Recalled AB prop’s perfect birthday present
Birthday presents don’t come that much more special than what the All Black selectors handed Ethan de Groot yesterday.
de Groot celebrated his 24th birthday with a recall to the All Blacks, something he had set his sights on as soon as he was a shock omission last month from squad to play Ireland.
Just to make his birthday that bit better, de Groot got to play for his beloved province Southland in a preseason hit out against Otago In Invercargill yesterday.
‘‘[All Black selection] means a lot. I’ve worked hard during the break. I’m a bit shocked but happy as, and pretty proud.’’
When de Groot missed selection for the Ireland series, despite being part of the All Blacks in 2021, All Blacks coach Ian Foster indicated de Groot’s fitness and work rate were behind that decision.
de Groot said he had worked hard since to address that.
‘‘Obviously the first few days I was feeling a bit sorry for myself [after missing out],’’ de Groot said.
‘‘But I’ve worked hard since and I’ve just got to get back on the horse. The last four weeks I’ve just been working really hard.’’
‘‘Getting back down to Southland and playing some club footy has been awesome.’’
The 24-year-old is one of two players recalled for the Rugby Championship competition, the other being Highlanders looseforward Shannon Frizell.
His selection comes at a time when the All Blacks have had plenty of public pressure lumped on them following a test series loss to Ireland.
de Groot said he was 100% confident the group was up for the challenge.
‘‘I’ve got full trust in the coaching team and the boys. I don’t know all the answers, but everyone is working hard and trying to get good outcomes.’’
de Groot said he was looking forward to ‘‘ripping in again’’ with the All Blacks which will start with two tests against South Africa in South Africa next month.
‘‘Obviously I’ve never played against the South Africans before, so I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a crack at playing some of those big boys over there.’’
While the day was all about de Groot’s All Black recall, disappointingly for him his Southland team was well beaten 50-5 in the preseason showdown against Otago.
de Groot played the first 40 minutes and was a physical presence when the Stags dominated the early exchanges.
The score was locked up at 0-0 after 30 minutes before Otago scored two tries to make it 12-0 at halftime.
Southland made a host of changes in the second half as Otago run in six second-half tries to blow the final score out to 50-5.