Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula was one of the stand out players over the early rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, with his form pushing his name into All Blacks contention.
With the Chiefs going through the ups-and-downs of the season losing to the Crusaders and Brumbies at home, Sowakula’s hype died down a little bit as a potential All Blacks bolter.
Speaking on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe believed there should still be some hype for Sowakula whose style as a ball-running No 8 ‘hasn’t been seen in a long time’.
“I think there should be [hype], he’s playing well week after week for the Chiefs,” O’Keeffe told The Breakdown panel.
“They are going to be a big team in the playoffs and he is a part of that, the way that he can carry that ball off the scrum.
“I haven’t seen a No 8 do it in his style for a long time.
“He still impresses me.”
Former All Black wing John Kirwan said that Sowakula’s hot form actually has had a positive impact on Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, who made his All Black debut two seasons ago on the back of an outstanding Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
The 23-year-old played in the first three Bledisloe tests in 2020 and both tests against Argentina, but in 2021 his standing within the side dropped and he featured in five of the 13 tests, with starts against Fiji at home, and Argentina, USA and Italy away.
Kirwan said he would pick both players in the All Blacks squad, as Sowakula brings something ‘a little bit different’ that is currently missing from the team.
“I think his form has been very good for Hoskins Sotutu, who has actually picked up his game in the last five weeks. I’m sure they will be in competition.
“I would take both. I think Pita Gus Sowakula gives us something a little bit different.
“Like I said, I think Hoskins has got back to the form he was in when he was picked a couple of years ago. He’s hitting guys, he’s working hard over the ball, he’s carrying hard.
“But Pita just gives us something a little bit different. You’d like to bring him on late in a test match.”
Former All Black Mils Muliaina said that the trajectory of both candidates this season has been completely different but also backed Sowakula to be considered on the basis that he brings something that is missing from the All Blacks.
“He’s really matured. That’s what we’ve really seen,” Muliaina said.
“He’s probably plateaued a little bit, and every guy is sort of different.
“Hoskins has come in and taken his time to get the form he has been at, Pita Gus came out with a hiss and a roar and all of a sudden just plateaued a bit and then has come back into form.
“I think when you look at the All Blacks, he brings something really different. He ball carries, he brings excitement, he jumps over players, he throws balls around the corner, so I think he is definitely in the conversation.
Both players would be in competition with Ardie Savea for the No 8 jersey, who is the preferred option when captain Sam Cane plays at openside.
Luke Jacobson from the Chiefs was also used at No 8 in 2021 as a versatile backrower who can cover multiple positions.
Jacobson has pushed Sowakula into the six jersey at the Chiefs in recent weeks which has contributed to less attention for the Fijian-born backrower.
