‘One of the most versatile backs in New Zealand’
those are the words that remain on AllBlacks.com to describe Nick and the
description goes on to share that ‘Evans is deceptively quick and possesses a
howitzer-like boot’, and I’ll admit now that yes I did need
to Google exactly what a howitzer is. Whatever the words are to describe Nick
the sentiment remains the same he is a bloody good player and a well loved All
Black.
I caught up with Nick today on the eve of the big game, in what has been an extremely hectic build up as he
explained;
“It’s been a full on media week this week, I’ve an
All Blacks Adidas event this evening and worked with QBE on a number of other
things. It’s been busy, my mother’s just arrived and I feel a bit bad because I
haven’t had time to spend with her or my little one!!! That said, it’s a great
week, it is always is when the All Blacks are in town because they create such
a buzz around London and around the rugby community. Even more so this year due
to the fact that this autumn is obviously their last visit before the World
Cup.”
Naturally I was keen to ask Nick about the current
All Blacks’ stock at fly half for at the moment the words ‘strength in depth’
are certainly appropriate with Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter all
vying for that covered 10 shirt. This weekend Nick believes that Steve
Hanson has it spot on;
“Do you know what? I think that it is a really good
call from Steven Hanson, Dan’s had his injury problems and although he looked
class when he came on against the USA, Aaron [Cruden] is match fit, match
hardened and ready to go. Actually I feel slightly sorry for Beauden Barritt
for he has done nothing wrong and yet he has been struggling to really get a strong
look in. I think you need to give Dan a couple of starts against Scotland and
Wales, a good Super Rugby season and he’ll be back to the unquestionable Number
1 in the country by the World Cup, for sure. “
Across the board in the All Blacks side there are men
that you can’t take your eyes off; Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Richie McCaw, Kieran
Read, I could continue but I won’t... however there is one other name that springs to mind. He is a
man that some of the current England side don’t have too much experience with
and that, along with his un-rivalled talent makes him dangerous;
“Sonny Bill, oh Sonny Bill Williams, well you just never know what he is going to do do you!? He just comes out with
the most ridiculous things; like a new offload that he just invented, it’s superb.
He defends well and I’m sure that he’ll be attacking all day long down Eastmond’s
channel.”
I questioned
Nick regarding the aura surrounding the All Blacks in particular about where it is comes from and how it is created;
“You talk about aura, and really
it is only something that teams have when they have been together for a long
time, you just can’t have it in one or two years. The All Blacks aura has been
developing for a long time... way back since the 2007 World Cup, Dan has over
100 caps, Richie has 134, Conrad Smith has 83, Kieran’s played in the odd test
(!) and they’ve all been together for a long time and at the top of their game.
That creates aura.
Honestly this World Cup coming may be one World Cup too
early for England to have that, in 2019 the majority of this England group will
still be there, bar a handful and then they are likely to be in the position
the All Blacks are now.”
Certainly an interesting thought that
England’s potential could be greater in 2019 than now however personally I hope
that on this point alone Nick is a little ‘All Black’ biased!
Something I’ve been forever intrigued about and
I’m sure that many of you are too is just what it is like to be part of that
squad, that side that is so dominant the All Blacks and Nick shared with me
this;
“It is so difficult to put it
into words without actually being there and having the honour yourselfof making
the All Blacks. What I will say is that as players the culture is very much
about the fact that it is not your jersey, it is the country’s jersey and you
are just a custodian of it. There is so much All Black history and the legends
of the game are still very much involved in the team, they make sure that you
know that you are representing them as much as you are your current team mates
and your country.”
The final and of course most difficult question I posed to Nick was to
ask his score prediction for tomorrow’s game... after proclaiming that it was
tough and highlighting his slight ‘torn loyalties’ he settled on the All Blacks
by 20. For England’s sake I hope it is much closer than that or that it even
swings the other way... truthfully none of us know what is going to happen and the
unpredictability of professional sport is why we love it so much.
Nick Evans was speaking on behalf of QBE, business insurance
specialist and title sponsor of the QBE Internationals. Visit
www.QBEeurope.com
