Shields theultimate team man
OPINION: Hurricanes and Wellington rugby are better for Brad Shields’ involvement.
He’s not the best player either team has ever had, nor the most influential. Whether he ought to have been an All Black is immaterial as well.
What’s important - and will be remembered after the 26-year-old takes up a contract with English club Wasps next August - are his work ethic and professionalism. The kindness and selflessness, the leadership, the willingness to do the dirty work that no-one else fancied.
Not just on the park, either. But, as been’s remarked upon before, the other stuff such as packing away the training gear at Rugby League Park, wiping down the kitchen bench and emptying the dishwasher. There are probably some Hurricanes and Lions who’ve assumed those happened by magic.
The reality is those teams had to Shields to thank. Not because he was some do-gooder or grandstander or bloke desperate for praise or recognition.
He just did them because they needed doing. There was nothing in it for him.
This time he’s put himself first. Shields regards himself - and is definitely regarded by the Hurricanes’ hierarchy - as an international-calibre player. He might not have the test caps to match Dane Coles, Beauden Barrett or TJ Perenara, but he’s afforded the same status within the Super Rugby franchise.
But while they’ve gone off to the All Blacks each year, Shields has captained Wellington. With a smile on his face, too. You assume he hasn’t loved every minute of it, but he’s never complained, never shirked and will leave the Lions having got them promoted back to provincial rugby’s premiership.
By the time they run out next year, the loose forward will be living in London and in the mix to play for England. He holds a British passport, his folks moved back over there earlier this year and England coach Eddie Jones is said to be eagerly awaiting his arrival.
It’s a move that’s been in the works a while. The Hurricanes, All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby were well across it, so no-one can say they’re feeling surprised or let down.
Coaches and selectors pick the players they want. The All Blacks have had ample opportunity to plump for Shields and have preferred others such as Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam, Victor Vito, Elliot Dixon, Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, Steven Luatua, Vaea Fifita and Akira Ioane while he’s been on the scene.
There’s no rights or wrongs there. Just the reality that they’ve been played and he hasn’t.
Whether Shields now gets a chance with England or is good enough to become a 50-cap player at blindside flanker or No 8 remains to be seen.
What’s certain is that he’s given terrific service to the teams he’s played for in New Zealand and earned himself a reputation as a pleasure to play with and to coach. You can’t say that about everyone.