Roger Tuivasa-Sheck needs to be rushed into the All Blacks side immediately, according to Sir John Kirwan, with the 2023 Rugby World Cup creeping closer.
Tuivasa-Sheck, 29, returned to New Zealand at the end of 2021 with the intention of breaking into the All Blacks' plans after having spent his career in rugby league and the NRL.
So far this season, Tuivasa-Sheck's game time for the Blues has been limited, thanks to a shoulder injury against the Chiefs that's kept him out of five matches, before his return off the bench in his side's win over the Crusaders last Friday.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald has nailed his colours to the mast in terms of selecting Tuivasa-Sheck in midfield.
That leaves him competing with the likes of Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Rieko Ioane, David Havili and Quinn Tupaea in the race for a midfield spot.
However, speaking on Sky Sport's The Breakdown on Sunday, former All Blacks winger and Blues coach Sir John was adamant Tuivasa-Sheck needs to be given a chance in the black jersey immediately, with just 18 test matches to go until New Zealand face France in the opening game of the 2023 World Cup.
And with comparisons to another former rugby league convert turned All Blacks World Cup winner, Sir John says he's already seen what he needs to be convinced Tuivasa-Sheck will succeed at test level.
"For me, he is Sonny Bill Williams," Sir John said. "He's come into our game, I think he's got the X-factor.
"I would - and don't get me wrong, I would never say this about the All Black jersey - I would put him in straight away.
"Just because we've only got 18 tests to go. I've seen enough in his two games, with his feet especially."
Comparisons to Williams are obvious, with the pair both having forged reputations in Auckland schoolboy rugby before being drawn across the Tasman to join the NRL after graduating from high school.
Williams himself has already outlined it being a case of when and not if Tuivasa-Sheck makes that next step up.
Fellow Breakdown panellist Joey Wheeler added that Tuivasa-Sheck will benefit from playing alongside a potential future All Blacks teammate in Beauden Barrett.
The pair are yet to start together for the Blues thanks to Barrett's extended pre-season and Tuivasa-Sheck's injury. But with the pair now both fit at the same time, the combination could give All Blacks coach Ian Foster a taste of his potential 10-12 axis.
"Once he gets in that Blues side alongside Beaduen Barrett, I think we're going to see his development just go through the roof," Wheeler said.
"His understanding of the game, the pictures he's going to see. He hasn't played in a long, long time - 15s - and we saw the promise, it's [about] developing that other stuff."
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