Crusaders prop steps into spotlight
There’s long been a sense within the Crusaders that Fletcher Newell had a big future.
But that future is approaching swifter than even the Christchurchbased franchise expected, given tighthead props generally take years to mature and hone their craft.
Newell, the New Zealand Rugby age grade player of the year in 2019, is only in his second year of Super Rugby, and has just seven caps (three starts) to his name.
Yet, as head coach Scott Robertson this week said, the Rangiora High School old boy’s development is well ahead of pace.
‘‘Look, he’s a big man, good feet, explosive, loves scrummaging and to do what he is doing at his age is pretty special.
‘‘Tighthead props normally take four years to build themselves into something like him, and from 18 to 22 he’s done that. Normally, it’s 26, 27, 28 when you see the best of them. It’s all ahead of him, he’s a good pro, and a good local boy that’s done real good.’’
Newell’s blockbusting performance against the Highlanders last week caught the attention of punters and pundits, including former All Black Steven Bates.
It’s not just that Newell is a stout scrummager, he also showed his ability to carry with venom and speed, even showing off a right-foot step and smashing over the line for his first Super Rugby try.
‘‘I’m not sure where that [step] came from, it’s definitely not anything I’ve practised at training,’’ Newell told Stuff ahead of this weekend’s game against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
‘‘Yeah, he’s got a little bit about him,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘That try that
he scored is probably a good indication of him as a player, running on
to the ball, breaks the first couple of tackles and a hit and spin, for a prop it’s a nice complement to all the set.’’
Like fellow second-year prop Tamaiti Williams, Newell is a converted No 8, having played at the back of the scrum during his age group years.
Born in North Canterbury, but now studying land and property management at Lincoln University, Newell thrived in the front row and captained Rangiora High School’s first XV in 2017.
‘‘I’m fortunate enough to be presenting the blazers to the first XV next week,’’ Newell said.
Scooped up by the Crusaders’ academy, he broke Blair Prinsep’s academy squat record by lifting 255kg. But he’s since gone bigger.
With his team-mates cheering him on, he broke the franchise’s squat record with a whopping 270kg lift during pre-season testing this year.
‘‘That was a pretty awesome moment, the boys got around me which made it a lot easier. Squatting in the gym is something that I have just really enjoyed the last couple of years, it’s nothing that necessarily transfers to the rugby field, but it’s just a lift I really enjoy doing,’’ Newell said.
He’ll start against the Hurricanes this afternoon alongside All Blacks Joe Moody and Codie Taylor.
Scrummaging against Moody and George Bower during training sessions at Rugby Park was instrumental in his growth, he said, as were the opportunities Robertson and scrum coach Jason Ryan, who Newell called ‘‘world-class’’, were giving him.
‘‘I got a taste with a few games last year . . . I was grateful for that.
‘‘But I think when you are training every day and playing in the weekend you are able to be a bit more consistent. That has been a big one for me.’’
While the Crusaders attempt to make it 10 wins from 11 games against the Hurricanes today, midfielder Jack Goodhue will take another step towards returning to the team.
Having rehabbed a serious knee injury, sustained last April in Wellington, Goodhue will play for Shirley against Sydenham at Christchurch’s Sydenham Park.