All Blacks outcast sends timely reminder of what he can do
Auckland and Blues centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck does not seem to fit into Ian Foster’s plans currently with the All Blacks, and was even left out of their squad recently for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup.
All a player can do in that situation is turn out for their club, play well, and try and catch some attention while doing so. Well Tuivasa-Sheck did that on Friday against Waikato with an assist for fullback Jordan Trainor. His run at the FMG Stadium Waikato involved footwork, pace and some impressive offloading.
Auckland went on to lose the match 30-15, but this was nevertheless impressive from the 29-year-old as he stakes a claim for a recall into the All Blacks squad again after earning his only cap earlier this year against Ireland.
Take a look at the try:
🔥 This Tuivasa-Sheck bloke can play.@AucklandRugby // @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/3ofUeXAax4
— Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) September 9, 2022
While the All Blacks only have two games remaining this year in the Rugby Championship (where they sit at the top with ten points) against Australia, Tuivasa-Sheck can still hope for a recall for the All Blacks end of year tour. New Zealand face Japan, Wales, Scotland and England over four weeks, which may provide the former NRL star a chance to impress in a black shirt.
Waikato XV
15 Tepaea Cook-Savage
14 Liam Coombes-Fabling
13 Bailyn Sullivan
12 Alapati Leiua
11 Daniel Sinkinson
10 Damian McKenzie
9 Xavier Roe
1 Ayden Johnstone
2 Rhys Marshall
3 Sosefo Kautai
4 James Tucker
5 Laghlan McWhannell
6 Samipeni Finau
7 Mitchell Jacobson
8 Liam Messam
Substitutes
16 Pita Anae Ah-Sue
17 Ollie Norris
18 George Dyer
19 Te Rama Reuben
20 Patrick McCurran
21 Cortez Ratima
22 Tana Tuhakaraina
23 Mosese Dawai
Auckland XV
15 Jordan Trainor
14 AJ Lam
13 Bryce Heem
12 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
11 Salesi Rayasi
10 Harry Plummer
9 Taufa Funaki
1 Jordan Lay
2 Soane Vikena
3 Angus Ta’avao
4 Jamie Lane
5 Hamish Dalzell
6 Terrell Peita
7 Adrian Choat
8 Jackson Pugh
Substitutes
16 Robbie Abel
17 Sam Lester
18 Marcel Renata
19 Connor Vest
20 Vaiolini Ekuasi
21 Manu Paea
22 Simon Hickey
23 Corey Evans
