Could Jordan be ABs bolter?
In Asafo Aumua there is a cautionary tale. The Wellington hooker was stunning in the Mitre 10 Cup last year and bolted into the All Blacks for their end-of-year tour. This year he struck turbulence and is still looking for form. It will return, but it’s proving elusive.
Still, the All Blacks shouldn’t be dissuaded from looking at youth. Each year the Mitre 10 Cup throws up one young player who has special talents.
This year it is Tasman Mako fullback Will Jordan.
The 20-year-old has all the ingredients and one in particular that every coach in the world wants — pace.
At 1.88m he is not a small man, yet generates the sort of power through the hips and thighs that often accompanies stockier athletes.
You could imagine a sprint coach salivating at his potential. He would be the sort of runner who would explode out of the blocks.
No wonder he has carried for more metres than anyone else – 851 – and has scored nine tries, just one behind Tevita Li.
For the first of his three tries against Otago in Dunedin last Sunday, he skipped away from Matt Faddes, and then raced to the line with Sevens speedster Vilimoni Koroi making up no ground on him.
But there is more to him than just speed.
He is solid under the high ball and has exceptional footwork at the line when he comes up to offer himself as a runner.
There is also a bit of toughness about him. He looked to have picked up a painful ankle injury against Wellington just the week before his deeds in Dunedin.
Currently, he is out-shining back three companion Solomon Alaimalo, although the young Chief has had a big year and may be showing signs of fatigue.
The All Blacks, of course, should not take Jordan on their end-of-year tour. But is there an opening to get Jordan involved in the test against Japan? Possibly.
Steve Hansen has explained that a group of 19 will be flown to Japan to replace an advance party bound for London to prepare for England, so there could be an opportunity.
It should not come at the expense of David Havili. The Crusaders fullback is showing his class for Tasman at No 12.
Nor should George Bridge and Alaimalo’s Super Rugby form be lightly ignored.
But if the All Blacks are fishing for this year’s project player then Jordan must be at the top of the list.
Only concussion prevented him from turning out for the Crusaders this year and his pedigree has been evident since he helped the New Zealand under20s win the world championship in 2017. Another phone call the All Blacks might make is to Taranaki to inquire about loose forward Lachlan Boshier’s shoulder.
The Chiefs player has not appeared for about a month and a Taranaki spokesman said he would not be considered for today’s game against Wellington.
However, he did enough in Super Rugby to suggest he needs to be in the conversation about Sam Cane’s potential replacement.
North Harbour’s Dillon Hunt is the popular choice, but Boshier’s tackle accuracy in Super Rugby was almost peerless, and the Chiefs always improved with him in the side.
In Super Rugby he sometimes shifts to No. 6 to accommodate Cane, but his place at test level would be at No. 7, where his hardnosed attitude and excellent running lines would be valued.