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Clermont confirm signing of jilted All Black on two-year deal

Pita Gus Sowakula. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

Two-cap All Black Pita Gus Sowakula has ostensibly given up hope on ever playing for the New Zealand national side again, signing a two-year deal with Clermont.

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Sowakula earned an All Blacks debut earlier this year off the back of an impressive season with the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific. While Sowakula’s form tapered off towards the end of the campaign, his early-season performances were enough to force his way into the All Blacks squad and onto the bench for NZ’s first two matches of 2022.

Sowakula’s tenure with the squad came to an end just weeks later, however, with Shannon Frizell replacing the 28-year-old ahead of the Rugby Championship. Sowakula’s ejection from the squad was never explained by the selectors but RugbyPass understands off-field misbehaviour contributed to the change in hearts from Ian Foster and co, while forwards coach John Plumtree’s departure may have also not played into his favour.

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Sowakula was also left out of the All Blacks XV squad picked later in the year, suggesting he was no longer considered one of the top 11 loose forwards in the country, while the likes of Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace will also be on the selectors’ radar.

“Yes, I do,” Taranaki coach Neil Barnes told Stuff when asked whether he believed Sowakula could still break into the All Blacks World Cup squad. “Every coach has their own opinions on what they want out of a player, and what they look for. For me, Pits has got a point of difference above other players.

“It is what he can do with the ball in hand, and his defence as well. If Pita Gus is playing Super, and playing at a really high level, he has got as good a chance as anyone else.”

That looks unlikely now, however, with Sowakula effectively removing himself from the selection equation.

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The blockbusting loosie’s fall down the pecking order has undoubtedly contributed to his decision to head overseas, with Sowakula set to depart New Zealand at the end of next year’s NPC season in October.

Sowakula debuted for the Chiefs in 2018 as an injury replacement and has since gone on to make almost 50 appearances for the franchise. In the past two years he has established himself as one of the best ball-running forwards in the country.

Although Sowakula is eligible to play for Fiji, his two appearances for the All Blacks will prevent him from representing the nation of his birth until three years have passed since his last match in a black jersey.

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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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