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All Black opens up on ‘tough’ decision to leave New Zealand
Two-Test All Black Pita Gus Sowakula has opened up about his “tough” decision to leave New Zealand Rugby by signing sign for French powerhouse Clermont.
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Sowakula, 28, made a try-scoring debut in the famous black jersey during a convincing 42-19 win over Ireland at Eden Park last July.
The Chiefs loose forward was late replacement in the 11-point loss to Andy Farrell’s Irish side a week later in Dunedin, but was left out of the matchday 23 for the third and deciding Test all together.
Sowakula is still a bit “unsure” about what happened later in the year.
After missing out on the All Blacks’ squad for The Rugby Championship, Sowakula was also overlooked for the All Blacks XV team – a squad which was ultimately a New Zealand ‘B’ team.
The menacing backrower “didn’t get any comms” as to why he missed out on the All Blacks XV, and instead returned to provincial rugby with the Taranaki Bulls.
Later in the year, the Chiefs confirmed that the Fijian-born talent had inked a deal with Clermont in the Top 14.
Sowakula will join the French juggernaut after this year’s NPC campaign with Taranaki, or potentially after the Rugby World Cup if he’s selected for the All Blacks.
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But either way, Sowakula has been lost to New Zealand Rugby.
Reflecting on his decision to head overseas to France – a country that he’s never been to – Sowakula said that while it was a “tough” decision to make, it’s the “perfect time” for him to go.
“It was tough, it was tough,” Sowakula told RugbyPass.
“I’ve got a little one as well so I was thinking about her too.
“The perfect time for us to go and pursue the dream while we still have the motivation. It would be easy to go now since we’ve still got the age, the right age to go.
“It’s just the right time for me to go.
“The All Blacks dream is still there for the World Cup or (the Rugby) Championship coming up. My focus for now is just on playing my best rugby for the Chiefs and the All Blacks dream is still there.”
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Sowakula has been sensational for the ladder-leading Chiefs this season, and has helped the Hamilton-based franchise secure the minor premiership after an almost perfect regular season campaign.
The All Black has started nine of 13 matches this season, including seven games at blindside flanker. Sowakula has formed a formidable loose forward trio with co-captain Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson.
With one round left in the regular season, and top spot secured, the Chiefs have made 13 changes to their starting side to play the Western Force in Perth this weekend.
The likes of Samisoni Taukei’aho, Brodie Retallick, Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie have been omitted from the matchday 23 completely.
But Sowakula will look to provide some impact off the bench.
“(The Force) they haven’t lost here for five games now so it’s going to be a tough one,” he added.
“The boys are prepared to be here on Saturday night and put our best performance forward in our last round robin (game).
“Try and build that momentum… keep the same level, same energy until next week (for) the quarterfinals at home – it’ll be special, it’ll be a big one too.”
The match between the Force and Chiefs is set to get underway at 8.00pm AWST on Saturday, or midnight on Sunday for those watching on from across the ditch in New Zealand.
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
65 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments