Sir John Kirwan: 'What more does Hoskins Sotutu need to do to get ...

All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan has reacted to Scott Robertson’s first squad, picking out Blues forward Hoskins Sotutu as the major omission from the selection to tackle England in July.

Sotutu had a marvellous Super Rugby Pacific season, helping the Blues end their 21-year trophy drought.

The 25-year-old dotted down 12 times en route to lifting the title – equalling the record for number of tries by a forward in a Super Rugby season in doing so.

However, new All Blacks head coach Robertson has overlooked the back-rower, favouring Chiefs star Wallace Sititi, who is the son of Samoan legend Semo.

2023 World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea is another potential option at number eight, as is Ethan Blackadder, while Robertson included five uncapped players in his overall squad.

Still, Kirwan was left baffled by the decision not to select Sotutu after a superb season for the Blues and believes that for whatever reason, the forward simply doesn’t fit the game plan.

“I think it’s a very good squad obviously, my first reaction is disappointment for Hoskins just because I think he’s played well all year and so he’ll be incredibly disappointed,” he said on Sky Sport NZ after the announcement of the squad.

“I don’t know what more he needs to do (to be selected) but that is their selection so they’ve obviously got a game plan in mind.”

Sotutu is not the only player that Kirwan believes is unfortunate not to be selected ahead of the Tests against England.

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Following Dane Coles’ retirement and Samisoni Taukei’aho’s injury, Robertson was always going to select a fresh face at hooker, with the ex-Crusaders boss picking 22-year-old George Bell, leading Kirwan to highlight other areas of concern.

“I think there’s a few other unlucky players. [Ricky] Riccitelli is a bit unlucky and [David] Havili is too – he has been around a long time, but we probably thought he was on the fringe, so there are a few,” he added.

“Just three locks is another interesting call – it’s an area where we’re a bit light, so I don’t know.”

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Fellow ex-All Blacks great Jeff Wilson added that the selections, particularly at hooker, provide a hint to Robertson’s plans.

“I look at the selections and some of those players who have missed out have been very, very good in Super Rugby playing a specific style. But when I see a George Bell, Codie Taylor and Asafo Aumua, it tells me the type of athleticism (the coaches want), guys on the edge that carry the ball out in open spaces and play at real high speed,” Wilson said.

“Pasilio Tosi is the one real surprise and I don’t know how many radars he was on but now it is whether he gets an opportunity against England.

“I was sure that Peter Lakai would get an opportunity in this group… so is Ardie Savea going to be seen as the number eight? Or are they looking at Wallace Sititi and going, ‘you know what, sometimes there’s a superstar out there who can change and shift the balance’. And he’s the type of guy with ball in hand that can punch through the middle of the park and get momentum going forward.

“I think you can make an argument for everyone who’s been selected; it was always going to be tough on some guys who’ve had some really good form throughout the season.”

Kirwan agreed with Wilson before adding that the All Blacks are in need of a shake-up, having failed to win the last two Rugby World Cups.

“I think the question of how we are going to play is really interesting,” he said.

“You’ve got to look at the selection and go: ‘What is the All Blacks X-factor?’ Tamaiti Williams pulled his hamstring making a 40-minute sprint; you see Tosi just carrying the ball so strongly, so are we now looking at a style of rugby where we want really dynamic ball carriers, late feet at the defensive line and a pretty strong outside back contingent?

“If you look at the selection then I think how we are going to play is fundamental as we have not won the World Cup since 2015, and we need to find a style of rugby that’s different to what everyone is seeing.”

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