mens
international
Shannon Frizell’s last game for All black people it was 2023 Rugby World Cup final, a game that ended broken as the All Blacks went down 12-11 in a 14-man battle.
Frizell was involved in drama early on, a yellow card for an awkward tackle on Bongi Mbonambi early on which left the Springbok whore injured.
After Frizell returned to the field from his 10-minute sin-bin warm-up, captain Sam Cane was sent off soon after, resulting in the All Blacks playing with 14 men for 80 per cent of the final.
While the All Blacks’ back row was tight on the night, the combination of Frizell, Cane and Save proved to be a winning formula, especially with Frizell solving former coach Ian Foster’s number 6 problem.
Now back inside New Zealand with Tasman the next three seasons in the Japan Rugby League One with Toshiba Brave Lupus, Frizell was returned to the All Blacks squad ahead of Bledisloe.
“I’m excited to be back. I’m a little nervous too, but it’s good to be back,” Frizell told the media on Monday.
“I enjoy yourselfed the rugby in Japan, get that to learn a differently type of rugby. That’s it a a little bit differently of New Zealand.”
While his return for Tasman made an immediate impression, Frizell’s footage was rolling Auckland defenders went viral, he admitted he didn’t feel like he was ready for the step up to Test level.
“I feel like I’m not there yet, but I know I’m capable of getting the job done,” he said.
After losing his job in 2023, Frizell said he immediately thought about coming back to redeem himself.
The short-term NZR deal has the 2027 World Cup in mind.
“I feel like when I left when you don’t get the job done (at the World Cup), you kind of have that feeling in my head, maybe I’ll still feel like I can make the best rugby that’s still in front of me, and I’ll give myself another chance.”
He has currently signed a short-term deal that runs until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Having returned to the NPC, he is eligible for All Blacks selection, helping Rennie to solve the conundrum in a back row that is now missing captain Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson, two first-time starters.
