The primary All Blacks squad of the yr all the time has its surprises, and when somebody as skilled as Ofa Tu’ungafasi will get dominated out with damage, a brand new prop for the All Blacks is probably going wanted.
Final yr Scott Robertson picked Pasilio Tosi, which was a shock to most, and with at the least a spot up for grabs for this squad within the entrance row, Robertson has his choices.
Robertson may choose George Bower, who has already performed 22 Exams for the All Blacks and lately re-signed with the Crusaders till 2027.
The All Blacks coach additionally has Xavier Numia as an choice, after an damage final yr dominated him out of rivalry.
Ethan de Groot and Ollie Norris are additionally choices at Robertson’s disposal, making the choice extra advanced than it could look.
One of many different loosehead prop choices, Joshua Fusitu’a, has impressed for the Blues this season after an early season damage to Tuungafasi.
The 24-year-old ex-Auckland Grammar pupil has began the final 9 video games for the Blues within the 2025 season and was named Blues participant of the yr final week.
Former All Blacks scrum coach and present Blues assistant Greg Feek admits it’s necessary to get to know the participant earlier than you coach them, and Fusitu’a impressed him from the get-go.
“Nicely, if you are available, I all the time consider that you simply’ve acquired to know the participant earlier than you may coach them to get the perfect out of them and I cherished plenty of the stuff that’s attending to know him,” Feek informed Sport Nation’s Bunnings Commerce Rugby Run.
“He’s a tutorial at college, I noticed some x-factor within the fitness center, I noticed how onerous he labored and the way a lot of a sponge he was on the time, I thought, nice, that is thrilling.
“It doesn’t matter what place you’re in a group it’s necessary that you simply’ve acquired these attributes after which simply seeing his progress, I like that too, the coach-ability, his understanding, not simply figuring out issues, however having the ability to perceive it.”
Feek has noticed the expansion of the Blues prop over the previous couple of years and believes that the best way props look and play these days aligns with Fusitu’a’s skillset.
“He’d ask questions, he didn’t care if he didn’t actually perceive one thing, he’d need to actually press that after which seeing his bodily growth hold rising, and also you go, this man’s truly acquired one thing about him,” Feek informed Sport Nation.
“Folks discuss measurement and weight, however for me, doesn’t matter how massive you’re, it’s how briskly you may transfer into issues and carry the ball.
“So for him, he can nonetheless speed up, he’s placed on a little bit of weight however he’s nonetheless acquired the identical velocity, so for me, he’s creating extra pressure and affect, in order that’s thrilling.”
When requested in regards to the conversations that Feek has had with the All Blacks teaching employees, he explains that they’re all doing their analysis on the gamers in Super Rugby Pacific environments.
“Yeah, they arrive into all of the franchises, their complete administration is coming in. They’re doing their analysis on all of them and they’ve been into ours and I do know they’ve been into the others.
“I’d love to have the ability to promote Fusitu’a as a result of I work with him and all that, I’m making an attempt to be fairly impartial, as a result of ultimately I don’t make these choices, the comms and issues like which have been actually good.”
