The public have been waiting, as have the media and all rugby followers, for the date to finally dawn that the New Zealand All Blacks would announce the inclusion of a barnstorming player which this famous side hope will help them to another World Championship crown. That day has come, when the latest team were announced overnight [NZ time] and the All Blacks welcome Naholo back into their squad.
Waisake Ratunideuba Naholo, born 8 May 1991 Sigatoka, Fiji. This relative newcomer to the game, Waisake has made a remarkable rise to the heady heights of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) but in his time with Wanganui, his club side Spotswood United, the champion 2014 Taranaki provincial union side and more recently victorious The Highlanders, the public and selectors could not help but notice his shear velocity, huge right-step, quality defence and that beaming smile.
If you recall his All Blacks debut in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday July the 17th, he was dealt a cruel blow in his first cap. A good start was soon halted due to injury; a broken fibia that seemed to put him completely out of contention for the RWC. And even though the recovery prognosis of ten weeks was in line with the return to his current bill of health, rugby media almost counted him out of the 31 man squad until New Zealand Rugby President Brent Impey read his name out on the 30th of August.
Weeks of intensive recovery had prelude that announcement, including traditional herbs and medicines used in his native Fiji. That all helped him now to return in the time estimated by team doctors and to be named to face Georgia. Not much has been seen of him in training though, so he really is the ‘unkown factor’ but the mere inclusion of this player has been met with excitement, relief and some questions.
Many thought it was a bad scenario, to have a limping player walk into the tournament when a fit player like Charles Piutau or Cory Jane could start in game one. They believed his input would be limited, he could not meet the expected standards and form that this proud side are known for. But this selection panel and the playing group have all shown their support which will now need to be justified.
And with his name being added to the starting squad for Friday night’s clash in Cardiff, it caps one of the most publicly watched recoveries in recent memory.
Will he add to the groups performance?
In their two opening matches, some have seen little of the feared All Blacks team of the last three seasons. Wins over Argentina and the minnows Namibia were not convincing. They seemed hamstrung, almost over-compensating and have missed that spark many admire them for. If they have been well studied and the standards have improved across all the sides, so a something different is required and with only one cap, Naholo must find his game-breaking with little time to ‘warm up’.
You tend to hope that Naholo gets a good re-start to his International career; having played also for the national Sevens team, we hope he is the spark that is missing but fans also fear that in the heated contact-point of such a physical game like Rugby, will that fracture bear the full brunt of a World Cup match?
For one, I do worry myself that a collision on his leg/shin bone will see him rolling in pain and coach Stee Hansen’s smile would immediately be wiped quickly from his face.
I hope that I am wrong, and Last Word On Sports will happily print the results of this Fridays clash with pleasure, especially if we see the name W. Naholo on the score sheet with a Try next to his name. Who couldn’t be happier for a player who only weeks ago, might have thought he was destined for another hard working over in pre-season under Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph. The Super Rugby winning player may in fact return to Dunedin along with team mates Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Ben Smith with more silverware to show off.
‘Fortune favours the brave’ they say, and this coaching unit have mentioned that it is all “risk and reward” when they picked Naholo over others. The player might be taking the risk, but the reward will come for all as this 2015 side could achieve back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories for the very first time. That would be bittersweet for this humble hero who has overcome a damming injury.
Go well Waisake, but maybe just wear some shin pads to begin with.
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The All Blacks team have been named to face Georgia at the Millennium Stadium, on October 2nd 2015.
Click here for the official New Zealand Rugby media release and squad details.
“Main photo”
