Why AB bolter rates Hooper
Here are 12 things on new All Black Dalton Papalii:
1
Shock, horror — Papalii has described Aussie captain Michael Hooper as his favourite rugby player, for his “relentless effort off the ball . . . a deadly player on attack and defence, with the desire to win in every aspect of play”.
2
Papalii revealed his other career choices would be a mechanic or arborist, in an allblacks.com interview.
3
The All Blacks see him as a rare openside-blindside flanker option, with selector Grant Fox saying: “He was an under-20 star as more of a six (blindside) not so long ago — I can’t recall having a guy who can play six and seven.”
4
Papalii could be the first player from the 2017 under-20 world champions to play a test for the All Blacks, although hooker Asafo Aumua — one of the Nippon clip-ons — is also in line for that honour.
5
Papalii is massive for an openside flanker — at 113kg and 1.93m tall. In other words, he’s bigger than Jerome Kaino.
6
His tackling figures are off the charts, constantly making more than 20 a game for Auckland and hardly ever missing.
7
Papalii made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues this year, after initially being sidelined with a hand injury.
8
Papalii’s selection means the Pakuranga club is celebrating the rise of the first All Black to emerge from their junior and senior ranks.
9
What’s in a name? He won the Grant Dalton Cup at St Kentigern College after captaining the first XV to the title by beating Auckland Grammar in the final.
10
What’s in a spelling? Dalton spells his surname without an apostrophe between the i’s, although he says people are free to put it in if they like. As for the pronunciation — it’s Pa-pa-lee-e.
11 12
He comes from a league loving family. His sporting hero is Gorden Tallis, the former Queensland and Aussie forward who now appears as a TV pundit.
Papalii’s rise from the Pakuranga juniors through St Kentigern and into the national under-20 team was alongside Braydon Ennor, who was recruited by the Crusaders Academy in 2015. Super-quick utility back Ennor was outstanding for the double Super Rugby champions this year and has also been tipped for All Black honours.