Team of the week: Hotham shows his potential
Cam Roigard’s potentially serious knee injury cast a big shadow over the weekend.
If the halfback is ruled out of rugby for a significant period of time, it’ll be a blow for the All Blacks as well as the Hurricanes: the first test of the year, against England, is just four months away.
Scott Robertson will be hoping for a positive update on Roigard this week, but he’ll also have a contingency plan in place.
The Blues’ Finlay Christie and the Hurricanes’ TJ Perenara would be solid bets to make the All Blacks squad, given their experience, but the loss of Roigard would open the door for someone else.
Folau Fakatava, Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham spring to mind as obvious candidates, although all three have question marks relating to decision-making, form and lack of experience.
However, Hotham was excellent for the Crusaders against the Chiefs on Friday, providing the best example yet of his potential.
As a result, he lands the No 9 jersey in Stuff’s team of the week.
15 Ruben Love (Hurricanes): The All Blacks will have taken note of his rock solid defensive work, which included stopping Timoci Tavatavanawai in full flight.
14 Mark Tele’a (Blues): The All Black was back to his best against Moana Pasifika, grabbing a hat-trick of tries.
13 Rieko Ioane (Blues): Added in some accurate defence and strong counterrucking to complement his attacking ability.
12 Bryce Heem (Blues): The Mr Fixit of the Blues backline has certainly made a home for himself in the No 12 jersey.
11 Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders): A
brilliant return to Super Rugby for the 33-year-old winger, who showed all his experience against the Chiefs.
10 Stephen Perofeta (Blues): Ran for more than 100 metres and nailed all six conversion attempts before his injury.
9 Noah Hotham (Crusaders): Two try assists against the Chiefs highlighted a breakout game on attack and defence.
8 Hoskins Sotutu (Blues): Another big performance against Moana Pasifika as he continues to put pressure on the All Blacks selectors.
7 Peter Lakai (Hurricanes): Another big performance to show why not even Du’Plessis Kirifi can get a guaranteed start.
6 Brad Shields (Hurricanes): Clark Laidlaw paid tribute to lineout coach Bryn Evans after the game, and Shields put enormous pressure on the Highlanders throw.
5 Jamie Hannah (Crusaders): Looks like a choirboy, but plays with the same fearless spirit as Norm Maxwell. Give him a couple of years and the sky is the limit.
4 Caleb Delany (Hurricanes): The 24-year has a proper engine. He should be looked at as a potential All Blacks No 6.
3 Marcel Renata (Blues): A big shift from the unheralded prop, who is stepping up after the exit of Nepo Laulala.
2 George Bell (Crusaders): Lineout work has come under scrutiny, but Bell’s workrate and athleticism is already elite and his brilliant try against the Chiefs had been coming.
1 Xavier Numia (Hurricanes): The form loosehead in the competition so far continued to impress on defence and with ball-in-hand.