Preston fired up for first start of the year
It’s fair to say Kyle Preston deserves a medal for patience this season, but he is more than happy by being rewarded with a start for the All Blacks instead. It’ll be his first time wearing the number nine jersey after being on the bench for the entire Crusaders season, then watching on for the three Nations Championship tests.
In all, the 26-year-old has played only 242 minutes of rugby this season. That’s just over three games’ worth, but Preston said that he just wants “to do my role and do it well”.
“ Obviously I started a bit later in my professional career, so patience is there.”
Game plan
Preston will start inside Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett, with Dave Rennie naming a strong All Blacks side to take on the Hollwood Bets Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban this Wednesday morning (NZT).
”We're confident we'll do a better job,” said Rennie, referring to the All Blacks’ 38-21 win in the opening match of the tour against the Stormers in Cape Town.
We'll do a better job staying in front of the maul, and… the scrum stuff we can tidy up. We weren't clinical enough on the edge, created a lot of opportunities. A couple of them were three-on-ones and five-on-twos type of thing, and we didn't nail it. So we've spent a little bit of time on that.
Part of that is the all-important ruck speed from Preston. It should come as little surprise that the All Blacks’ speed in this area was among the best in the Nations Championship, only slightly behind Ireland and France. However, they shot to first with Cam Roigard on the field.
”I think obviously as a halfback our main focus is the distribution, so getting the ball in and away as quick as we can,” said Preston.
“With Rens’ game style, that's a big part of it. So no matter what game it is, it's important.”
The Sharks come in without their front line Springboks, but do have top prospect Vusi Moyo starting at first five. 62-test prop Vincent Koch also starts, while flanker Phepsi Buthelezi will make his 100th appearance for the Sharks in this match.
Meanwhile, Preston might not have played as much rugby as he probably thought he would this season, but is relishing the chance to finally start a game at half back.
“ There's the battles of that side of it, but I'm living the dream. I'm over in South Africa playing for or part of a team that I've wanted to play for my whole life, so take every opportunity that comes. So, can't complain.”
Learn more about Kyle Preston here.
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