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Watch: Hoskins Sotutu goes full Harlem Globetrotter in contender for try of the season

Hoskins Sotutu. (Photo by Jeremy Ward/Photosport)

Watching Hoskins Sotutu play rugby, it’s easy to see the 22-year-old’s passion for basketball creeping into the loose forward’s game.

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Sotutu played the sport in his early years before making the commitment to rugby and the rangey number 8 regularly uses those skills honed in the five-man game as a point of difference over his loose forward rivals.

His talents were on full display on Saturday evening in the Blues’ comprehensive 50-3 win over the Rebel, with Sotutu nabbing two tries for his team.

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His first came in the 47th minute, with the big number 8 diving over the try-line from close range – though the TMO had to have a length look to determine whether Sotutu had been able to get the ball on the turf or if he’d been held up.

Less than 10 minutes later, he was on the score sheet again after controlling the ball at the back of a 5-metre attacking scrum before lurching over the line unopposed.

Perhaps Sotutu’s biggest impact didn’t come in his scoring efforts, however, instead in the contributions he made in the build-up to a number of key moments.

In the first half, Sotutu was always on hand as a support runner and at one stage made a one-handed catch and pass that had former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika waxing lyrical about the big man’s skills. From that same play, the Blues eventually touched down through Tom Robinson for their first five-pointer of the match.

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It was late in the match that the 22-year-old really showcased his talents, however, during a Blues score which will certainly be in contention for try of the season.

Sotutu, in the middle of the park, received a wide pass from replacement first five Harry Plummer before throwing a pinpoint cut-out ball to winger Bryce Heem, who was parked on the right-hand sideline.

Heem galloped up the line and while also fending off Wallabies flyer Marika Koroibete, threw an offload in-field to Sotutu, who basically bunted the ball back out to fullback Zarn Sullivan.

Sullivan threw a one-handed over-arm pass in to replacement halfback Sam Nock, who offloaded to Rieko Ioane as he crashed to the ground in a Rebels tackle.

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Ioane was caught five metres short of the try line and after some quick recycling, Plummer kicked the ball out to AJ Lam, who picked the ball out of the air and dotted down for the Blues’ fifth try of the evening.

It was a superlative effort, and one that showcased how dangerous the Blues can be with a bit of momentum – something which they sorely lacked at times during the Super Rugby Aotearoa season.

Unsurprisingly, social media was alight with praise for Sotutu, the man who earned a handful of All Blacks caps in 2020 but could be set for more game time this year with captain Sam Cane sidelined through injury.

Sotutu finished the match with three offloads to his name as well as 12 passes – more than anyone in his team except for starting halfback Finlay Christie.

He was also destructive on the run, clocking up 39 metres on attack and beating three defenders.

Sotutu will be competing with the likes of Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder and Luke Jacobson for All Blacks berths and if he maintain his current form, he’ll be the favourite to wear the No 8 jersey come the test season.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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