'A step too far for him': Scott Robertson gives Hoskins Sotutu update

Another major blow for Super Rugby Pacific MVP Hoskins Sotutu was dealt this week as the No. 8 was ruled out of the All Blacks XV tour - and potentially an All Blacks recall.

Having missed selection for not just the All Blacks but All Blacks XV in 2023, Sotutu produced a firey bounce-back Super Rugby campaign in 2024, proving to be the best player on the competition's best team and demanding national selectors reconsider him.

However, those selectors had other ideas. For the 2024 campaign's opening series against England, a hard-edged, defence-minded back row unit that overlooked Sotutu's X-factor in favour of the nitty-gritty exponents was unveiled. When it came time for The Rugby Championship squad, the same headline omission was registered.

Fast forward to the Northern Tour squad, and the prognosis was slightly more promising for Sotutu. While he again missed selection in the top squad, his inclusion in the All Blacks XV offered Sotutu a crucial opportunity to perform on the international stage once again and prove himself ready.

Then, a slew of All Blacks loose forward injuries were revealed, meaning the team would require extra cover, opening the door for Sotutu to step back into the All Blacks environment.

However, news broke on Wednesday that Sotutu would miss his first crack at a black jersey in 48 months thanks to a knee injury, news that Scott Robertson expanded on for media in Auckland.

"We were going to bring Hoskins in, but he's injured," the coach revealed, discussing plans for a select few members of the All Blacks XV team to join the All Blacks in Tokyo, training for the Japan Test.

"We've considered it over the last couple of days, with his knee, with the scans, he won't come.

"So, we're going to make a call on the next loose forward over the next week or two that will come up. But, one of those locks can cover six as well, we believe, and then there's one left.

"It's great to have Josh Lord come in and get around the group and the environment, he played incredibly well for Taranaki. So, that's the angle we've taken."

With three loose forwards injured ahead of the tour - Dalton Papali'i, Luke Jacobson and Ethan Blackadder - the team have brought in Peter Lakai as well as Lord to help cover. Interestingly, Robertson's analysis reveals the team are still open to playing a lock - presumably Tupou Vaa'i - at blindside.

Now that Sotutu is unavailable, it appears another All Blacks XV member will be called upon as additional cover.

Expanding on the nature of the Blues star's injury, Robertson said it's been lingering over the past month.

"He's been injured for the last four weeks, he's been playing on the knee. So, both medical groups, Counties (Manukau) and the All Blacks medical crew got together and they decided to get through this tour is probably a step too far for him.

"He's looking at his options, if he rests it or gets surgery."

With speculation swirling over the 26-year-old's future, given his eligibility for both England and Fiji, Robertson was asked whether he'd addressed Sotutu's future directly.

"I haven't had a conversation with him in that regard, I just know he's contracted to New Zealand Rugby until 2026, and, if he was fit he would have come away."