Crusader wing Sevu Reece made a statement in the opening game of the season last week, scoring one try and setting up another against the Highlanders in Dunedin. DIANNE MANSON / GETTY IMAGES
Sevu Reece knew that he had to return to the drawing board at the end of last year.
The 24-year-old who was barely given by the new All Blacks coach Ian Foster in the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations was used, returned to Christchurch and was planning a resurgence in 2021.
It’s not that Reece was bad last year. But he certainly didn’t match the high heights of last year when he signed a two-handed injury replacement deal with the Crusaders and shed light on super rugby.
So what happened in an otherwise memorable year he was dad by daughter Mila Talei Reece?
« It’s a tricky question. Super Rugby Aotearoa is coming from 2019 and moving into 2020. Everyone knows how to start playing, all your strengths and things like that and Teams are coming up to us, ”said Reece.
Virtually everything he touched turned gold in his rookie year and scored 15 attempts at competitive highs in 14 games (13 starts), some of them with hardly credible results .
If he wasn’t skinning defenders from the outside or kicking them with his explosive stride with his right foot, he would burn teams with chip kicks or just run over defenders – as laid-back striker Kwagga Smith found out when the Lions played in Christchurch.
His remarkable season drove him to the All Blacks as the Notable Crusaders Rookie of the Year, and he quickly became Steve Hansen’s No. 14 pick at the World Championships in Japan.
« Last year I can I don’t remember the number of times I’ve got a ball in a game when people are already standing in front of you trying to take your space and time, « said Reece.
» Given that you’re without a ball If you can’t do anything in your hand, you just have to defend yourself or you work too hard and then you start making silly mistakes and trying to push things too far. «
» I had to go back to my box and come up with a really good plan for what might turn out to be for me this year. «
Reece ended up eight more times in 13 games (11 starts) in Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aotearoa, but it was evident that he was intermittent guilty of trying too hard.
The magic chipkicks did not materialize for him, mistakes crept into his game and with them frustration.
Reece, who will be at New Zealand Rugby and The Crusaders was still making the All Blacks but was barely used by Foster, who preferred to use Jordie Barrett on the right.
« It was a big off-season for him. He has thought a lot about the last year and knows the competition that can be seen from the outside in New Zealand rugby, « said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson of the All Black with eight tests.
» If you want to be an All Black , you have to be right all season and take your chances. And he did that right away on lap one. «
Robertson was referring to Reece’s performance against the Highlanders in Dunedin last Friday when the electric wing lit the Highlanders with the kind of games that littered his 2019 highlights.
He scored 89 meters on 10 runs, set up Halfback Bryn Hall’s attempt in the first half with a fine center kick and then there was his attempt in the second half – a remarkable finish in the right flag with Halfback Aaron Smith and Prop Siate Tokolahi draped it all above him.
« I had Aaron and [Tokolahi] in front of me. I saw the trial line and wanted to step back, but I saw Aaron Smith inside. So I thought I might just have to try a little [goose step] to get around to slow it down, « said Reece.
» I just had to dive for that corner flag and decided to do it. Then I watched the replay and thought, « Oh, that’s close, that’s difficult. » It was 50:50 for me. «
Fiji-born Reece, a track and field star in his homeland, has been making eye catching pieces since moving to New Zealand and attending Hamilton Boys’ High School.
He went on another level when he signed a contract with Waikato, especially in 2018 when he topped all scorers with 14 tries in 11 NPC games.
Indeed, trying tries has never been a problem for Reece, but the Tasman Mako Flyer knows he is continues to have to reach into his bag of tricks with an abundance of high-quality full-backs in the country.
« In the summer, in the preseason, I implemented all my goals and everything. I wanted to start this year at a high level and this [first game] could set my season to a very high standard. Now it has to play to this standard every week or raise it even more.
« Especially as an outer back, it’s just these little things that could separate me from the other outer backs. The rate of work associated with the likes of Richie [Mo’unga] and Jack [Goodhue] could open up opportunities for you.
« It just has to work harder, get off the page, and move around to get around the middle of the park and look for work if necessary. «
Reece will mark former All Black wing Julian Savea at Orangetheory Stadium on Sunday when the Crusaders host the Hurricanes in their second round.
Savea, after a few Years in France back in New Zealand, is someone Reece has watched and admired.
« Oh man, he’s big and he’s big and he’s strong. It’s all you need and there’s only one Ability to stop or slow it down.
Crusaders: David Havili, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Dallas McLeod, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor Joe Moody. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Sione Havili Talitui, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke and Will Jordan.
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Jackson Garden- Bachop, Jonathan Taumateine, Ardie Savea (c), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Liam Mitchell, Devan Flanders, Luke Campbell, Billy Proctor, Salesi Rayasi.
Ref: https://www.fijitimes.com
