Chiefs back-row’s performance in losing cause rewarded with All Blacks call up
All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan has revealed that Samipeni Finau’s superb performance in the Chiefs’ only defeat of the season earned him a call up to his country’s Rugby Championship squad.
The 24-year-old was one of five uncapped players named in Ian Foster’s 36-man squad and Ryan confirmed that the back-row’s excellent display in the Chiefs’ 25-22 loss to the men from Brisbane in their Round 12 clash in New Plymouth played a big part in his selection.
Outstanding performance
With the Chiefs sitting pretty atop the Super Rugby Pacific table, they opted to rest several of their first choice players for that encounter and although it backfired, Finau was one of their players who could hold his head high.
“We’ve been talking about him all year, but if there’s probably a game that stood out for me, it was the one the Chiefs lost against the Reds,” Ryan told Newshub. “They didn’t have (Sam) Cane, (Pita Gus) Sowakula and Samisoni (Taukei’aho), and he stood up.
“He fronted up in their forward pack and it showed us that he’s exactly the sort of number six we’re after.
“He’s a pretty special lineout forward – defensively and attacking-wise – and he brings a carry that’s a real point of difference.”
Weighing in at 110 kilograms and standing at 1.93 metres tall, Finau’s physical attributes are just what the All Blacks’ coaching staff are looking for.
He thrives in contact and while Shannon Frizell is the favourite to be New Zealand’s first choice blindside flanker, the All Blacks coaches expect Finau to challenge him for that position.
“We believe our loose forward mix all adds real physicality,” Ryan said. “I think it’s a real credit to Ross Filipo and the work he’s done with Samipeni at Waikato, through to the Chiefs.
“We’ve had good conversations with Clayton (McMillan). It’s a whole balance – it’s not just on the grass, it’s what they’re doing off it and I think he’s really worked hard to find out who he is as a person.
“He’s playing outstanding, he’s playing a real physical game, he’s putting up big minutes and he’s a big part of their team.
Puts pressure on Shannon Frizell
“What it does with Samipeni is that it puts a little bit of pressure on Shannon. We see Scott Barrett as a lock who can play number six.
“We believe with that mix of Samipeni and Shannon, they’re both two, big physical players and we’ve got to get more out of that.”
READ MORE: Five uncapped players named in the first All Blacks’ squad of 2023