Magnificent Medici learning All Blacks footy in essence (7)

I believe the answer is:

lorenzo

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'magnificent medici' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'learning all blacks footy in essence' is the wordplay.
'learning' becomes 'lore' (both can mean tradition or knowledge).
'all blacks' becomes 'nz' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in essence' indicates the central letters.
The middle letter of 'footy' is 'o'.
'lore'+'nz'+'o'='LORENZO'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lorenzo that I've seen before include "He loves Jessica (M. of V.)" , "Italian" , "Florentine ruler, -- de' Medici, the Magnificent" , "Venetian lover" , "Medici known as The Magnificent" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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