All Blacks praise 'special' Jordan after 50 Test-try milestone

Will Jordan runs in for one of his three tries against Italy.

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and skipper Ardie Savea have praised “special” Will Jordan after the wing’s hat-trick of tries against Italy tonight took him to the top of New Zealand’s Test tally.

Jordan’s treble in a 47-17 bonus point victory in Wellington put a gloss on a collective performance that did not look especially promising at halftime when the All Blacks led 14-10.

But the man in the No.14 jersey was a standout again as he overtook former wing Doug Howlett on the Test try leaderboard – Jordan also scored a double against France in his side’s victory in Christchurch last weekend. The 28-year-old now has 50 tries in only 56 Tests.

“Special players do special things, I guess,” Savea said. “Every time he puts on the black jersey he’s been outstanding and tonight he was again. Breaking records… I’m just more impressed with the impact he has on our group and his leadership, his rugby IQ and setting up our team… today’s an extra bonus dotting down three times.”

“I’ve only been here for 10% of his tries,” Rennie said in reference to Jordan’s five tries in his last two Tests. “I’ve seen some from the coaches’ box in the opposition.

“He’s got unbelievable anticipation and then genuine gas to get himself in positions to take passes off line breaks and so on. Ardie talked about his rugby IQ – he’s smart and understands the game well. I’ve been really impressed with him.

“Fantastic, jeez, 50 in 56 Tests – it’s just phenomenal.”

Jordan, who briefly captained the side after Savea went off near the end, finished beautifully as usual but was also an excellent link man and showed bravery and skill when winning a penalty turnover in the first half.

He and the All Blacks will enjoy the milestone and victory before travelling back to Auckland for a significant Test against Ireland at Eden Park next weekend, with Rennie saying they will have to be much better to successfully defend their fortress.

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and skipper Ardie Savea speak to the media after the victory over Italy.

“It’s a pass mark but we’ll need to be better next week,” Rennie said.

He felt the All Blacks were too passive defensively in the opening 15 minutes and “disappointing” in the final 25 when the game lost its shape probably partly due to a long injury delay for fullback Tomasso Allan and the yellow card farce for Ruben Love – a sanction that was eventually rescinded.

“It’s exciting – they’re a great side, Ireland, and very well coached and they’ll be pretty confident off the back of a win in Australia last week,” Rennie said of Ireland.

He revealed that wing Leroy Carter has an AC shoulder issue – Carter was replaced by debutant Josh Moorby after providing the crucial assist for Jordan’s first try (while injured), with flanker Luke Jacobson taken off at halftime and replaced but another debutant in Anton Segner due to cramp.

Both Segner and Moorby acquitted themselves extremely well.

Like last weekend, some of the All Blacks’ decision making on attack still requires work and the forwards may have expected a little more from the set piece. Overall, Italy, ranked 10th in the world, had the better scrum.

For Savea, however, “it’s positive. We clearly understand where we want to go and how we want to play. There are a few little things we want to fix up under pressure. There’s a good feel in this group”.