'Someone had to miss out': Why Crusaders and Highlanders loosies missed All Blacks cut
Despite the impressive form of three Crusaders and Highlanders loose forwards, none managed to earn All Blacks selection ahead of next month’s three-test series against Ireland.
Highlanders duo Shannon Frizell and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, as well as Crusaders standout Cullen Grace, joined Chiefs star Luke Jacobson as the biggest loose forward omissions at the first All Blacks squad announcement of the year on Monday.
All Black assistant coach John Plumtree explained this came down to certain preferences from the national selectors despite some strong Super Rugby Pacific form from Grace and the uncapped Mikaele-Tu’u.
Frizell, who has 17 test caps to his name, also missed the cut despite playing three tests in a disrupted 2021 All Blacks campaign.
This season, Frizell impressed with his physicality and ball-carrying prowess before succumbing to a knee injury that sidelined him for eight weeks.
He only returned little more than a week ago, playing a bench role in the Highlanders’ quarter-final loss to the Blues at Eden Park, but Plumtree said the 28-year-old’s condition isn’t quite where he needs to be.
“Obviously, another player been injured pretty much the whole year. I was pretty happy with his little cameo against the Blues but it’s the only time we’ve got to see him play really,” Plumtree said on Monday.
“He started the season really well before he got injured. He’s a big man and he needs time to get fit. He’ll just be working hard on that and we’ll keep contact with him.
“We know what he brings to the international game. We’ll just watch him progress his fitness slowly.”
Likewise, Frizell’s Highlanders teammate Mikaele-Tu’u had an impressive Super Rugby Pacific season, but that wasn’t enough to tip the scales in the 24-year-old’s favour.
Instead, Blues star Hoskins Sotutu and Chiefs powerhouse Pita Gus Sowakula have been picked as the preferred No 8 options behind the incumbent Ardie Savea.
Plumtree spoke particularly highly of Sotutu, who had a breakthrough 2020 campaign before a slight slump in 2021, but has found his groove again this season after working on his game and showing improvement in the areas the All Blacks wanted.
It’s for that reason that the All Blacks opted to go ahead with the 10-test international rather than Mikaele-Tu’u.
“Marino was good but we didn’t see him as being quite as good as the others at this stage. Hoskins Sotutu, I think he’s played the house down for the Blues this year consistently,” Plumtree said.
“The things that we asked him to work on, he’s gone away and he’s put a real big focus on it. I think the boys have done a real good job with him. Go back to Marino, yep, playing well, but right now we saw Hoskins as just ahead of him.”
The uncapped Sowakula, meanwhile, was the surprise pick in the loose forwards after an eye-catching Super Rugby Pacific season and joins Savea, Sotutu, captain Sam Cane, Dalton Papalii and Akira Ioane as the squad’s back row cover.
Plumtree reasoned that Sowakula’s ability to create go-forward is what led to his selection as they ultimately could not resist what the Fijian-born 27-year-old can bring to the table at a time when international defences are so constricting.
“We’re really excited about him coming into international rugby,” Plumtree said.
“He’s an experienced campaigner. He’s been around for a little bit. I think this year, particularly, we’ve seen him play more consistently and certainly at the start of Super Rugby, he was unbelievable.
“Just loved what he can bring to a game through his power. The fact that in international rugby, momentum is hard to find – especially when defence is so flat.
“Pita Gus is one guy that certainly can dent a [defence] line, if you like. We’re pretty happy with him.”
Sowakula’s selection came at the expense of both Grace and Jacobson, both of whom have been part of previous All Blacks squads.
Jacobson was a part of the All Blacks squad in 2021 and featured in 10 tests during the season, including a start at No 8 against the Springboks on the Gold Coast.
Plumtree said that it was “tough” to leave Jacobson out, but reaffirmed that the door is open for a return should the chance arise.
“Luke’s been good too. The thing with Luke is he can play in three different positions in the loose forwards which makes him pretty valuable,” Plumtree said.
“Obviously we’ve got Ardie, Dalton can do that [play all across the back row]. It was just really the mix of the loose forwards. Luke’s there, only has to be an injury or two and we’d be going to him, I guess.
“Tough to leave Luke out. Playing consistently well, as well. I guess with the loose forwards in this country, there’s always going to be that, isn’t there? There’s always a number of loose forwards [that are in form].
“Look at the No 8s in all five teams, they’ve been excellent this year so pretty tough decisions to make in those areas.”
That sentiment extends to Grace, who played just one test from the bench in 2020 and has been pushing to reclaim his place in the All Blacks mix since.
Crusaders boss Scott Robertson publicly endorsed his young No 8 last week, saying that he is currently “playing like an All Black” after Grace scored his side’s only two tries in their semi-final win over the Chiefs.
However, that wasn’t enough to convince the All Blacks selectors, who, according to Plumtree, simply preferred other options.
“Cully, he’s been with us before, a couple of years ago, and we know where he fits in from a physicality and skills [point-of-view],” Plumtree said.
“I thought all five No 8s in the country have been playing really good footy and Cully’s been one of them, but, again, it’s just a preference thing.
“Again, we’ve got 13 test matches this year and we’ve got some really good loose forwards in this country and unfortunately someone had to miss out.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments