Crusaders scrum-half Noah Hotham has spoken publicly about his exclusion from the All Blacks' 44-man squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa, describing the snub as "frustrating" despite what he felt was a strong Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Hotham was widely expected to join Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima and Kyle Preston as a fourth number nine in the touring group. Instead, Dave Rennie opted to use the 10 additional spots allocated for the South African leg on other positions, with winger Leroy Carter earmarked as emergency cover at nine.
The 23-year-old, who carries three Test caps, was Christchurch's first-choice nine ahead of Preston throughout Super Rugby Pacific. "I could only control what I did at Super Rugby and I put my best foot forward, I thought, and did everything I could," he told Newstalk ZB. "I'm disappointed with the selection of ABs, but that's footy."
Hotham is now focused on Tasman in the NPC, starting their 19-15 win over North Harbour in Nelson on Friday, and is positioning himself as an available injury replacement should Rennie need to call on him during the tour. "It's a case of staying ready and if I do get an opportunity or when I get an opportunity to really nail it."
The All Blacks open the tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on August 7, with three Tests against the Springboks scheduled for Johannesburg (twice) and Cape Town before a fourth and final Test in Baltimore on September 12.