Reece’s rise no surprise to mentors
The only thing to surprise some of Sevu Reece’s closest mentors about his rapid rise into the All Blacks is how quickly it’s happened.
With Crusaders team-mate George Bridge on the left flank and Reece the right, the rookie wingers were standouts at Eden Park on Saturday as the All Blacks crushed the Wallabies 36-0 to retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 17th consecutive year.
The 22-year-old’s test debut in Argentina on
July 21 came only five months after his first Super
Rugby game and he looks to have secured his place in the 31-man
Rugby World Cup squad after shining in the heat of an intense Bledisloe decider.
Reece seamlessly stepped in for Ben Smith, a 79-test veteran and World Cup winner, and former All Blacks winger and Waikato assistant coach Roger Randle, who has closely worked with the Fijian-born outside back since he moved to New Zealand in 2014, said the Hamilton Boys’ High School product was ‘‘made for that occasion’’.
‘‘I could see the composure on his face. He was really engaged and he was awesome, played really well, was physical, and got himself involved with and without the ball,’’ Randle said.
In attack and defence, Reece won almost every contest in his entertaining individual battle with fellow Fijian and 23-test Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete.
‘‘Even when we’ve had muck around games of football, he’s got a good skill set. People call it X-factor, but things just happen around him,’’ Randle said when reflecting on Reece’s try scored on a soaking surface after heavy rain in Auckland.
‘‘Things will flash by and people would think it was a lucky bounce, but he gets himself in those positions to do things quickly.’’
Randle said Reece and Bridge proved their test credentials ahead of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen unveiling his World Cup squad on August 28.
The All Blacks start their defence of the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan against South Africa on September 21.
‘‘It wasn’t a great night for wingers with the weather. But they were both outstanding. The young bulls played really well.’’
Another of Reece’s mentors, Hamilton Boys’ High first XV coach Greg Kirkham, said you could spot his talent immediately.
Reece boarded at Hamilton Boys’ High but lived with Kirkham and his family during school holidays and over Christmas. Kirkham’s wife Helena, an ultramarathon runner, would also help out with his training.
‘‘He has that instinctive ability and he would size up situations pretty quickly and back himself. Because of his control and balance, he’s scored some fantastic tries,’’ Kirkham said.
‘‘We knew he had the talent to get there, but it’s been a meteoric rise in the last nine months to get to where he is now. I think he still pinches himself that he’s in that field as an All Black.’’
Kirkham said his family were hoping to catch up with Reece when the All Blacks play their final test before the World Cup against Tonga in Hamilton on September 7.
Should he play, Reece would be running out on familiar turf at FMG Stadium Waikato after his 33 appearances for the Mooloos since his debut in 2016.