All Blacks records beckon for Will Jordan – but longer-term future remains intriguing

It is because of sharpshooters like Will Jordan that New Zealand are so adept at converting mere superiority into utter domination. In fact, as Mateo Carreras suggested, shapeshifter might be a more accurate description.

“He’s everywhere on the pitch,” said Jordan’s reverential opposite number on Friday night. “If there is a line-break, he’s there. If there is a knock-on, he is there. That’s what makes him top class.”

The current crop of All Blacks would still rank below previous iterations, notably the awesome class of 2015, but they waltzed into the World Cup final by overwhelming Argentina with consummate ease. At this tournament, they have maintained a historic habit of ruthless thrashings. Slicing and dicing defences and finishing off chances – again and again and again – does not bore them.

Although a 44-6 thumping at the semi-final stage felt more than a little hollow for everyone except the victors and their supporters, it did allow onlookers to marvel at Jordan’s blend of intuition and opportunism. He is fabulously athletic and skilful too, yet his sense of timing seems even more significant.

Playing in an All Blacks back line will yield some openings by default and Jordan has plenty of prolific predecessors. He certainly does not look out of place in exalted company. A hat-trick at the Stade de France swept him to 31 tries in 30 Test appearances. Had Richie Mo’unga thrown a simple pass towards the end, when his right-wing was loitering unmarked on the touchline, there would have been a new record-holder for a single World Cup.

Jonah Lomu in 1995, Bryan Habana in 2007, Julian Savea in 2015 and now Jordan in 2023. All have notched eight tries in one tournament. Jordan can reach a new summit of nine – or more – in the final. As for All Blacks records, they are also at his mercy.

On a greasy evening in Paris, Jordan overtook the try tallies of Dan Carter and Sitiveni Sivivatu and drew level with Ma’a Nonu. He has a better strike rate than all three of those lauded names. At the top of New Zealand’s all-time list are Doug Howlett (49 tries in 62 Tests), Christian Cullen (46 in 58), Joe Rokocoko (46 in 68), Julian Savea (46 in 54) and Jeff Wilson (44 in 60). As he keeps climbing, Jordan will surely usurp the iconic Lomu (37 in 64) and Ben Smith (39 in 84).

The latter, an immensely resourceful and intelligent player, is probably the closest to a direct comparison. Smith, nicknamed ‘Ben from accounts’ because of his understated demeanour, also tended to arrive in the right place at the right time and conjured flashes of apparently casual brilliance. Jordan is a touch taller and more explosive. It is a deadly cocktail.

His first try against the hapless Pumas was an elementary walk-in, the New Zealand pack having pummelled away to narrow Argentina’s defence. Mo’unga could swing the ball over the top to free his Crusaders team-mate and open the team’s account. Number two, early in the second half, was another close-range effort that rewarded a spell of relentless pressure.

To unlock the stubborn Pumas on the 11th phase, Jordan had ghosted from right touchline to left, momentarily hovering as a potential playmaker in midfield before arcing wider to gather Finlay Christie’s flat pass. By working 60 metres across the pitch, he had outflanked Argentina.

Jordan’s treble was sealed with a special, solo score. At a line-out on the New Zealand 22, Ardie Savea positioned himself at first receiver and dropped a shoulder before lifting a pass to his inside. Jordan took it and arched his back to speed through a hole and past two tired defenders. A right-footed stab lobbed Emiliano Boffelli and was regathered before Juan Cruz Mallia could intervene.

Coaches call them thunderbolts and this was familiar. It resembled the second-half try that had lacerated Ireland in the quarter-final. That break had burst the same defensive channel, only with Jordan supporting Mo’unga. Such dynamism amplifies mismatches. More usefully, as on the previous weekend, it can crack open tighter affairs.

Mo’unga’s decision not to gift-wrap Jordan his fourth, cutting inside instead of passing in the 80th minute, was a small and isolated blemish on an imperious New Zealand performance. Carreras, who had been sparky himself, saluted Jordan as “an amazing player” at the end and wished him luck for the final.

Whatever that decider may bring – and for Mo’unga’s sake, one hopes that Jordan breaks the World Cup record – the longer-term future is intriguing. Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and Mo’unga are all heading to Japan with Leicester Fainga’anuku taking up a deal with Toulon. Scott Robertson, set to succeed Ian Foster as head coach, will need to remodel the back line. He is bound to do that around Jordan, possibly using him as an arrowing full-back. And that, rather scarily, could increase Jordan’s influence, if not his strike-rate.

After his first try against Argentina, Jordan hit the line and sent Jordie Barrett around the outside to score. You sense this World Cup, and the phenomenal record he has already compiled, is just the start.