Star All Blacks utility back Will Jordan has revealed his biggest takeaways from the recent international season.
Jordan, 24, was instrumental in the Crusaders’ sixth back-to-back Super Rugby title earlier in the year and went on to cement himself as a staple figure in the All Blacks’ backline.
While the winger was a standout for the All Blacks in perhaps their most inconsistent season to date, he admits he has grown from the challenges and will take plenty of lessons into the upcoming Rugby World Cup year.
“It was a bit of a bumpy year, particularly focusing on the All Black kind of stuff,” Jordan told SENZ Breakfast.
“I think what you learned is that, particularly Test footy is a bit of a gruelling beast and you’ve got to be on your game week-to-week.
“I think that’s something we particularly took out of that Irish series was (that) we probably weren’t at our best for that three-match series and kind of got found out.”
The opening series of the international season proved to be the All Blacks’ greatest lesson, losing the Steinlager trophy to Ireland and their fourth game in five fixtures.
However, they went on to win the Freedom Cup, Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship as well as three of four Northern Tour clashes, Jordan saying preparation and nailing the small details was what turned their year around.
“So the importance of preparation and making sure that we’re nailing our kind of little details and processes throughout the week is really important,” Jordan added.
“I think as much as that, (there’s also) the excitement building into this year around I guess the evenness of Test footy at the moment and the World Cup coming up and the opportunity there is to go up to France and just try and do something pretty special up there.
“I know the boys built pretty well towards the back end of the year and that’s sort of the momentum we’re trying to push forward with this coming year.”
With September’s Rugby World Cup fast approaching, Jordan is aware a huge performance in Super Rugby will be necessary to make Ian Foster’s 35-man squad but will remain focused on leading the Crusaders to a seventh title.
The Canterbury franchise will return to the field for Round 1 of Super Rugby Pacific on February 24 as they host the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium.
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