providing financial impacts, there are opportunities for further negotiation and discussion. Right now, there aren't any opportunities what with the euro-clubs having persuasion, over contracted players.
scrum
Roar Rookie
You are right - the 6 Nations probably will not compromise. But I cannot see how playing the TRC in Feb/Mar would work. The players would have had no footy and then would need time back with their SR teams prior to that Comp starting.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
Hansen is right in one aspect though.....currently, one hemisphere plays test teams from the other hemisphere at either, the beginning or end of their respective club seasons......and that's not going to prove anything, in terms of having a global winner. What's needed is one hemisphere to completely change their international season and if the north won't budge because of 6N, then I'd like to think the south may consider changing to meet, a truly global season. So, we play the RC at the same time as the 6N and then, do reciprocal home/away hemisphere matches thereafter. Once those internationals are done and dusted, then both hemispheres can play, their own club competitions. It's a cunning plan I know but, if you have to pin a tail on a weasel and call it a donkey, then so be it. At least a donkey, will hopefully, get us to a global season because every pro-sport, has to go through its own slow motions, before reaching thoroughbred status.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Exactly JD. That's why I think RTS may struggle also unless he finds different ways of shooting the gap eg. off a tip or a dump ball from a pod or big carrying centre. Havilli didn't really innovate himself did he. He just kept on doing the same thing with the same result every time.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Haivili is another guy with quick feet and he was bullied by SA and Ireland in the 12 channel.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
I think we bare with him for now because he is a professional athlete and may even adapt but if he doesnt evolve his running game he will find that the 12 channel a very congested avenue with little strike opportunities. On top of that is a channel where the backrowers defend who are monsters. The other thing he looks like he is struggling to contend with is the chop tackle in union. In the trial games defenders have been quite effective in removing his most potent strike weapon - his legs and feet. He should be moved to winger if he wants to persist with the stand shuffle and gap it style of attack. In time we hope he makes the 12 jersey his own and he develops his game into a running 2nd playing option other than BB.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Great stuff, Diesel.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Doesn’t sound like the big 12 we need unfortunately. Tupaea or Goodhue our best bets then. RTS on the wing?
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Its been exciting to RTS in rugby. I'm sure given time and opportunity he will be as good as they say he is. From what I've see so far, he seems to be struggling to understand how his strengths as a twinkled toe freak can translate to RU. Frankly it doesn't - at the 12. It would on the wing as he is a similar player to Cheslin Kolbe but not in this heavy traffic lane. As he found out in the Hurricanes trial the Blues were in their red zone. He caught the ball at 1st receiver and in front of him was a forward. In league the forward would've given him space and time and allowed him to do his thing and RTS would've whacked him into oblivion. In Union the defence remove all of those options and jam you for space and time before you become a threat. The ensuing play - RTS tackled, taken to ground and ruck lost, ball lost. This happened a couple of times and when he came off the pitch he told the coach he had seen some pictures that he was not use to which was probably either the defensive speed and attention to systems or the ferociousness and speed of the ruck or both. RTS has to evolve his attacking game. He needs more of a run up and then step after 10m or so. To me he is better off standing at 1st receiver every now and then, passing and then playing a support role off a big ball carrier or running backdoor off a pod, very similar to how Richie M plays out the back and pops up around the centre area in a gap. Once RTS gets a run up into space created by a big ball carrier then he can use his step to break the line off a 2nd touch and then watch him go. His defence is quite appalling if you ask me. He needs to fix it quick or he will see less minutes once SR starts. These SR coaches and players are very smart and he will be found out. His issues are with line speed and staying connected. He rushes up with good tempo and intent but then stops short, plants his feet and waits for the ball carrier to do his thing (very much a league trait). It creates D System issues because his outsides over shoot him and are caught beyond the ball carrier. This creates all sorts of issues with a staggered d line and speed to reload the D line as the outsides have over run the ball carrier. Everyone is left scrambling because of the disconnection. Also, he has a massive tendency to back track and shut to the corner flag (flagging) very early when on the wing. He needs to remember to take the space or cut off the space then flag or risk allowing the winger to burn him on the outside as the Fijian winger for the Highlanders did last week. What I have been impressed with is his fitness. He seems to be aerobically fit but then your fitness or hamstrings aren't really tested as much at 12 as it would be if you playing on the wing or FB, as you are very much only playing within the 20m lateral markers. He also has a very good catch pass, very strong comms as you can see him pointing and calling predictive plays and he is very active around the field. His post collision reloading time is approx 1.2secs av. and he impressively reloads to post ruck position. That's pretty good considering this is a heavy traffic zone for props running the 3 pod. In the rucks he needs to put on atleast 5 kgs to be more effective in cleaning rucks and moving bodies but it impressed me to see that he atleast is in there giving it a good crack. I look forward to seeing him evolve into a really good union player of the coming months but hope his hammies don't give out on him with the sudden anaerobic repeat bent over rows. times he was standing at 1st receiver and playing off big ball carriers.
Dave
Guest
Let’s face it, he’d be good anywhere but I feel his strengths don’t lend to being in that tight, too much traffic. In League he always did his best work on the edges. Love to see him at 13 but obviously Reiko being there makes that hard. I think he’d be brilliant on the wing, I think Union needs to get away from this mentality of “wasted on the wing” the wing is a vital position on the footy field, one where I’m more confident than any other position, he would dominate
Jack
Guest
I think the two are seperate tho MK. Hansen is correct on the Global calendar situation needing to be equal for all sides around where a final etc is played but the 12s is a seperate issue all together for him as thats a private enterprise and has no obligations to WR or its rules. I want to see both hemispheres given an equal shot at hosting the final. Not sure its going to work out that way sadly but a final in the NH after the SH season is going to favor the NH sides big time.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
RTS is obviously fired up for the season and he will be one of the most watched players, hopefully all the talk around him he can block out. Concentrate on himself and the team, he certainly has all the skill sets to succeed. As far as Hansen speaking about too much Rugby and concerns of player welfare, it seems a bit rich when he is pushing for a 12s game. It will be faster and with a compact comp that will lead to injuries, plus players will be still wanting to dish out big hits. Plus how much money is he on to push it through and after? Being a private run comp, of course he is pushing for it!
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
I'm very intrigued by Tuivasa-Sheck's appearances with the Blues. My thinking is the centre position is very much up for grabs with the All Blacks so a good showing by RTS with the Blues and he may enter the discussion. In the meantime he should be a good drawing card for the Blues once spectators are allowed back.
Cam
Roar Rookie
I think his size and skillset will translate pretty well to 12. He is nudging 100kg, has awesome feet, can ball play, terrific defender and is a great communicator. At the Blues, he will play outside Beauden Barrett and inside Reiko Ioane. Looking at the other positions, it might be a stretch to drop him into the 13 jersey, which is a pretty hard position to read defensively. He could play fullback, but maybe lacks the kicking game and I think he'd be wasted on the wing. His kick returns would be great value though.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Hansen comes out on the Global season with contradictory statements. Says the players are overloaded then wants to introduce his 12s tournament. A privately run tournament for the financial benefit of the organisers and the players . And the reality is the 6 Nations outside of RWC is the premier Rugby competition in that it attracts huge interest, spectator support and as a money spinner for the Nations involved and that money goes back into Rugby not some private company. And if the SH had a tournament of that success and standing I am sure the SH nations would protect it. You can argue that the Rugby Championship is higher quality re the playing side ( and that’s not a given in recent times) but as an overall tournament it does not compare.
Dave
Guest
still don't think 12 is his best position but very keen to see how he goes