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Noah Hotham earns major praise from All Blacks great after debut
Few men are as qualified to deliver a verdict on a young All Blacks halfback as 80-Test No. 9 Justin Marshall, who offered a glowing report card for the next generation of Kiwi halfback talent after seeing them take the field across the Steinlager Series.
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Four halfbacks were played over the three matches, as injuries befell TJ Perenara, Finlay Christie and Cortez Ratima, leading to a call-up for 21-year-old Noah Hotham.
But there was a fifth scrumhalf in All Blacks camp in Auckland too. Cam Roigard was seen getting some work in with the squad ahead of the second England Test.
There is little concern over the depth of the position, and while it is Roigard who is expected to lead the next generation of talent in Aaron Smith’s famous black nine jersey, there are a number of fellow youngsters snapping at his heels.
Hotham’s rise to the international arena comes just a year after he graced the world stage at the U20 World Championships, impressing as captain for New Zealand.
Hotham made the leap seamlessly in the eyes of Marshall.
“I though in a situation that he wasn’t expecting, to be thrust into the game when it still wasn’t clearly and conclusively won, Noah Hotham did really, really well,” Matshall told SENZ’ The Rugby Run.
“I mentioned it in commentary when he came on, because of injury, it’s really easy to overplay your hand but he showed really good maturity, made a couple of nice breaks, his clearance was really good, as was his kicking game.
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“He just slotted in there seamlessly, pretty much like Cortez Ratima did the week before when Finlay Christie got injured.
“Whilst there was some more razzle-dazzle in some other performances for the All Blacks, I look at the bigger picture and I thought that Noah Hotham deserves my Kubota Play of the Round.”
Hotham was one of six debutants on the night, being joined by George Bell, Pasilio Tosi, Sam Darry, Wallace Sititi and Billy Proctor.
He was also one of five Hamilton Boys High School alumni to feature in the contest, saying after the match it was surreal to see so many familiar faces half way around the world.
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“It’s awesome, when I was younger you had Caleb Muntz who was plating for Fiji, he was in my tutor group, you had Sevu Reece, the likes of Emoni (Narawa), all these boys helps make it a little more familiar,” Hotham told The Crowd Goes Wild.
“You’ve got to pinch yourself, the fact we’re actually in San Diego versing each other.”
He also mentioned how special the day would be for his family.
“For sure, all my whanau back home, my dad and all his family will be stoked hopefully, at the pub probably having a few Waikato Draughts. Hopefully I can put a smile on their face.”
Justin Marshall pumps every Crusaders candidate for the AB’s and often maligns any player standing in their way. It’s really tiresome.
The All Blacks coaching/selection panel made up entirely of former Crusaders coaches should be enough without the sideline cheerleaders.