Chiefs and Northland loose forward Simon Parker has opened up about his maiden call-up to the All Blacks squad for this year’s Rugby Championship and revealed that he has modelled his game on Jerome Kaino’s.
The 25-year-old admitted to being “zoned out” when All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson phoned him to inform him of his selection for the three-time world champions’ trip to Argentina and revealed that his Northland team-mates celebrated his call-up with a special haka for him.
He is the only uncapped player in Robertson’s 36-man squad while fellow rookies, Tevita Mafileo (front-row), Kyle Preston (scrum-half) and Leroy Carter (wing), have been included as part of a seven-man injury cover group.
Parker has been in excellent form for the Chiefs during their Super Rugby Pacific campaign and was a regular in the Hamilton-based outfit’s starting line-ups, although he was not in action in their loss to the Crusaders in the final after sustaining an ankle injury in the narrow loss to the Blues in their Qualifying Final.
The former New Zealand U20 representative is a huge man who weighs 117 kilograms and is 1,97 metres tall, but despite his large frame, he is mobile enough to play in the wider channels, and that has caught the eye of the All Blacks selectors.
His impressive physique is similar to former All Blacks blindside flanker Kaino‘s, and it is not surprising that he has studied the legendary enforcer’s style of play.
‘I love the contact side of the game’
“I tried in a way to follow in the footsteps of Jerome Kaino because of the physical presence he was,” Parker told 1News. “I love the contact side of the game and I just try to get involved as much as I can.”
Parker is set to play for Northland against Southland in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship before leaving with the All Blacks to Argentina later this weekend.
Scott Robertson opens up on shock decision to select ‘intimidating’ rookie in All Blacks squad
He revealed that he missed Robertson’s initial call on Monday to inform him of his All Blacks call-up as he was in a team review meeting with the Northland squad.
“When I saw I missed his call, I started shaking, and when I called him, I started apologising,” he explained. “He said, ‘no, it’s all good news, mate. Congratulations and welcome to the All Blacks.
“I zoned out for about 10 seconds, to be honest. I went back and said, ‘thanks very much, sorry I haven’t got much to say, I’m a bit overwhelmed’.
After calling his wife and parents to share the news with them, Parker’s Northland teammates paid tribute to him with a haka.
Received a ‘pretty special’ haka
“I haven’t had too many haka done for me and so to see that done by many guys who I grew up with was pretty special,” he said.
The All Blacks kick off their Rugby Championship campaign with back-to-back fixtures against Argentina in Cordoba and Buenos Aires on August 16 and 23, respectively.
“I’m probably the one taking the credit but I couldn’t have done it without my family,” added Parker. “There is a geographical challenge to playing sport up here (in Northland). I’m thankful to everyone who has put time into me.
“Sitting on the bank at Okara Park and watching the human highlight reel [and former Northland All Black] Rene Ranger going about his business was pretty cool. Hopefully, I can inspire others by showing it can be done.”