1
'Listen, come to our team': All Black hopeful told to move to bolster selection chance
By Ben Smith
The All Blacks midfield is a hotly contested positional group but one candidate continues to impress in Super Rugby Pacific as a potential World Cup bolter.
Moana Pasifika centre Levi Aumua has been in devastating form and brings size and power unlike any other midfielder in New Zealand.
His damaging running was on show against the Crusaders in Christchurch in round seven where he bulldozed through multiple players to score two tries in the 38-21 loss.
Ahead of the first home game in Samoa against the Reds, Aumua had clocked the most running metres of any centre in the competition with 564, and the third most defenders beaten of any player with 37.
Only All Black winger Mark Telea and teammate Timoci Tavatavanawai have beaten more players in Aumua this season, while Moana Pasifika's No 13 has logged an impressive eight line breaks.
New Zealand broadcast personality Hamish McKay believed that Aumua does not receive enough attention for his performances in a side that is near the bottom of the ladder.
"About bloody time! Levi Aumua is a game breaker," he wrote on his social page after Aumua made the back page of the NZ Herald.
"We won’t win a Rugby World Cup with steady Eddie’s."
Former Welsh international Gordon Simpson explained on SENZ's The Rugby Run radio show that it was in Aumua's best interests to leave Moana Pasifika for another New Zealand team in order to gain All Black selection.
The 28-year-old was previously with the Blues in 2019 and made four appearances but was stuck behind All Black duo Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu.
“Aumua … if you put him in a Crusaders backline or a Blues backline, how much more devastating and how much more ball would he get and how much more explosive?" Simpson told SENZ’s The Rugby Run.
“You put him in one of those teams and you’ve got the sort of teams next year possibly looking at him.
“They would be saying, ‘Listen, come to our team, we’ll make you an offer,’ or however it works.
“It just builds his profile and yeah, then you start looking at higher honours.”
Aumua is eligible for multiple nations including Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand but was picked last year in the All Blacks XV.
His selection for the All Blacks XV caused a stir as the Moana Pasifika team was floated as a pathway for Pacific nations to develop international players.
Former All Black midfielder and Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger said at the time that they would support Aumua's ambitions, and added that all three nations should be chasing him.
"All our boys are on their own journey," said Mauger last year.
"We're really proud of Levi, we're really proud of who he's become as a man and that's transferred onto the field.
"We support all of our boys with their aspirations. Levi's decided that route - just for now.
"That doesn't mean to say he's not going to be available for Samoa or [Fiji] down the track.
"If I was those coaches, I'd be going hard to get Levi in my team for the World Cup."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Player-led change gets thumbs up but jury out on selection: Andy Goode
3
Six England players who've boosted their Lions hopes this Six Nations
4
Gareth Anscombe fires back at ex-Wales coach Warren Gatland
5
Latest Comments
As an artist, I’ve always been focused on my creative pursuits and never really ventured into the world of high-risk financial investments. But, like many others, I was drawn to the idea of making money quickly through Forex trading. Unfortunately, I fell victim to a Forex scam and lost a large portion of my savings. The financial loss was devastating, but the emotional toll was even worse. I felt betrayed, and hopeless, and wasn’t sure where to turn next. One day, while browsing through Red Note, a platform where people connect over shared experiences, I came across a post from someone who had gone through a similar situation. They shared how they managed to recover their lost funds through a company called Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Desperate for a solution, I decided to reach out to them and explain what had happened to me. I was initially skeptical, unsure whether this was just another scam or if it could be the real deal. To my surprise, the team at Tech Cyber Force Recovery was professional, compassionate, and genuinely interested in helping. They listened carefully to my story and assured me that they had the expertise and resources to help recover my lost funds. The process would take time, they said, and I’d need to provide some documentation, but they were confident that they could help. After several conversations and a thorough investigation, they started working on my case. The results were incredible. Within a relatively short period, Tech Cyber Force Recovery managed to recover nearly all of the funds I had lost. It wasn’t an easy process, and it required patience, but the team’s dedication, attention to detail, and methodical approach paid off. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude. What had once seemed like a permanent loss was now being reversed, thanks to the help of Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Not only did the recovery restore my financial situation, but it also restored my sense of trust and confidence. I had almost given up hope, but now, with my funds recovered, I feel like I can move forward. I’ve learned valuable lessons from this experience, and I’m more cautious about my financial decisions in the future. What began as a desperate search on Red Note turned into a life-changing recovery. Thanks to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, I now feel more hopeful about my financial future, with the knowledge that recovery is possible.telegram (@)techcyberforc texts (+1 5.6.1.7.2.6.3.6.9.7)
Go to commentsJust too short to be an international 7.
Go to comments