Ruben Love’s second test start has been a long time coming. Four months to be exact.
Love’s inclusion at fullback sits alongside Rieko Ioane’s recall to centre as the standout talking points among the 13 starting changes for the All Blacks’ final test of the year, against Wales in Cardiff.
With speed, silky skills, confidence under the high ball and maturity beyond his 24 years, Love is the future of the All Blacks playmaking ranks.
In a team containing Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Will Jordan, though, he’s been largely kept on ice this season.
Since his last start at fullback in the third French test in Hamilton in July, Love has played 23 minutes in two brief stints off the bench against the Springboks and Wallabies.
Six weeks on from his last appearance, he’s eager to ditch the tackle bags and seize the chance to shine in his first venture to the Principality Stadium.
“You’re behind three future hall of famers in Beauden, DMac and Will, so you have to be pretty patient. I’m grateful my family has supported me along the way. There’s been times where you get frustrated just training the whole time but you’ve got so many coaches who put their arm around you and help you grow,” Love said. “As a player I’m still young, so it’s only failure if I don’t learn.
“Coming from Super to the international area, the ball speed is a lot quicker, the hits are a lot faster and the window of opportunity to make plays shortens really quickly.
“It was a long time ago starting that game but the mental side of the preparation is key when it’s been that long. The French start was awesome, I loved it. It was another stepping stone for me.
“I’ve been in this environment for two years now, so I feel I know how I want to play the game and be a reliable team mate.”
Four test appearances in two years for the All Blacks has starved Love’s talent of exposure to the pressures of the big stage.
And with Richie Mo’unga’s return on the horizon next year, cracking the All Blacks match-day 23 may not get any easier in the short term.
This match could be considered a squandered chance to hand Love a start at No 10 for the All Blacks but it was always long circled as his next chance.
“It’s challenging when you’ve got a world-class fullback like Will Jordan and the balance of it when you’re going for a Grand Slam,” Robertson explained.
“In the back of your mind you’re always going to give Ruben a crack at the end. You’ve also got someone like DMac who can rip a game apart, so when do you give opportunities? That’s the challenge, that’s the skill set, I have to trust myself for the team. This is Ruben’s crack this weekend.”
Much like McKenzie and Barrett, the perennial question surrounding Love is his long-term positional future.
Is he best utilised from fullback or first-five? The answer, for now, remains both, with versatility increasingly valued in the modern game.
This weekend, Love’s conviction to get off the ground and claim the high ball should, alongside Caleb Clarke’s return to the left wing and Jordan’s switch to the right edge, help improve that problematic area.
From fullback, Love also anticipates the play, covers the backfield, chimes in with accurate kicking and hits the line to spark the attack.
Next year, though, Love is largely expected to run the cutter from first-five for the Hurricanes.
“You saw him at the Hurricanes play 10 at the backend of the year and play some great footy. He trains really hard in both positions with us,” Robertson said, indicating his preference for Love to gain experience directing the Hurricanes from first-five.
“I learnt from when I was coaching back there. You have conversations about how they’re going to use their team and individual players, but you never talk about how they’re going to play or who. Your hand starts to get a bit heavy then but you do say ‘if there is an opportunity we’d love to see him there’.
“We’re normally in agreement. It’s a small country and it’s a phone call connection piece you have with the coaches all the time. We have good relationships.
“10-15 or 15-10 … I’m sure the Hurricanes will have him closer to the nine next year.”
Love may slide into No 10 at the backend of the Welsh test but he is unfazed by his frequent positional shifts or the continued uncertainty around his long-term best fit.
“We’ll see what position I play in Super Rugby next year. I’m not going to say now. I’m not fussed. I haven’t told the coaches here I want to play one position. Whatever they need, I’ll do it.”
Ioane’s first start at centre this year is the other headline selection for Wales.
In a back-to-the-future move, Robertson shifted the 87-test veteran from the midfield to start him on the left wing five times earlier this year.
Ioane then fell out of favour but he’s now back alongside fellow veteran Anton Lienert-Brown in something of a final chance to send a reminder before spending six months with Irish club Leinster.
“Rieko is extremely experienced and worked tirelessly on this tour to get an opportunity. Now it’s his,” Robertson said.
“You’re constantly checking on your players and having conversations to make sure you’re consistently giving them feedback. There’s a technical and tactical side but there’s also the human side. This is his crack. We’re excited for him. He’s been a really good pro off the field, he’s done everything he can.”
One week after the Twickenham defeat that rocked the team and supporters, maintaining their 72-year unbeaten record against Wales won’t change the complexion of the All Blacks season but by injecting widespread change, Robertson is attempting to spark a passionate response.
“They’re playing for the black jersey. There’s a lot of legacy that’s really important to us.
“We’ve focused on what we could’ve done better last week and then got on with it. There’s some really good stuff in there. You look at the line breaks. We won every stat but the scoreboard really and that’s the most important one so how do we get that part right.”
All Blacks:
1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Ruben Love
Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. Fletcher Newell, 18. George Bower, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Christian Lio-Willie, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23. Sevu Reece
Unavailable for selection: Peter Lakai (calf), Tevita Mafileo (rib), Luke Jacobson (concussion), Samipeni Finau (family illness), Jordie Barrett (high ankle)
Wales: 15 Blair Murray; 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Tom Rogers; 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams; 1 Rhys Carré, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 3 Keiron Assiratti; 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Adam Beard; 6 Alex Mann, 7 Harri Deaves, 8 Aaron Wainwright
Bench: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Nick Tompkins
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.