As the wind goes out of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s sails and his Rugby World Cup dream fades, calls are growing for the Blues to grant him an early release.
RTS has been dogged with injury of late but wasn’t picked by the Blues for their blockbuster clash against the Crusaders even though he was available.
All that is abundantly clear is that Tuivasa-Sheck will leave union for a fairytale return to league with the Warriors in the NRL.
Watch the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. All matches streaming ad free, live and on demand
With little in the way of Super Rugby Pacific game time of late, it’s hard to see how the Blues mid-fielder will get a spot with the All Blacks at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
For that reason alone former All Blacks star John Kirwin believes the Blues should let him go early.
“If Roger feels like he’s not going to make the All Blacks, or he’s not getting the opportunities and he goes back to the Warriors next week, it’s a win-win for everyone,” said Kirwin on The Breakdown.
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“It’s not failure, it just didn’t work. He’s still an All Black, he can take that. He’s had a lot of bad luck, but if he was playing for the Warriors in the next couple of weeks, it’s just a win-win.”
Just three weeks are left in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season while NRL is into its 11th week of 27.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald insisted Tuivasa-Sheck would return from his hand injury but is yet to do so.
Since announcing his departure to the Warriors, the dual-code star has made just one start for the Blues.
An in-form Harry Plummer has been in the No.12 jersey of late with Bryce Heem and AJ Lam the reserves in the Blues’ latest loss to the Crusaders.
Newshub reported New Zealand Rugby hasn’t heard from Tuivasa-Sheck or his management to sound out an early departure and would be “stunned” if he did seek one out.
The Blues will face the Reds in round 13 off the back of the Queenslanders beating the Chiefs.
Whether the Blues can afford to play a seemingly out of form Tuivasa-Sheck is a big question too.
The Auckland-based side will go head-to-head with the Hurricanes and then the Highlanders in the final two rounds of 2023 before the finals.
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