Patient Todd keen to seize his chance
If Matt Todd were an Australian, English or French rugby player he could well have played 60 or 70 tests by now. He is that good as an openside flanker with a nose for the ball, an off-the-charts workrate and defensive resilience of the highest order.
But Todd was both blessed and cursed to be born a Kiwi which has meant he has had to play behind one of the greatest of all time in Richie McCaw, and more latterly Sam Cane and Ardie Savea. At 29, he has appeared in just 10 tests since making his debut for the All Blacks in 2013. It’s a criminally low number for a No 7 of his quality.
He won’t get to add to that number this weekend, because the All Blacks open their November tour with a non-test outing against the Barbarians on Sunday. But he is keen to take his place in a lineup that will have a decided secondstring look about it.
Coach Steve Hansen wants to give as many as he dares of his tour newbies (the three uncapped players available this week are Asafo Aumua, Matt Duffie and Tim Perry) and squad backups a run.
Part of that is about sharing the load, and keeping the big hitters as fresh as possible for the three tests against France, Scotland and Wales. But a bit is also about giving some of the lesser used characters a chance to set the tone and lay their claims for selection from the off.
Todd likely falls into that category. He’s a player Hansen openly has a soft spot for, and who appeared to usurp Savea as the designated backup to Cane over the latter stages of the Rugby Championship.
An untimely groin injury removed him from what would have likely been a third straight test appearance (off the bench) against the Wallabies in Brisbane, after he started at No 7 against the Pumas in Buenos Aires and was a sub in the victory over the Boks in Cape Town.
Not surprisingly Todd, who played for the famous invitation club in 2014, is eager to face the Baabaas, accepting that any chance to impress is a vital one at this stage of his career.
‘‘I’d most definitely love to play that game,’’ he said after the tourists launched preparations with a gym session at their southwest London headquarters. ‘‘Any time you can play for the All Blacks is awesome.
‘‘I have played for the Baabaas before so I know it’s a hell of a team and great experience to be involved in. They’re probably the last of that slightly amateur style – you come together, enjoy a few beers to get to know each other, and you go out to express yourselves and play a good brand of footy.
‘‘We know they’ll be exciting, they’ll chuck the ball around and, knowing their coaches, they’ll come up with a few trick plays, and keep it interesting.’’
Todd wasn’t about to downplay the main ingredient from his own perspective.
‘‘It’s a massive opportunity,’’ he added. ‘‘There will probably be some guys who haven’t played a lot of footy so it’s an opportunity to put your hand up to say ‘pick me’ for the games coming up.
‘‘I’m sure for everyone who gets the opportunity this week that will be their mindset – go out there and show Steve you want to be picked in the coming games.’’
Todd said his injured groin appeared to have mended well, though he had yet to test it out on the training field when he spoke to media yesterday.
He was also pretty sure the 13 Kiwis in Deans’ Baabaas squad would bring plenty to the occasion. That includes experienced former All Blacks in Julian Savea, Andy Ellis, Ben Franks and Steven Luatua, as well as a raft of up-andcoming New Zealand-based players.
‘‘They’re going to be highly motivated. A number are joining us after and they’ll want to come in on the back of a good performance. Playing for the Baabaas you learn about the history of it and you want to do that justice.
‘‘They’ll be excited and fired up. They’re going to chuck the ball round, and try stuff, and we’ve got to respond and make sure we’re there mentally to match that.’’
He’s also pretty sure Deans’ assistant and his Crusaders coach Scott Robertson will have ‘‘plenty’’ in his bag of tricks.
‘‘He’s messaged me a couple of times and reckons he’s got stuff up his sleeve. He is a creative man at the best of times, so in a one-off festival type game like this I’m sure he’ll be pulling out all sorts.’’