Young Chiefs forward Sititi touted for All Blacks call-up

English Woman's Journal - Young Chiefs forward Sititi touted for All Blacks call-up

SPORTS 15.06.2024

Young Chiefs forward Sititi touted for All Blacks call-up / Photo: Grant Down - AFP

The son of former Samoan captain Semo Sititi is being endorsed as a New Zealand Test forward following his match-winning deeds for Super Rugby finalists the Waikato Chiefs.

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Wallace Sititi, 21, was the stand-out figure in the 30-19 semi-final upset of the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday, sending the Chiefs into next week's championship decider against the Auckland Blues.

The dynamic No.8, in his maiden Super Rugby season, was forceful on defence and made a succession of important breaks with ball in hand.

His 60-metre bust in the second-half set up their third and final try for winger Daniel Rona, curtailing a Hurricanes fightback.

It was another step-up in what has been a breakthrough campaign and left Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan in no doubt Sititi should be considered for the All Blacks' two-Test home series against England starting on July 6.

"I thought he was immense, he had a number of involvements in big plays. He's got a massive future," said McMillan, who described the match as an All Blacks trial.

"A number of our guys would be putting their names in pencil if not ink. You'd have to think he (Sititi) is as good a chance as anybody.

"He's young and still got a lot to learn but some people just have something about them that catches the eye and he's one of them."

New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson will name his Test squad after the final at Eden Park.

Sititi will go head-to-head with 14-Test Blues loose forward Hoskins Sotutu, whose 12 tries this season equals the competition record for a forward and has him touted for an international recall.

Semo Sititi played 59 Tests -- the third most for Samoa -- and his club career began at the Hurricanes before stints at clubs in Britain and Japan through the 2000s.

Meanwhile, McMillan confirmed hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho will miss the final after suffering a lower leg injury which places the 30-Test veteran in doubt for the England series.

L.MacDonald--EWJ

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