'A beautiful, romantic story': Blues veteran Bryce Heem and his All Black chances
Veteran midfielder Bryce Heem has been Mr Reliable for the Blues, filling in for injury or coming off the bench and making impact since his return to New Zealand from Toulon.
He has been preferred by the Blues selectors over league superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck but on form has justified that selection.
He proved that again when he came off the bench against the Hurricanes and had two try assists to help the Blues close out the win in wet conditions.
The 34-year-old has been such a surprise performer that a previously unthinkable All Black debut is now being talked about as a slight possibility.
Ex-All Black John Kirwan said that Heem ticks all the boxes required of a No 12 at international level but admitted it would be tough for him to break into contention.
"If you go back to the style of play, he is an incredibly big man," Kirwan told Sky Sport's The Breakdown.
"He gets you over the advantage line, he's got the little kicking game as you can see there.
"Look, at his age it would be a beautiful, romantic story. The reality, I don't know if there is space for him."
The All Blacks midfield is crowded with first choice pair Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane hard to displace, along with veterans Anton Lienert-Brown and David Havili.
Jack Goodhue and Quinn Tupaea are currently injured but when healthy will be in contention, while in-form centre Levi Aumua could be selected after signing with the Crusaders for next season.
However ex-All Black Jeff Wilson left the door open for Heem should injury strike, claiming his experience and temperament would be a valuable asset for the All Blacks.
"If we lost a midfielder, an Anton Lienert-Brown or a Rieko Ioane, I would have no issue with this guy coming in and doing a job for us," Wilson said.
He highlighted the decision-making of Heem late in the contest at Eden Park which helped settle the Blues down after costly errors had let the Hurricanes back in the game.
The Blues utility back made 'the smartest play' of the entire game in his brief cameo.
"That kick was the smartest play of the game, because the game was still in the balance," Wilson said of his assist for Mark Telea.
"That was the fourth try for Mark Telea, but forget all of that, there was only a couple of minutes to go in the game.
"The Blues were still playing rugby, they'd made two errors and conceded a try. That kick put them in the corner, that was the smartest thing that was done all day.
"That's experience, that's IQ, that's understanding the consequences of making good decisions.
"I was really impressed. He's fit, he's strong, he's big, powerful, love him."
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I still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
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