Parsons dismisses Wilson’s Sotutu claims
ROOKIE Wallabies loose forward Harry Wilson has made no secret of how he is relishing the prospect of facing off against fellow international newbie Hoskins Sotutu in the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series and Rugby Championship.
The two uncapped youngsters are poised to make their Test debuts over the coming weeks, with Sotutu called up by the All Blacks after standing out for the Blues, while the impressive Wilson is currently quarantining with the Wallabies in Christchurch following a superb campaign with the Reds.
Prior to his side’s departure for New Zealand last week ahead of next Sunday’s Bledisloe Cup opener in Wellington, Wilson singled out Sotutu as a member of the All Blacks that had caught his eye throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa.
“Being a No. 8, I really enjoyed watching Hoskins Sotutu play this season,” the 20-year-old told media last Tuesday.
“I thought he was superb. It was just really cool watching him play, being another young No. 8, I guess gave me confidence seeing how well he could play at his age, so he’s one person I’ve enjoyed playing.
“(He’s) a player I’d love to play against because I could see him being one of the best No. 8s in the world pretty quickly.”
His praise of Sotutu, however, has been bluntly dismissed as mind games by former two-Test All Blacks hooker and Sotutu’s Blues teammate James Parsons.
Speaking to the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Parsons called Wilson’s assessment of Sotutu as a “great ploy” to “soften” the ABs leading into the first trans-Tasman Test on October 11.
“I love how he’s doing the softening up in the media already,” Parsons said of Wilson’s comments. “It’s a good approach.”
The 33-year-old veteran suggested he doesn’t believe Wilson’s comments are as genuine as he intended them to be, adding: “He was saying Hoskins Sotutu could be the best No. 8 in the world. Great ploy. He doesn’t think it. It’s a great ploy.”