Blues chase Pumas star to round out squad
The Blues are chasing Pumas midfielder Santiago Chocobares to complete their 2021 Super Rugby squad.
Coach Leon MacDonald’s squad curiously had one spot to fill as the New Zealand Super Rugby squads were revealed yesterday.
Pressed after the announcement on who that player would be MacDonald was cagey, saying: “We’re doing the final negotiations with that player so hopefully we’ll be able to confirm that and that will be a midfielder.”
The Herald understands 21-yearold Chocobares, the man with arguably the best last name in the game who spent time with the Auckland Rugby Union academy and has since played two tests for the Pumas this year, is the Blues’ intended target.
MacDonald’s confirmed squad features three midfielders — TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane and Tanielu Tele’a, leaving one spot to fill.
Last year the Blues lured former
I was pretty relentless with Dan. He would have been great. Leon MacDonald, Blues coach
England international Joe Marchant on a one-season exchange from Harlequins, and it seems they’re again intent on signing another foreign player, with New Zealand’s available midfield talent failing to prove they are ready to make the step up.
With the Jaguares left out in the cold from Super Rugby and instead expected to compete in the Super Liga Americana de Rugby next year, many Argentine-based players are seeking contracts abroad.
Chocobares made his test debut at second five-eighth in the Pumas’ historic upset win over the All Blacks in Sydney last month and he started against the Wallabies the next week.
His silky skills would be a good fit for the Blues but he will be required to complete two weeks quarantine before joining the squad early next year.
New Zealand Rugby also needs to sign off any foreign players, with only one permitted in each position across the five franchises.
MacDonald, meanwhile, remains hopeful of convincing All Blacks great Dan Carter to help the Blues playmakers next season after being unable to persuade the 38-year-old to return in a playing capacity.
“I was pretty relentless with Dan,” MacDonald said. “He would have been great because he would have given us that experience that we’ve lost with Beauden Barrett going around preparation. He’s just down the road so I’m hoping we see him around even if it’s just with the kickers having some sort of input.”
The Blues’ squad includes 12 current or former All Blacks and seven rookies.
Strong performances in 2020 led to Alex Hodgman, Akira Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Hoskins Sotutu progressing to the All Blacks for the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations campaign to join fellow Blues players Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu, Dalton Papalii, Rieko Ioane and newly signed Nepo Laulala.
The rookies include sought-after teenage talent Jacob RatumaitavukiKneepkens (Taranaki), Sam Darry (Canterbury), Taine Plumtree (Wellington) and the Auckland quartet of Soane Vikena, AJ Lam, Zarn Sullivan and James Lay.