Ready for the All Blacks: Kirwan backs RTS for Test debut ahead of Sydney return

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will play in just his ninth Super Rugby game when he returns to Sydney on Saturday, to take on the Waratahs with the table-topping Blues.

But legendary winger Sir John Kirwan has already seen enough of the code-switching star to confidently predict RTS will be selected for an All Blacks debut against Ireland in July, and join an elite club of New Zealand dual internationals.

Tuivasa-Sheck, who spent four seasons with the Roosters, is set to return to Sydney as a rugby player for the first time since leaving the NRL last year on a big-money deal with New Zealand Rugby. Using his razor-sharp footwork at inside centre, RTS has re-adapted to the 15-player game quickly and helped the Blues secure top spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.

Given the Blues’ lead is unassailable with one round left, the Waratahs and Kirwan are expecting coach Leon McDonald to rest a host of big-name Blues for the game at Leichhardt Oval against NSW, who are also assured of a finals berth.

Sir John Kirwan says RTS will be picked for the All Blacks.Credit:Getty

But in good news for fans keen to catch a glimpse of Tuivasa-Sheck on familiar rugby league turf, the ex-Rooster and Warrior is tipped to play, as is All Blacks star Beauden Barrett.

Tuivasa-Sheck’s claim for All Blacks selection has become a hot topic in New Zealand after he turned in an outstanding performance in the Blues’ narrow win over the Brumbies in Canberra. His skill and footwork at the line were already well known to selectors but a chase to stop Nic White scoring a runaway try highlighted the 28-year-old’s competitive fire.

“He’ll definitely make the All Blacks, because he brings something different,” Kirwan told the Herald.

“When you think about New Zealand rugby, traditionally we have had 12s that would get us over the advantage line. The Ma’a Nonus of this world. But Roger does that with his feet. I think he has adapted really quickly.”

Tuivasa-Sheck missed six games in the middle of the season with a shoulder injury but Kirwan – who played 63 times for the All Blacks and two seasons with the Auckland Warriors (1995-96) – said the “work ethic” of RTS since switching had impressed all the right powerbrokers in New Zealand rugby.

If Tuivasa-Sheck debuts against Ireland in July, he will become just the sixth player since rugby went professional in 1996 to win Test caps for New Zealand in both codes, after John Timu, Matthew Ridge, Marc Ellis, Craig Innes and Sonny Bill Williams.

“And there are only 18 Test matches to go, right, Until the World Cup?” Kirwan said.

“So its going to fall in (Tuivasa -Sheck’s) favour because you have to pick him now, you have to play him. You have to know this time next year … that he is going to be good enough for that level. I am convinced he will be. He has brought a really good work ethic to the Blues, and a very good humility.

”You can know he is talented and has great feet, but if he has great work ethic and a want to be the best in the world, they’re things you know you can work with, you know you’re not going to get a superstar who thinks their shit doesn’t stink.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck- of the Blues is tackled during the round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match between the Blues and the Melbourne Rebels.Credit:Getty

“You are going to get a guy who is humble, who will listen to the coaching staff and wants to get better. They’re pretty good things to work with.”

Kirwan, a former Blues coach, predicted “dinged up” Auckland team will rest a fair chunk of their forward pack but will send RTS and Barrett for the Waratahs’ clash, given they’ve both had breaks this season.

The Waratahs are a remote chance of climbing into the top four with a win in the last round, but they also need the Fijian Drua to beat the Hurricanes and out-of-form Force to beat the Chiefs.

So the team’s focus, according to forwards coach Pauli Taumoepeau, is more about turning in a strong performance against the Blues to ensure they enter the first week of finals with momentum.

“When we lost to the Hurricanes, ‘DC’ (coach Darren Coleman) did a presentation about what the Highlanders and the Blues games meant and if there is anybody who knows finals, it’s him,” Taumoepeau said.

“He took us forward to the week of the quarter-final and he talked about how important confidence was, leading into that week. It is important that you turn up on the Monday and have confidence behind you. He didn’t say win. He just said we have to play well, so we arrive on the Monday heading into that quarter-final with confidence.”

Watch every match of the Super Rugby Pacific on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Continues this weekend with Crusaders v Reds (Friday 4:30pm AEST), Moana Pasifika v Brumbies (Saturday 4:30pm AEST), and Waratahs v Blues (Saturday 7:15pm AEST). All streaming ad-free, live and on demand only on Stan Sport.

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