Rugby World UK – July 2019

100 Best Players

15

ARDIE

SAVEA

35

A

RDIE SAVEA is in the form
of his life, writes Liam
Napier. Heck, he has a
compelling case to be
considered world rugby’s form talent.
Usually such status is reserved for the
glamour fly-halves and slick finishers of
the global game. Yet not a game passes
where Savea’s contributions are not
front and centre, often overshadowing
illustrious Hurricanes and All Blacks.
Several aspects of Savea’s game have
improved dramatically over the past 12
months. Top of that list is his breakdown
work; it’s not just the turnovers he pilfers
but their influence and timing.
When the All Blacks pulled off a
scarcely-believable comeback against
the Springboks in Pretoria last
October, Savea snaffled two
turnovers near the death and then
scored the match-winning try. It
proved to be a pivotal moment.
In that Test, Sam Cane, Savea’s
long-term rival for the revered black
No 7 jersey, broke his neck in a nasty
ruck incident and was sidelined for
the next seven months.
Up to that point, Savea had grown
accustomed to wearing jersey No 20

for the All Blacks – he had made 24

replacement appearances in 31 Tests.

His explosive power was deemed more

valuable coming off the bench to finish

the job after Cane performed the

destructive defensive duties.

With Cane out, the door opened for

Savea to demonstrate his talents for

prolonged periods. Those had long been

on display for the Hurricanes but Test

rugby is a different beast, particularly

from a physicality perspective.

Savea started the remaining headline

Tests of 2018 – Australia, England,

Ireland and Italy, sitting out only the

Japanese assignment used to give

second-tier prospects experience.

During that time it quickly became

apparent that Savea was beginning

to feel as though he belonged. As

much as players say they are happy

to contribute to their respective teams

in any way, everyone wants to start.

Finally Savea had that chance. And he

grabbed it. In the space of two months,

he moved from All Blacks impact player

to bona fide world-class openside.

This increased game time and

responsibility convinced Savea to back

out of a lucrative contract offer from

French club Pau. Brother Julian had

already upped sticks to join Toulon and,

though he would never admit as much

publicly, Ardie must have been frustrated

with playing second fiddle to Cane.

Instead, he returned home at the end of

last year to sign a two-year extension.

At 25, Savea is in the prime of his

career. This season his form has gone

to another level, to the point he could

be New Zealand’s premier openside

flanker and the second-best No 8

behind All Blacks captain Kieran Read.

His speed off the back of the scrum

is a thing of beauty, blitzing opposing

loose forwards without fail.

With Cane making his return, their

rivalry is set to reignite but Savea’s

recent peerless form puts him in pole

position – and there is a chance the All

Blacks may employ them in tandem.

Savea is unlike any other – a unique

blend of power and pace moulded into

a non-stop combat weapon.

Hurricanes and All Blacks half-back

TJ Perenara summed Savea up best

when describing him simply as a “freak”.

“He can do some things on the field

that no one else can do. His ball into

contact, his leg drive post-contact, it’s

probably not what people would say a

traditional seven does,” Perenara says.

“He’s out there making tackles, he

gets turnovers, he hits rucks like any

other seven in the world, but what he

does on top of that I think is better than

anyone else in the world.

“The way that he can impact and

change a game for us, he’s been playing

that style of footy for us for a long time

but it’s being noticed more now. People

are talking about it a little bit more.”

Indeed they are. Now more than

ever, Savea is impossible to ignore.

Age 25 (14 October 1993) Position Back-row

Corner stop Ardie Savea shows his athleticism with this try for the Hurricanes against the Highlanders