Nervous but excited: ALB makes his return
Like a kid counting down to Christmas.
December 25 may as well be October 9 on the calendar of Anton Lienert-Brown, as he feverishly eyes his return to rugby this weekend after six months out with a shoulder injury.
The All Blacks midfielder will be back on the park in Waikato’s NPC quarterfinal against Bay of Plenty in Hamilton tomorrow, on an evening which should be cause for double celebration with his name set to also appear in the national squad named for the northern tour.
‘‘A little bit nervous, but very excited,’’ was how Lienert-Brown described the emotions, as he comes down this home straight on his road to recovery, following surgery in April for a torn right labrum.
‘‘This week’s certainly felt a little bit different, it’s just nice knowing that you’re going to do training during the week and you’re going to have that prize of the game at the end.’’
Waikato’s side will be named today, with Lienert-Brown under instruction from the Chiefs medical staff he’s been working with to play a maximum of 40 minutes in this first game back.
And while he noted that until he got into real matchplay there would always be some reservations of how his body would hold up, the 27-year-old is sure he’s done everything required to make the comeback from the first major injury of his career a successful one.
‘‘Nerves are part of being human,’’ he said this week.
‘‘But I’ve got plenty of training under my belt, so much contact in the last month, so I’ve prepared as well as I can, and I’ve just got to trust in that.
‘‘It gives me confidence that I’ve tackled some of the biggest boys in the team, so I should be able to handle whatever comes at me now, fingers crossed.’’
The All Blacks depart for matches against Japan, Wales, Scotland and England on the day of the NPC final on October 22, so Lienert-Brown will get another chance for a gallop next weekend, though only if Waikato progress to the semifinals.
Dialogue with the All Blacks coaches hadn’t guaranteed him anything, but especially with Chiefs team-mate Quinn Tupaea now sidelined, Lienert-Brown’s 56 tests of experience, versatility and undoubted class should see him whistled back up for a return to test footy since dislocating the same shoulder against Ireland in Dublin last November.
‘‘I guess I’ll find out Sunday how everything pans out,’’ he said of his All Blacks prospects.
‘‘What I got told was try get back for NPC, it’ll give you your best chance to make that tour.’’
Lienert-Brown’s return will also add intrigue to Ian Foster’s midfield mix, following Jordie Barrett’s brilliant showing at second five-eighth in the Rugby Championshipclincher against the Wallabies.
‘‘Jordie played extremely well, Rieko’s [Ioane] been playing well at centre, and obviously Davey’s [Havili] played a lot of 12 as well and RTS [Roger Tuivasa-Sheck] has had a couple of cameos off the bench.
‘‘It doesn’t bother me whether I play 12 or 13. To be able to play both positions well, I see that as a strength.
‘‘At the end of the day, selection isn’t in my control, what’s in my control is coming back, playing well and forcing their hand.’’
After dipping his toes into a coaching role with the Mooloos’ backs during his injury layoff, Lienert-Brown feels it has given him a different perspective on the game and is, importantly for a midfielder, allowing him to identify space easier on the field.
It will all finally be put into practice at FMG Stadium Waikato tomorrow afternoon, in what is a tantalising rematch against a Steamers side which Waikato roared back to stun 35-34 at the same venue last Sunday after trailing 34-14 with 17 minutes to play.
‘‘Definitely starting better this week would be nice,’’ noted Lienert-Brown, who will trade tee-running duty for good mate Damian McKenzie with a 22nd outing in the red, yellow and black – his first since 2020, just his third since 2015, and his first in a playoff game.
‘‘Provincial rugby’s really special, and for All Blacks to come back – and there’s been a lot of those instances this year – it’s been really good, and I think the quality of the competition this year’s been right up there. I’ve definitely enjoyed being on the sidelines and watching the games.’’
But not as much as he’ll love being right in the thick of it.