Shannon Frizell’s timing is both exquisitely beautiful and perversely ironic.
Having not long ago announced his departure from New Zealand Rugby at the end of this Rugby World Cup campaign, the Highlanders hard man has produced an exhilarating burst of prime-time form to seemingly nail down the once-contestable No.6 jersey just in time for the global tournament.
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It’s not lost on keen observers of New Zealand’s national team that the Japan-bound Frizell finally appears to have seen off his rivals for the blindside flanker’s position right when he’s decided to take his talents offshore, and also that it’s taken the All Blacks this long to figure out that good things tend to happen when the 29-year-old younger brother of Newcastle Knights NRL forward Tyson Frizell runs out in the No.6 jumper.
Frizell made his All Blacks debut back in 2018 against France in Dunedin, but since that time has appeared in little more than a third of the Tests played (27 in total, and just 20 as the starting No.6).
He’s battled away against the likes of Akira Ioane, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, Scott Barrett and even Ardie Savea and Dalton Papali’i for time in a position that has not been filled consistently by one player since the great Jerome Kaino stepped away from the international game.
But just as he’s announced his departure post-World Cup to join the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Tokyo (alongside national team-mate Richie Mo’unga) for 2024, it would appear he has finally taken a stranglehold on the position.
The 195cm 108kg bruiser has started both of the All Blacks’ Tests in 2023 at No.6, and been nothing short of outstanding in victories over Argentina (41-12) and South African (35-20).
In the last outing against the world champions at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, ‘Big Frizz’, as his team-mates call him, tore the Boks apart with a blockbusting display in the opening half-hour.
Wing Will Jordan was equally destructive in his return to the international arena after a 10-month absence, yet in many ways Frizell’s performance was so much more notable.
Jordan’s class has been evident for some time (he has 22 tries in 22 Tests, for goodness sake); Frizell’s is only beginning to become apparent.
In his 71 minutes on the park he ran for 43 metres on nine carries, beat a game-high nine defenders, had two clean breaks and an offload, nailed a team-high 13 tackles and made mincemeat of Boks fullback Willie le Roux in a 15th-minute charge to the line that had prime Jonah Lomu written all over it.
Frizell is a winner. At least he is when he starts at No.6 for the All Blacks, with the team having a 90 percent victory-rate in those Tests (18 of 20).
He looks set to get the chance to add to that total too through this World Cup campaign. That spot now looks to be his to forego.
“He’s taken the challenge on board,” noted All Blacks head coach Ian Foster after the Boks victory.
“It’s a jersey he wants. I thought [Argentina] was one of his best Tests … and to do it again this week is pretty special. He should be proud.”
Foster later explained his view of a transformation he considered part mental, part evolutionary from a player who had been limited to four tests each in 2018, 2020 and 2021, five in 2019 and eight last season.
“He’s been simmering along all Super season,” added the All Blacks coach of a Highlanders campaign that saw Frizell log some time in the second row, seemingly benefiting from that change in scenery.
“We’ve always had a lot of faith in Shannon. When he’s put a black jersey on he’s always played well. Sometimes with players it takes a little while to get that 100% belief at Test level. Perhaps he’s been one of those. Maybe we’ve got his roles a bit clearer.
“He deserves the credit. He’s turned up and he’s kind of felt the opportunity. We’ve been really clear about the opportunity that’s there for him, and he’s taken it. So I guess sometimes it’s a bit of selection pressure, a bit of experience, and a bit of him playing like a man who really wants it.”
Foster talked about Frizell evolving into a “complete package” with a performance such as he put in against the Springboks that took the All Blacks to 2-0 for the Rugby Championship.
It was full of power and purpose, but also with poise and precision. It was just the head-turning all-round effort that his team had been looking for.
“He stayed focused,” added the All Blacks coach. “You saw him double up tasks, you saw him get up and do different things. He wasn’t just ball-carrying, he wasn’t just tackling, but cleaning, and jackling over the ball. There was a variety in his game that was pretty special.
“He should be really proud of that game.”
Sky TV analyst and former All Black Justin Marshall was certainly paying attention.
“What really impressed me was how smart he played in the jersey,” Marshall said on ‘The Breakdown’ show. “It’s not just about throwing it on and saying ‘I’m the All Blacks’ 6, I’ll just run hard, and you stop me if you can’.
“He could be devastating. He didn’t always gravitate toward the ruck. There were times I saw him pick and go, other times he was a first receiver … he got the balance in his game spot on, and he was tough. He got great footwork into his carries. It was a great performance.”
All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan, who undoubtedly has played a big part in Frizell’s renaissance with his messaging, direction and organisation of the forwards, also paid tribute to the loosie’s improvement.
“He’s really grown. We sat him down at our Mount Maunganui camp and really laid a couple of things out with him,” said Ryan.
“We challenged him hard on his preparation. He’s part of our lineout defence group now, so he’s become a leader. He’s making the most of his opportunity and that’s what we want.
“But Samipeni Finau has been outstanding at training as well. There’s some good competition there. I’m really pleased for Shannon and the confidence that he’s showing. It’s just a shame he’s leaving.”
He is leaving. But not before playing his part in one last campaign that has a holy grail at the end of it. And the way ‘Big Frizz’ is steaming around the park, it just might be a tale with a happy ending.
