As the All Blacks held their first media session of the season on a warm January day this week, a familiar cloud hung over the two players that were present.
Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie offered the media their first look at the 2024 All Blacks, with both players poised to play key roles in the upcoming World Cup cycle.
However, Beauden Barrett’s upcoming return home at the end of the Japanese season after signing a long-term contract with New Zealand Rugby means he will be allowed to rejoin the national team.
Barrett, like McKenzie, has played first five-eighths and fullback throughout his All Blacks career, as well as being a weapon off the bench. It remains to be seen whether the 32-year-old makes his way into Robertson’s squad, and Jordan remarked that his comeback provided selectors with a few choices to ponder – nonetheless, the 25-year-old revealed that he was looking forward to more reps at the All Blacks’ fullback position.
“My focus for the next six months is around Super Rugby and performing well there, but I’ve usually played at fullback for the Crusaders so we’ll see what happens there,” Jordan went on to say.
“It’s just about having a strong football campaign, hopefully making it into the ABs, and then seeing what happens. Obviously, Beaudy is returning, which is wonderful, but for me, it’s all about having a strong Super Rugby season, working on the things I need to, and seeing what happens in July when we get there.”
Jordan has played 31 tests for the All Blacks since his debut in 2020. Only one of those has worn the No. 15 jersey, with 26 starts on the right flank and four tests coming off the bench.
Jordan, on the other hand, has been the primary fullback in Scott Robertson’s Crusaders sides in recent years, emerging into one of the country’s top offensive weapons at the position, however persisting migraine-related concerns have limited his game time in 2023. The previous season, he was Super Rugby’s joint-top try-scorer with Crusaders colleagues Sevu Reece and Leicester Fainga’anuku, scoring ten tries each.
With a new regime in charge of the All Blacks this year, led by Robertson, it will be an exciting year for the Super Rugby season and the first All Blacks team of the year. However, as Jordan pointed out, the beginning of January is probably too early to worry about who will have their name called in July.
First, they must earn their way through Super Rugby, and possibilities exist throughout the All Blacks roster for players to stake their claim.
First five-eighths, fullback, and blindside flanker are among the more open jerseys, while Robertson remarked that there was a great opportunity at lock and halfback for someone to step in after long-term starters Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, and Aaron Smith left after last year’s World Cup.
“There’s always an opportunity,” Robertson added.
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