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All Blacks No 8 Hoskins Sotutu re-commits to New Zealand Rugby

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

All Blacks No 8 Hoskins Sotutu will remain in New Zealand for the foreseeable future, committing his services to the Blues and New Zealand Rugby [NZR] until 2024.

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News of Sotutu’s two-year contract extension comes as the powerful 23-year-old prepares with the All Blacks ahead of their three-test series against Ireland, which kicks-off on Saturday.

Although he hasn’t been named to feature in the first test, the 10-test star is expected to take part in some capacity over the coming weeks on the back of a standout Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

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Helping guide the Blues to a runner-up finish, Sotutu found back himself in top form for the first time since his breakout season two years ago, when he starred for the Auckland-based franchise and earned his first cap for the All Blacks.

What followed was a quiet 2021 campaign in which he played in only five of New Zealand’s 15 tests as he struggled to break into the national team’s match day side.

Sotutu’s fortunes turned this year, though, as he caught the eye throughout Super Rugby Pacific as his devastating form won him selection in the All Blacks squad for a third year running despite strong competition from elsewhere around the country.

With his previous contract set to expire this year, the Blues subsequently moved to lock Sotutu in for the next few years in a deal that the man in question said was easy to agree to.

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“I just enjoy coming to work every day,” Sotutu, a former New Zealand Schools and New Zealand U20 representative who father Waisake played 12 tests for Fiji, said in a statement released on Friday.

“There’s a great feeling in the club. We are lucky to have such great coaches and it’s awesome to be part of the Blues family.”

Blues head coach Leon MacDonald, meanwhile, is optimistic about Sotutu’s future at the Blues after having overseen his development since his Super Rugby debut three years ago.

Now with 37 Blues caps to his name, MacDonald is hopeful that Sotutu can go on to realise his world-class potential.

“Hoskins has all the skills and attributes to become one of the game’s best No 8s. He has size, speed and supreme skills,” MacDonald said.

“Hoskins continues to amaze us with his skillset. He is a good young man and a dedicated athlete. The rugby world could be at his feet if he can realise all of his talents.”

The retention of Sotutu is the third major re-signing announced by the Blues this week, with fellow All Blacks stars Caleb Clarke and Stephen Perofeta both inking two-year contract extensions on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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