Noah Hotham weighs in on contestable kicks debate: 'You have to adapt'

Noah Hotham, with a lid awash in peroxide blonde, is back brighter than ever.

The three-Test All Black played his first game of rugby in five months on February 13 for the Crusaders against the Highlanders in the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific in Dunedin.

Although the defending champions were beaten 25-23, Hotham was sprightly. He scored a try by dashing down an unprotected short side, made another linebreak that went unconverted, and helped the Crusaders win the battle for territory for most of the contest.

“It was a great week in terms of preparation. Unfortunately, execution wasn’t there; too many mistakes and incomplete breaks,” Hotham told RugbyPass.

“Personally, it was amazing to be back doing what I love. It’s been a minute. Bones take a while to heal. That gave me a chance to have a full preseason and get my body right. I’m feeling great.”

Hotham was injured three times in 2025 with “freakish” damage to both ankles. On September 13, playing for the All Blacks against South Africa in Wellington, he fractured his fibula nine minutes into the contest, which the hosts lost by a record score.

“I did the right ankle first in Super Rugby, the ligaments and syndesmosis joint, had six weeks of rehab, came back sweet until I did the left syndesmosis for the All Blacks against France in Hamilton,” Hotham rued.

“Against South Africa, I went to tackle a fella head-on and knocked myself out, falling over my right side and snapping my left ankle. I went off for an HIA, which I failed. The next morning, the injury was much worse than I’d hoped.”

Springboks Rugby World Cup-winning lock Lood de Jager (2.06m, 125kg) was injured in the same incident.

The ankle injuries were caused by a practice that perhaps requires more urgent policing, Hip-drops – an illegal, dangerous technique where a defender grabs the ball carrier and drops their own body weight onto the back of the attacker’s legs.

“They’re pretty yuck things to happen to people. There’s not much you can do to strengthen calves and ankles. I guess I should make full breaks instead of half breaks,” lamented Hotham.

The 22-year-old will require sturdy feet if the recent trend of incessant kicking by halfbacks continues. Hotham booted the ball a dozen times for the Crusaders against the Highlanders. Former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson complained such tactics are “not New Zealand Rugby”. So what is the point of the kick-heavy approach?

“It’s a funny thing. I didn’t grow up kicking. I’ve come to learn it, as the rules are in its favour.  The more you kick, the more chance you’re going to get better territory and not waste gas in wrong areas of the field,” Hotham explained.

“Box kicks are a contestable kick. The aim is to regain possession or create disorder in the defence. We’re pretty lucky we’ve got some world-class wingers who can win those competitions.

“Teams have got such good defensive systems these days that trying to get a linebreak all the time can be like running into a brick wall. From a spectator perspective, it’s not the best, but unless the rules change, you have to adapt.”

Has the World Rugby crackdown on “escort” runners—defenders who block, shield, or impede a chaser from contesting a high ball inadvertently created a game that instead resembles kick tennis?

Hotham’s immediate concern is taming the Brumbies at Apollo Projects Stadium on Sunday.

The Crusaders (316) and Brumbies (259) have won more total games than any other teams in Super Rugby history. However, the Crusaders have won 13 of their last 14 games against the Brumbies and the last dozen in New Zealand.

The Brumbies’ most recent victory in New Zealand against the Crusaders was a 17-12 success at the old Lancaster Park (Jade Stadium) in Round 2, 2000. Every player in the starting XV of both teams was or became an international. For the Brumbies, Mitch Hardy and Andrew Walker scored tries, with Stirling Mortlock adding two conversions and a penalty. Leon MacDonald kicked four penalties for the Crusaders.

“The Brumbies have been the best Australian team since forever. They’re very good at set pieces and have a dangerous back three. We need to just focus on ourselves, limit mistakes, and we should be right,” Hotham said.

The Crusaders-Brumbies match will be played on the 15th Anniversary of the Christchurch Earthquake, which killed 185 people. A moment of silence will be observed before kickoff.