Frizell caught off guard by Rugby World Cup call-up

With Luke Jacobson ruled out of this year's Rugby World Cup due to ongoing concussion issues, no one was more surprised than his All Blacks replacement, Shannon Frizell.

The 25‑year‑old has been called up as the first cab off the rank to replace Jacobson in Steve Hansen's 31‑man World Cup squad, flying out of Auckland for Japan late last night.

Frizell says he always hoped for a call like this, and I got it.

Frizell says he was getting ready for bed when he got the message and couldn't go to sleep until later.

Frizell will be in contention for the All Blacks' World Cup opener, taking on South Africa in Yokohama at 9.45pm next Saturday.

[Source: TVNZ]

ADVERTISEMENT