Pita Gus Sowakula facing a similar plight to former teammate Lachlan Boshier
Pita Gus Sowakula and Lachlan Boshier may be very different types of rugby players, but there are some curious parallels between the loose forwards.
Sowakula has been touted as a potential All Black this season, with former New Zealand representatives John Kirwan and Mils Muliana as recently as this week suggesting the number 8 could be due a call-up ahead of the July test series with Ireland.
In all likelihood, however, Sowakula is going to be one of the unlucky men not to have his name read out in June.
Ian Foster and co are set to select 36 men for the mid-year tests and if past squads are anything to go by, that leaves room for six or seven loose forwards. Sam Cane, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Akira Ioane and Ethan Blackadder are all certainties while others such as Shannon Frizell, Hoskins Sotutu, Luke Jacobson and Cullen Grace have all earned call-ups in recent years.
Sowakula has been playing the house down but the All Blacks have generally always opted for incumbents over in-form challengers and it would take a brave man to bet on the former Fijian basketballer to earn selection ahead of so many other options – even if many suspect he could be a starting option at the back of the scrum for NZ. At 27 years of age, he’s also no spring chicken, which won’t help his cause.
Former Chiefs flanker Lachlan Boshier found himself in a similar situation back in 2020 when despite being one of the top players in Super Rugby, his road to All Blacks selection was well and truly blocked. While he’d suited up in the No 6 jersey on plenty of occasions for the Chiefs, he was very much an openside flanker through and through, which meant he was competing with the likes of Cane and Savea for selection – and he was never likely to pip that pairing. When it came time for the All Blacks to call up an additional flanker, it was Hurricanes tyro Du’Plessis Kirifi who got the tap on the shoulder, indicating that Boshier was at least a few rungs down the ladder when it came to national selection.
While Boshier was undoubtedly in good form, however, his performances in 2020 weren’t dissimilar to the work he’d been doing for the Chiefs in the years preceding.
A couple of excellent performances over the ball at the beginning of the campaign seemed to get Boshier’s name on everyone’s lips and from that point on, every half-decent performance – which he’d been putting together for a handful of seasons already – was touted as another reason why he should be called up to the All Blacks.
“I don’t think I was playing too differently,” Boshier told RugbyPass before the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aotearoa kicked off.
“Maybe I was getting a few more turnovers, which maybe people started talking about – but I’m definitely feeling that that sort of snowball effect.”
Now, two years on, Sowakula is walking a similar pathway.
Heading into the season, Sowakula was very much a known entity. In 2020, throughout said Aotearoa season, Sowakula was effectively the Chiefs’ one guaranteed method of generating front-foot ball – generally by powering forward after receiving the ball off a lineout.
He’s a dynamic ball carrier who likes to look for the offload but inevitably does his best work when he simply tucks the ball and runs. In 2022, that’s been no exception.
It appears that Sowakula has caught the eye of many due to his incredibly athletic try scored in the opening game of the competition (although it has subsequently been ruled illegal) – and has since been attracting a significant amount of attention, despite his skills, attributes and feats not standing out markedly from the work he’s already shown in the past.
Like Boshier, Sowakula is riding a snowball – and one that will likely end in some disappointment. But while Boshier eventually called time on his career in NZ and headed to Japan, Sowakula has international options.
Sowakula has committed to trying to make the All Blacks but admitted that if he can’t achieve his goal by the time of the World Cup, he will likely look to take his talents to the Fijian national side. While it would be remiss to suggest Sowakula has any obligation to throw his lot in with Fiji now, it’s likely that the team would benefit considerably from getting access to a big number 8 at the peak of his powers – one the All Blacks will likely continue to overlook, as they have done for the past two seasons.
Like his former Chiefs teammate, Sowakula appears destined to join the motley crew of players who were never quite able to crack the black jersey, despite coming oh so close and capturing the attention of many a fan around New Zealand.
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments