Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

‘He’s untouchable’: What the Blues ‘want to see’ from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Credit: Derek Morrison / www.photosport.nz

Following a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a hand injury, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck made a successful return to Super Rugby Pacific against Moana Pasifika last month.

ADVERTISEMENT

But then, just a week later, the All Blacks and Blues midfielder was dropped from the matchday squad ahead of the teams highly anticipated clash with the champion Crusaders in Christchurch.

For a player who is undoubtedly chasing the dream of playing for the All Blacks at a Rugby World Cup, time doesn’t appear to be on his side.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

But Tuivasa-Sheck is back for the Blues this week – although, he’s not starting against the Queensland Reds.

When the Blues’ team list came out on Wednesday ahead of their trip to Brisbane, Tuivasa-Sheck was omitted from the starting side for the second week in a row.

Playmaker Harry Plummer has retained his spot in the No. 12 jersey, while Tuivasa-Sheck will be called upon to make an impact off the bench at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

But the dual international is back, nonetheless.

With just three rounds to go in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season, assistant coach Daniel Halangahu has revealed what the Blues’ want to see from the All Black moving forward.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I think for a guy that hasn’t played heaps of rugby, it was always going to take a little bit for him to come back to his best,” Halangahu said.

“What we want to see is what everyone wants to see, we want to see that footwork, and we want to see him beating people.

“It’s up to us as a group to put him in those situations, because we know when he’s in space, he’s untouchable, almost.

“For him, it’s around the little micro-communications, and he knows that, he’s been working really hard on it. He’s very committed to that, he comes in with a smile on his face, and he’s working hard for it – I applaud him for that.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Since switching codes, Tuivasa-Sheck has faced an almost unprecedented level of pressure and scrutiny.

Related

As far as code hoppers go, the sky appeared to be the limit for Tuivasa-Sheck – but, the sky was almost also the benchmark.

New Zealand Rugby fans expected great things from the 2018 Dally M medallist, and so far at least, he’s failed to fire.

But Tuivasa-Sheck isn’t the only player facing an increasingly level of pressure.

Throughout this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign, playmaker Beauden Barrett has come under fire for some uncharacteristically poor performances.

Barrett has been outplayed by Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo’unga in matches this season, but the Blues aren’t beginning to pin the blame on their star No. 10.

“We put very little of it on Beauden,” he added. “His focus, with the No. 9, is on the ruck. The No. 15, wingers, they’ve got so much more time than our game drivers to see that space, and they then need to communicate.

“I think that’s part of the reason the All Blacks use Beauden at fullback, because we know how good his communication is and how he sees that space.

“We never put that on our tens, whether it is Beauden or someone else, it’s the other guys being able to communicate space and communicate options, and be really decisive and execute.

“That’s part of the thing we’re working with Roger on, and being able to get his eyes up and see that space and getting an effective call in.”

Following their loss to the Crusaders in round 12, the Blues will be eager to bounce back this Friday when they play the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
f
frandinand 733 days ago

Its probably fair to say a large percentage of ill informed media expected great things from RTS.

A number of expert analysts always were doubtful that he would successfully transition from league to union when he was playing in the number 12 position.

Of course when you have as your number one cheerleader John Kirwan who can be relied upon to garnish as much publicity as 3 other commentators it might appear as if the expectations are widespread.

f
flyinginsectshrimp 734 days ago

New Zealand (r)ugby fans expected great things from the 2018 Dally M medallist

This just isn't true. Most fans anticipated that it'd take a few seasons before he performed at the level he did in the NRL — and I'd say most fans anticipated that the experiment wouldn't end with him as a starting All Black.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 7 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Have Bath got the thin end of the Premiership play-off draw? Have Bath got the thin end of the Premiership play-off draw?
Search