Progress slow for Tuivasa-sheck in All Blacks

It may not happen yet, but the time may come soon when former Dally M medallist Roger Tuivasa-sheck considers a return to rugby league.

The 29-year-old second-five has been named to start on the bench for the All Blacks’ test against the Wallabies at Eden Park tomorrow.

Even though David Havili and Quinn Tupaea are out injured, All Blacks coach Ian Foster has decided to go with semi-regular fullback Jordie Barrett for the No 12 jersey this weekend instead of Tuivasa-sheck.

With Anton Leinert-brown back soon and Jack Goodhue returning next year, the pathway for Tuivasa-sheck to make it into the World Cup squad is getting murkier.

When asked why he had gone with Barrett rather than Tuivasasheck, Foster reverted to last week’s close win over the Wallabies in Melbourne, when

Barrett filled in at second-five, partnering Rieko Ioane in the midfield.

‘‘It’s based on the experience they had last week,’’ Foster said. ‘‘I felt they could start at a higher level because they’ve had the best part of 60 minutes of a test match, so that combination is a bit stronger.’’

Foster’s comments ignores the fact that Tuivasa-sheck spent this season at the Blues playing alongside Ioane in the midfield.

Despite being in the squad all year, Tuivasa-sheck has played only 11 minutes for the All Blacks, coming on as a sub against Ireland in Wellington.

When Tuivasa-sheck quit the Warriors last year, walking away from a contract worth over $1 million a season, he didn’t do it to play Super Rugby or be a tackle bag holder for the All Blacks.

Although he’s making little progress with the All Blacks, Ioane believes Tuivasa-sheck has made big strides over his first year as a professional rugby player.

‘‘Roger has been awesome,’’ Ioane said yesterday. ‘‘He hasn’t played many games for the ABS this year, but in and around training he’s learning as much as he can.

‘‘He just wants to play and learn.

‘‘The midfield is a tricky area, so him getting games under his belt for Auckland and learning off the 12s we have here is only going to accelerate that progression.’’

Tuivasa-sheck’s team-mate at the All Blacks and Blues, Dalton Papalii, says Tuivasa-sheck hasn’t been kicking stones about his selection issues. Anyone who knows Tuivasa-sheck from his time in league knows he would never be like that.

‘‘His character is always teamfirst,’’ Papalii said.

‘‘It’s awesome how he controls himself, from league [into] rugby, when he was starting. Also, coming into this environment and not dropping his lip. He’s been putting his best foot forward.’’

But at his age, next year is likely to be Tuivasa-sheck’s only shot at playing at a Rugby World Cup and if the writing is on the wall that he’s not going to make it far in the 15-man code, he could decide to cut his losses (and increase his salary) and return to league.

When Tuivasa-sheck left the Warriors last year, it was on the proviso that if he did return to league, he’d come back to that club and certainly they’d welcome him with open arms.

Tuivasa-sheck may back himself and feel he can make the improvements in his game to become an All Black regular. Or, he might do a Benji Marshall and quickly return to the code where he’s played his best footy.