A reward for effort, says Foster
All Blacks coach Ian Foster is confident Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will swim, not sink, in test rugby after chucking the former NRL star into the deep end for their series decider against Ireland.
Tuivasa-Sheck did not feature in the previous two tests against Ireland and it was expected he would have to wait until the Rugby Championship for his first cap after the tourists squared the series with an historic 23-12 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
But with the series on the line, Foster felt it was time to unleash New Zealand Rugby’s star recruit, and said his inclusion in the matchday squad was a reward for the work Tuivasa-Sheck had been putting in behind the scenes during training over the past couple of weeks.
Given his big game experience in the 13-man game, Foster did not believe Tuivasa-Sheck would be overawed by the occasion in what is arguably New Zealand’s biggest test since the British and Irish Lions series in 2017.
‘‘He just trains so well and it’s actually a reward for his effort off the park,’’ Foster said.
‘‘He’s settled in well, he’s a learner. He’s fit in really well and it’s a big occasion for him, like it is for a first-tester but we’re really confident that he’s done his prep.
‘‘He knows about the big stages, and knows you don’t just go in and try and overplay your hand. We just want him to do his job that this team needs him to do.
‘‘He’ll want to prove to himself that he should be here. I just love his calmness but his confidence as well.’’
Tuivasa-Sheck will provide midfield cover for Crusaders second-five David Havili, who will make his first appearance of the international season after Covid-19 wiped him out of contention for the first two games.
Havili is one of four changes to the starting XV following last weekend’s ill-disciplined defeat in Dunedin, with prop Nepo Laulala, lock Sam Whitelock and winger Will Jordan also coming into the run-on side. The quartet have replaced Ofa Tuungafasi, Dalton Papalii, Quinn Tupaea and Leicester Fainga’anuku, with Tuungafasi and Papalii dropping to a bench, and Fainga’anuku and Tupaea missing out altogether.
133-test veteran Whitelock will partner Brodie Retallick at lock after missing the previous game with concussion symptoms, with Scott Barrett reverting to blindside flanker.