Noah Hotham has been called up by the All Blacks in South Africa.
1News understands that halfback Hotham, who started for Tasman in their 50-35 win over Counties in Pukekohe last night, has been told to get ready to join the team in Johannesburg due to worries over Cam Roigard's fitness.
The news was confirmed by the All Blacks this morning. A spokeswoman added that prop Ollie Norris would be returning home due to a knee injury. Norris will be replaced.
Hotham was considered unlucky to miss out on the initial 44-man squad for the Greatest Rivalry tour after the selectors decided to take only three halfbacks – Roigard, Cortez Ratima and Kyle Preston.
But Roigard’s calf issue, which resulted in him being a late withdrawal before the Sharks match in Durban last week, has resulted in a recall for the 23-year-old Hotham, who was preferred as a starting No.9 ahead of Preston at the Crusaders this season.
Head coach Dave Rennie said after his team’s 50-19 victory over the Bulls in Pretoria yesterday that he expected Roigard to be available for the first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Sunday morning NZT, but that he would have to get through a full training week.
That also applied to star outside back Will Jordan (back issue), who, like Roigard, has yet to play a game for the All Blacks on tour.
“Both Will and Cam got through a bit of training yesterday,” Rennie said. “We’re pretty confident they’re going to be right for next week… [but] we want them to have a full week of training. They’re certainly ticking enough boxes.”
Rennie said he was less confident in fullback Damian McKenzie (ankle) being available.
Should Roigard be ruled out of the first Test, Ratima will likely start, with Preston on the bench, but the latter has impressed on tour and appears to be closing the gap on his Chiefs rival.
Outside back Leroy Carter also has potential to cover halfback – he has been seen training there in South Africa and also in New Zealand during last month’s Nations Championship campaign – but the selectors clearly feel a specialist is required.
For Hotham it will be a vindication of his ability and form and he did not hide is disappointment at missing out on the initial squad.
“It’s been frustrating, but I could only control what I did at Super Rugby and I put my best foot forward, I thought, and did everything I could,” Hotham told Newstalk ZB late last month.
“I’m disappointed with the selection of ABs, but that’s footy. I guess it’s just part of the journey and every good sailor has to go through some rough seas before they get to the smooth ones.”
Hotham has played only three Tests since making his debut against Fiji in San Diego in 2024 due to injuries. His last Test appearance came in the record thrashing by the Boks in Wellington last year.
So far, hooker George Bell, centre Billy Proctor, wing Caleb Clarke and prop Norris have left the tour due to injury, with Bradley Slater, Richie Mo’unga and now Hotham called in. The identity of Norris' replacement has yet to be confirmed.
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