All Blacks stars keen to play with Tuivasa-Sheck — but not against him
WELLINGTON: Several top All Blacks believe Warriors fullback Roger TuivasaSheck will be a star in rugby, and are making no secret of their desire to play alongside him.
TuivasaSheck will leave the Warriors at the end of the NRL season to take up a contract with New Zealand Rugby, in the hopes of playing for the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup.
The Blues are favoured to secure his services, given he lives in
Auckland with his young family and was a former under
20 representative for the province.
All Black wing Caleb Clarke, who starred for the Blues before bursting on to the international stage in 2020, would love to have him at the Aucklandbased franchise.
‘‘He’s unreal. He’s been awesome for years and, when he does come over to rugby, he’ll be awesome for whoever he plays for.
‘‘Hopefully, for our team [because] if I have to mark him, I’ll be praying every single time he gets the ball and being like ‘please don’t step me’.’’
Clarke is certain the Kiwis international will make an impact in rugby, and those sentiments are echoed by All Blacks hooker Dane Coles, who says there is a place for TuivasaSheck at the Hurricanes, should he want it.
‘‘He’s an outstanding talent and he looks to be a player that’s pretty driven to get into a Super Rugby team and show what he’s got. It’d be awesome if he comes to the Hurricanes, we’ve defin
itely got a spot for Roger. I’m sure all the teams will be chasing him. Gutted for the Warriors but for New Zealand Rugby it’s pretty awesome.’’
Coles believes Roger TuivasaSheck has more than a decent chance at making the All Blacks for the 2023 World Cup, and says the Warriors captain could become a bona fide star of the 15man game.
‘‘You don’t want to put too much pressure on him. But you can see the way he plays and he’s definitely got the potential to come in and change the game.
‘‘When you look at the person he is in the media and you see how he plays, he looks like a humble guy and keeps his feet firmly on the ground.
‘‘I think he’ll work [hard] to make sure he gives himself the best chance of fulfilling his potential of playing for the All Blacks.’’
All Blacks midfielder Anton LienertBrown is confident TuivasaSheck will not have lost the skills that made him one of the best schoolboy rugby players in the country, and thinks the Warriors talisman would slot seamlessly into the Chiefs environment.
‘‘I watched him back at high school in First XV rugby on TV and he was pretty handy back then. I’d say he’d fit in very well at the Chiefs.
‘‘If he decided to come here it would be an absolute bonus.’’
TuivasaSheck, the Warriors and Kiwis fullback, could find himself in the midfield when he switches to rugby. There is speculation the All Blacks coaches may want to play him there, due to a logjam of talent in the outside backs.
Midfielder LienertBrown would welcome TuivasaSheck at the Hamiltonbased Chiefs, but said he would not give up his position without a fight, and joked the codehopper might be better suited to the wide open spaces.
‘‘I guess the more competition there is, the more it pushes you to be a better player. I reckon he’d be pretty good on the wing or at fullback, though.
‘‘But If he wants to play in the centres, then we will just have to fight it out.’’
Which Super Rugby side TuivasaSheck will land at, however, remains to be seen. — RNZ