“Two Years Feels Like A Long Time”: Sititi On Adversity, Cape Town Memories, And The Fierce All Blacks Jersey Battle
Wallace Sititi has come a long way since the All Blacks were last in Cape Town.
Two years ago, the dynamic loose forward was on the verge of establishing himself on the international stage. He made his first Test start at DHL Stadium in an 18-12 defeat to the Springboks.
Now, with valuable Test experience under his belt, Sititi looks back on that period as a defining chapter in his career, embracing both the growth it brought and the challenges that come with wearing the famous black jersey.
“Two years ago feels like a long time ago,” Sititi said. “We have very good memories of Cape Town. We loved it here, and we’ve definitely felt the love over the last few days.”
While those memories remain special, Sititi believes he has grown significantly as both a player and a person since then.
“As a player, I’ve definitely grown a lot. I’ve been through a bit of adversity and had injuries, but that’s the game of footy. It’s all part of the journey that got me here.”
That journey has included the reality of competing in one of world rugby’s most demanding environments. With fierce competition for places in the All Blacks squad, keeping a starting spot is never guaranteed.
“The All Blacks are a high-performance environment that expects the best, and if you don’t perform, someone else will because there’s a lot of quality here,” said the 2024 All Blacks Player of the Year.
“It’s tough, but at the same time we support each other, and we look out for one another.”
Rather than becoming consumed by selection debates, Sititi is focused on enjoying his rugby and trusting that strong performances will follow.
“I’m just trying to enjoy my footy and play the best I can. That’s when I perform at my best. That’s where my focus is.”
Having made his international debut under Scott “Razor” Robertson before continuing his Test career under Dave Rennie, Sititi says the team’s commitment to continuous improvement has remained constant.
“The All Blacks environment is great, and every year we come in and try to make it better,” he said.
Under Rennie, the All Blacks have shown a willingness to play with greater tempo and ambition in recent outings. Sititi believes every match presents another opportunity to refine that approach.
“We treat every game with the importance it deserves,” he said. “We’re always trying to improve by using the ball more and playing at a higher tempo, as you mentioned. Every game is an opportunity to do that.
“This year is no different. We’re trying to keep growing and getting better as a group, and hopefully that will take our performances to another level.”
For Sititi, the focus remains simple: continue improving, embrace the competition, and make the most of every opportunity to wear the All Blacks jersey.
