Rugby World Cup: All Blacks achievements come before personal glory for high-flying Will Jordan

Even on the cusp of a Rugby World Cup final and individual records aplenty, All Blacks winger Will Jordan would sacrifice any personal glory to see his side lift the William Webb Ellis Cup next week.

With a hattrick of tries in the their 44-6 semi-final demolition of Argentina, Jordan, 25, moved outright as this tournament's leading tryscorer.

Now boasting eight tries in France, he sits equal with Jonah Lomu (1995), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015) for most at a men's tournament. Next week, against South Africa, Jordan can go one better and claim the outright record.

Will Jordan against Argentina.
Will Jordan against Argentina. Photo credit: Getty Images

While writing one's name into history would be something any player might target, Jordan is different. He makes it clear he'd happily settle for first-equal, if it means captain Sam Cane holds the sport's most prized trophy aloft next Sunday.

"The World Cup win is what we came over to do," said Jordan. "I'll be happy to take a zero on the scoresheet, if we get the job done.

"It's a cliché, but it's a team game. The group is really focused around what we want to do.

"Hopefully, I can play my part in that."

That doesn't mean Jordan takes his achievements for granted by any means. Joining the likes of Lomu, Savea and Habana - three of the game's great wingers - is a record he's happy to share. 

"It's pretty humbling to be honest," he said. "When you think about those guys, they're all legends of the game.

"Particularly in the position I play, they really trailblazed the way to play the game as a winger.

"It's pretty cool, it definitely wasn't something I set out to or anything like that, but it's nice to be able to do that in amongst the team doing so well."

While riding a high of a World Cup semi-final victory, one thing took away from Jordan's personal celebrations.

"I ended up getting drug-tested last night," he explained. "There was a bit of a process enjoyed with that, that took a bit of gloss off it, but it was cool.

"We certainly took last night to reflect on where we are at the moment and how we're going.

"It's nice to have an extra day to be able to do that. Then we know this afternoon, tomorrow, Monday, we'll start switching into the English or the 'Boks."

All up, Jordan's scoring numbers are among the greatest the All Blacks, if not the world, have ever seen. In just 30 tests, he has crossed 31 times for a ratio of 1.03 tries per game.

That strike rate puts him up there as the All Blacks' most lethal scorer, ahead of Lomu, Savea, Christian Cullen, Joe Rokocoko and every other player to wear the black jersey as often as he has.

For Jordan, the game is about so much more than scoring tries and reflecting on his own performance. Contributing to the team effort will always come before being the man to finish off the work of his teammates around him.  

"I'm not one to track numbers," he said. "I've always liked the support play, trying to be in the frame and read-the-game sort of scenarios.

Will Jordan scores against Argentina.
Will Jordan scores against Argentina. Photo credit: Getty Images

"Being able to do that is what I review on and what I hold my hat to. It's not so much scoring tries - you get a few like I had last night, where you catch it and dive over.

"It's more about involvements in the game for me, trying to pop up and give us an extra number on attack.

"It's always cool to be able to score tries, but it's not the main marker I use on how I'm going."

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