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Why the return of ‘superstar’ Will Jordan is so important for All Blacks
By Finn Morton
Crusaders flyer Will Jordan hasn’t played a game of Super Rugby Pacific this season, but the outside could hold the key for the All Blacks at this year’s World Cup in France.
After missing the All Blacks’ end-of-season tour with an inner-ear issue, Jordan was also ruled out of the Crusaders’ first nine games of the season.
While there was plenty of speculation about when the All Black could return as the season went on, the Crusaders continued to name their team without Jordan – well, until Thursday.
Earlier this week, the Crusaders named their team to play the Western Force in Christchurch, which included the 21-Test All Black at fullback.
For both Crusaders and All Blacks fans, this was music to their ears before the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs and a World Cup.
Ahead of Jordan’s highly-anticipated return for the Crusaders on Saturday, former All Black Stephen Donald compared Will Jordan to a World Cup hero – believing Jordan can be “the guy” in France.
“For All Blacks rugby, for their World Cup chances, this is an incredible storyline,” Donald told SENZ The Run Home.
“At some stage you thought, ‘Is this actually going to happen?’ But he’s back.
“I think I said last year, he’s potentially the guy that you remember after a World Cup, (saying) it was his World Cup.
“(Springboks winger) Cheslin Kolbe was 2019’s absolute superstar.
“On the hard decks of a September in France, an October in France, Will Jordan has the ability to be that guy.
“He and Rieko Ioane could be the absolute superstars of this World Cup.”
Jordan joins a star-studded backline at the Crusaders this weekend, including fellow All Blacks Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, David Havili and Braydon Ennor.
As seen by athletes all around the world, injuries or significant stints on the sideline can either make or break a career. But Donald expects Jordan to return in “career-best nick” against the Force.
“Sometimes when you have a good period out, you actually come back in career-best nick,” he added.
“You have been training for God knows how long… in the professional conveyer belt, you never get the time to put that sort of (training in).
“You literally have about a month or two to do a bit of conditioning and then you just recover from games… so there is a shining light behind all of this that he’ll probably be in career-best shape.”
The Crusaders host the Western Force at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium at 4.35pm NZST on Saturday.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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