The doors keep opening in Reece’s dream season
The Irish are calling it his Sliding Doors moment. Sevu Reece has another take on this stunning debut All Blacks season he’s having that takes another mad step into the stratosphere in Tokyo tonight.
Asked what his response would have been if someone had informed him at the start of the year he would be about to run out and start a World Cup quarterfinal against Ireland for the All Blacks, Reece captured the essence of his storybook rise as attention built to a crescendo in this Japanese metropolis.
‘‘Mate, wake up, you’re dreaming,’’ was the 22-year-old rookie wing’s answer, straight out of The Castle playbook.
Later, in an interview with Stuff, Reece admitted that he was still pinching himself when he pondered the position he was in as starting right wing for Steve Hansen’s All Blacks in pursuit of an unprecedented hat-trick of World Cup crowns
‘‘Looking at where I am now, I still feel like I’m dreaming at times,’’ said the 22-year-old Fiji-born flyer who will earn just his sixth cap in the biggest rugby game of his life. ‘‘Sometimes it’s like ‘I’m actually in here now, it’s time to wake up and go do the work’.’’
Reece’s tale is an unusual one. And full of moving parts. Thus the Sliding Doors descriptor. Late last year, as a twinkle-toed backline utility for Waikato, he had decided to sign for Connacht in Ireland after failing to land himself a Super Rugby deal to stay in New Zealand.
Then came a domestic assault charge, the termination of his Connacht deal, and a lifeline offered by the Crusaders after a spot opened up on the back of an injury. The rest, as they say, is history, albeit a whirlwind one as Reece carved up with a competition-best 15 tries en route to a third straight Super Rugby title which in turn had Hansen uttering the words: ‘‘Welcome to the All Blacks.’’
Reece and Crusaders team-mate George Bridge are forever
intertwined in this tale of wings, a prayer and two young men making every post a winner in the test arena. They were brought in for the Bledisloe Cup return clash at Eden Park as part of Hansen’s response to the Perth debacle, played the house down that night and have not looked back since, with Rieko Ioane and Ben Smith relegated to bit-part roles.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt tagged the unknown factor of Reece and Bridge ‘‘challenging’’ when he assessed the All Blacks lineup in Tokyo.
‘‘It’s one of those great sliding doors moments for Sevu Reece,’’ observed the Kiwi coach. ‘‘He has springboarded himself purely through form and athleticism into the All Blacks frame ahead of some freaks of nature like Rieko Ioane. That’s an incredible tip of the hat to a
guy like Sevu and the versatility of someone like Bridge.’’ Reece told Stuff he was endeavouring to channel his excitement in the right areas this week, but would also look to tap into it on game night.
‘‘Excitement is good, it gives you those little one-percenters that could give you that edge. It’s going to be the highlight of my career but I’m looking forward to the challenge.’’
Reece’s laidback approach also helped him in a week like this.
‘‘I’m usually pretty good . . . I’m that guy that loves to make a joke and is always laughing. I don’t take all of these things super serious which kinda helps me feel relaxed and come game day I’m ready to go.
‘‘I back my abilities to go out there and trust all the hard work I’ve put in. I love to back myself and show what I’ve got. I try not to have any predetermined plans, see what’s in front of me and just go with it.’’
But one thing he is planning for is plenty of high ball coming his way from Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton.
‘‘We’re expecting that and it’s been in my plans this whole week,’’ he said with a smile. ‘‘I’ve been getting a few high balls so I’m ready for it and nothing is going to surprise me.’’
So far this stunning year this flamboyant Fijian Kiwi has risen to every challenge he’s faced. He’s hoping to tick off one more because his mum is due to arrive in Japan next week, and he would hate for it to be a wasted journey.
‘‘I love to back myself and show what I’ve got.’’ Sevu Reece