Two Cents: Are All Blacks capping players to keep them from countries?

Pita Gus Sowakula is leaving New Zealand for France after Super Rugby Pacific 2023. Two Cents Rugby has taken a deep dive at the 35 players capped by New Zealander rugby in the last five years.

Sowakula has played less time for the All Blacks than any other player in the last five years. Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angus Ta‘avao, Tyrel Lomax and George Bower are the most successful players to convert a debut into an All Black career. Samisoni Taukei”aho has 21 caps. Some players like Shannon Frizell have gone on to make regular All blacks starts. Luke Jacobson, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Evans and Jackson Hemopo have had stints in black interrupted by injury. Fiji Rugby “This is not poaching or hoarding, players move to another country and opportunities arise. Plenty of players get only a few caps for ABs, that is the quality and depth that they have‚

Clermont are getting a top player. He will be eligible for New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup. Clermont are also getting one heck of a player, but he will probably be on the list of players who never managed more than a few caps.