Sevu Reece, the Fiji-born winger, is relishing his experience with the All Blacks under the guidance of head coach Scott Robertson and a new coaching staff. Robertson took charge after last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, bringing a fresh perspective to the team, with previous forwards coach Jason Ryan the only remaining member from Ian Foster’s staff.
The new coaching team includes Jason Holland focusing on backs, Leon MacDonald on attack, Scott Hansen for defence, and Tamati Ellison as the contact skills coach. Veteran Wayne Smith is also contributing as a performance coach for the squad.
After missing the entire 2023 Test season due to an ACL injury, Reece returned to shine for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific. Despite a challenging season for the team, he ended up as one of the top scorers in the competition.
As the 2024 international season approaches, Reece expressed his enthusiasm about collaborating with the new coaching staff. In an interview with the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, he remarked on the excitement surrounding New Zealand rugby and highlighted the quality of the coaches and the character of the squad selected.
Reece is one of four wingers in the All Blacks lineup alongside Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, and Emoni Narawa, indicating a competitive atmosphere among the speedsters. He humorously considered trying out different positions, contemplating playing half-back as a light-hearted comment amidst the tough competition in the camp.