Love turns up the heat in All Blacks No.10 race
SPOTLIGHT: New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie faces some difficult decisions as the battle for the No.10 jersey reaches a new level with Ruben Love steering the Hurricanes to a dominant victory in the Super Rugby Grand Final on Saturday.
Player-of-the-match Love scored two of the Hurricanes nine tries and a Super Rugby Final record of 25 individual points in the 60-5 crushing of the Chiefs.
The 25-year-old defied strong, gusty winds to orchestrate an attacking game that has been a hallmark of the Hurricanes success.
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Love is expected to be named in new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie’s first squad on Monday for three Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland, starting on July 4 against the French in Christchurch.
He faces competition for the starting flyhalf role from 144-Test veteran Beauden Barrett – whose Super Rugby form for Auckland Blues has been patchy – and seasoned Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie, who was overshadowed by Love’s display on Saturday.
Hurricanes co-captain Jordie Barrett said Love had developed into a more rounded player during the season.
“He’s a guy there with so much talent. He’s been in games where this year, he’s learned a lot about himself,” Barrett told reporters.
“In some ways game management can handcuff players, but it’s also a bit of a gift and an art that [flyhalves] learn and evolve throughout their career.
“He has evolved since January when he came back in.”
Love’s five previous Test appearances have comprised three off the bench and two as a starting fullback.
But his flyhalf starting prospects will be boosted by the likelihood that Hurricanes teammates Barrett and Cam Roigard could start at inside centre and scrumhalf respectively for Rennie.
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw believed Love and others in his side were worthy of Test selection after a season in which they smashed the record for most team tries and points.
“They’ve done everything they can,” Laidlaw said.
“It’ll depend on how Dave Rennie wants to play the game and what he’s looking for in each individual.
“We’ve certainly got a lot of good players that are playing some of their best rugby.”
