Luke Jacobson was “frustrated” as a combination of bad luck and being overlooked denied him any playing time in the All Blacks’ troubled 2025 under Scott Robertson.
The Chiefs captain was in each squad last year at home and on tour, but was a mere spectator in a tumultuous test season that led to Robertson’s shock sacking in January.
Jacobson didn’t and even encountered the misfortune of injuring a quad in the warm-up before a scheduled start at No 8 on his home turf, against France in Hamilton last July.
The weeks ahead could be a defining period in Jacobson’s career.
Skippering the Chiefs to their first Super Rugby title in 13 years, after coming so close, so often, would be one coveted prize to savour and ease the pain of four defeats in finals in the last five years.
That is the immediate target, starting with Saturday night’s qualifying final against the Reds in Hamilton, but the All Blacks’ selection debate always tops rugby conversations and more so with a new coach in Dave Rennie.
Where Jacobson sits in the loose forward equation — only Ardie Savea seems a certain starter at openside flanker — is one of many questions and comes after his time out of the All Blacks.
The last of his 24 tests was against the Wallabies in Wellington in 2024.
Jacobson’s quad injury stunted any comeback for the Rugby Championship, then a head knock prevented him featuring on their northern tour last November. He did play that month for the All Blacks XV against an England A side in Bath, albeit via the bench.
Capable across the back row, he has primarily been at openside flanker for the Chiefs and has the traits Rennie wants in his forwards.
Tackle hard, carry hard, cleanouts, and repeat, with confidence to play when attacking, Jacobson has made his ambitions clear by signing with New Zealand Rugby until next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The Chiefs will face the Reds at 7.05pm tomorrow.
In other games, the Hurricanes play the Brumbies at 7.05 tonight, while the Crusaders host the Blues at 4.35pm tomorrow.
