Jordan in All Blacks contention
Two things are abundantly clear as Super Rugby Aotearoa heads into a blockbuster fifth week: Will Jordan is the hottest player in the New Zealand game right now and the Crusaders remain its benchmark.
Let’s deal with Jordan first on the back of yet another masterclass display from this exciting 22-yearold in the Crusaders’ rather flattering 40-20 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The young man is quite simply on a tier that catapults him fairly and squarely into the All Blacks conversation, if there even is such a thing in this world of global pandemics, closed borders and international travel uncertainty.
At some stage – possibly in October this year, but maybe not till later – Ian Foster will have to pick an All Blacks squad, and eventually a team. Just how he narrows down a logjam of backfield contenders might just be the second toughest head-scratcher on the planet, right behind finding a vaccine for old you-know-who.
Jordan deserves to be there somewhere, for all his age and lack of experience. He has been irrepressible in Super Rugby Aotearoa as the Crusaders have charged out of the gates with three consecutive victories to set up Saturday night’s showdown against the also unbeaten Blues in Christchurch as a potential titledecider.
The Tasman tearaway is averaging 112 running metres a match so far as he continues to post numbers that are eyewateringly good. He leads the competition in tries (4), clean breaks (9), defenders beaten (22) and metres gained (336), is third in carries (41) and fifth in offloads (4).
But it’s not just the stats he is dazzling with. His pace, size and package of skills are hugely impressive, as is his timing. He’s solid under the high ball and strong in the tackle too. The jury’s out, maybe, on his kicking game; but that’s neither here nor there given the havoc he wreaks with ball in hand. Plus he can flit between wing and fullback without missing a beat.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Jordan is now firmly in the All Blacks backfield mix which might be the most intriguing selection area facing new head coach Foster. Throw in Beauden and Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie and even David Havili and that is some cast of contenders. Good luck coming up with a starting trio out of that lot.
Not so difficult is the balance of power heading into Saturday night’s top-of-the-table clash in Christchurch.
For all the improvements made by the Blues this year – you don’t win seven straight matches at this level without getting something right – it remains clear that the Crusaders are still the team to beat in this pared-back, all-Kiwi competition.
The Blues, of course, are worthy challengers. They, too, have a physical forward pack and a raft of game-breakers in their backline. They, too, have been impressive in 2020. Irresistible force meets immovable object. Winter in Christchurch tips it decidedly in the southerners’ favour.