Winged wonders complete memorable campaigns
It clearly takes a lot to knock new All Blacks wing sensation Rieko Ioane off his stride.
The 20-year-old from Auckland has had an interesting tour north, to say the least. First he picked up a dose of the mumps that put him in doubt for the Paris test; then he hurt his shoulder so badly in the victory over the Scots that his coach the next day declared him (wrongly) a non-starter for the season finale against Wales.
Luckily, for the All Blacks, and for the transcendent career of this outstanding left wing, he made the start-line for all three tests on tour, and emerged as arguably the team’s most consistent, and impressive, performer over the course of those three victories.
He certainly signed off in style in Cardiff yesterday when he scored two second-half tries, created two others and was named the occasion’s standout individual afterwards.
Both Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen labelled him ‘‘pretty special’’ after his game-changing turn.
‘‘It’s been a pretty disruptive tour with everything that’s been going on, but I’m just happy that the medical team and the coaches kept faith in me and put me out on the field both times, after the mumps and even tonight,’’ he said after the match.
He admitted it hadn’t started the most promising of weeks, with the strapping wing unable to even lift his arm above his head the day after the 22-17 Edinburgh victory.
‘‘Doc did his special treatment and a couple of days’ rest did it wonders,’’ he said. ‘‘It was a bit touch and go even towards the latter part of the week, but it came through all right and even now it feels pretty good.’’
With 10 tries in his 11 tests for 2017, it has undoubtedly been a special campaign for this humble young man.
Naholo, who also scored twice against the Welsh (both in the first half), felt his strong form on tour (he finished leading scorer with four tries) was a testament to selection consistency.
‘‘Without Daggy [Israel Dagg] and the senior guys, I’m out there taking the opportunity, doing my role and not really worrying about selection every week. I just want to go out and play well and let the coaches decide on that.’’
It’s worked. He was razor-sharp against the Welsh, with one inchperfect swan dive and another highdegree-of-difficulty finish crucial in keeping the All Blacks’ noses in front even while they were being outplayed in the first half.
‘‘Getting meat pies in a game is always good,’’ smiled the now 18-cap All Blacks flier. ‘‘That’s my job to finish the forwards’ hard work.’’