Scott Robertson: ‘We were going to bring Hoskins Sotutu in’ but All Blacks tour was ‘a step too far’
Scott Robertson confirmed that the northern tour was a step too far for Sotutu. (Photos by James Foy/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire and Speed Media/Icon SMI)
Hoskins Sotutu would have been in the All Blacks touring squad to the northern hemisphere had he not sustained an injury, head coach Scott Robertson has confirmed.
The Blues star was a standout in Super Rugby Pacific and was named the competition’s MVP after scoring a record tally of tries by a forward in a single season (12). He also assisted nine tries as the Auckland-based side surged to the title.
However, his performances in the tournament did not result in an All Blacks call-up with Robertson notably backing Chiefs star Wallace Sititi instead for the July internationals against England and Fiji.
“We were going to bring Hoskins in”
He would also be overlooked for the Rugby Championship, however, he was set to earn a Test recall for the Autumn Nations Series after a handful of injuries in the back-row.
That would have allowed him the opportunity to feature for the All Blacks for the first time since November 2022, but a knee injury has forced him to withdraw from the end-of-year internationals.
Robertson confirmed that Sotutu would have been called upon but the 26-year-old was playing with an injury while on duty for Counties Manukau in the NPC.
“We were going to bring Hoskins [Sotutu] in but he’s injured so we’ve had to consider [our options] over the last couple days,” the All Blacks boss said after calling in Peter Lakai and Josh Lord.
“With his knee, with the scans, he won’t come so we’re going to make a call on the next loose forward over the next week or two that will come up.”
All Blacks: Scott Robertson addresses Hoskins Sotutu’s potential Test allegiance switch
A step too far
The aforementioned pair come into the squad following injuries to Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (fractured thumb) and Dalton Papali’i (upper hamstring). Robertson explained that the coaches would make a decision on who would be the next back-rower to join the squad at a later stage and said that one of the locks in the squad could feature in the loose forwards.
“We believe one of those locks can cover six as well and then there’s obviously one left,” he said.
“It’s great to have Josh Lord come in and get in around the group and the environment and he played incredibly well for Taranaki.”
The All Blacks head coach further explained that Sotutu has been playing with the knee injury for some time now and that his provincial doctors collaborated with the national team to decide on his availability.
“He’s been injured for the last four weeks, he’s been playing on the knee,” he said.
“So both medical groups the Counties Manukau and the All Blacks medical crew got together and they decided for him to get through this tour, it’s probably a step too far from him.
“So he’s looking at options if it’s rest or surgery – that’s one of the reasons [the surgery].”
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