All Blacks Sevens playmaker whose name is now next to Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen
Tepaea Cook-Savage joined the company of some illustrious rugby greats in April.
The All Blacks Sevens playmaker won the Leslie Williams Trophy for ‘best and fairest’ player at the Hong Kong Sevens.
The accolade is named after an Englishman who was a stalwart for the Hong Kong Football Club and represented Hong Kong at the international senior level. In 1979 Williams passed away of a heart attack in New Zealand. He was 45 years old.
Williams award (initiated in 1980) was a tribute to his outstanding service to local rugby and his commitment to fair play. David Campese (1988), Eric Rush (1991), Waisale Serevi (1989, 90, 98), Jonah Lomu (1995), Christian Cullen (1996), and Karl Te Nanna (2000, 01) are among those to receive the accolade.
“It was good, the last one in the old stadium,” Cook-Savage reflected with classic Kiwi modesty to RugbyPass.
“We wanted to make the most of it. We had one day off and that was the day before the tournament. I just chilled in my room with the air con on. Hong Kong is a crazy city, bro.”
The All Black Sevens secured their first victory of the 2023-24 SVNS series foiling France 10-7 in the Cup final. What changed following a disastrous 10th-place finish in Los Angeles in March?
“Not a lot to be honest. We were only losing by a few points in LA. We were only winning by small margins in Hong Kong. We just stuck at it, and took every opportunity,” Cook-Savage responded.
Before success against France, New Zealand enjoyed narrow escapes against Great Britain (12-7), USA (12-7), and Fiji (19-12).
With two minutes remaining against Great Britain, New Zealand poached a turnover on halfway and Cook-Savage weaved past three defenders and scampered free. He scored another try in the 26-7 win over Australia in the semifinal.
In the absence of Akuila Rokolisoa, Cook-Savage has become an integral playmaker for the All Blacks Sevens.
“My job is to make my tackles, create opportunities to free up other boys, and score points,” he said.
Cook-Savage debuted for the All Blacks Sevens in Cape Town in 2022. The following month he signed a two-year contract.
In 2023 he was part of winning tournaments in Hong Kong and Singapore as New Zealand captured overall SVNS honours for the 14th time.
“I was a bit of a troublemaker,” Cook-Savage admits looking back on his upbringing in Kaitaia, 160 km northwest of Whangarei.
One of eight siblings all he wanted to do was “crack footy” but boredom and “typical dumb stuff,” threatened to derail that ambition.
Detective Eddie Evans is a respected rugby coach in Kaitaia. He provided Cook-Savage with a life-changing opportunity when the restless teen was 15.
“I got an opportunity to go to St Paul’s Collegiate and do my last three years of high school in Hamilton. Eddie knew people down there,” Cook-Savage explained.
“St Paul’s was massive for me. I got my Level 3. I got to play in CNI which we won my last two years. So many people helped me, too many to thank, it was mean.”
The Central North Island (CNI) competition started in 2012. Ten schools play for the Taine Randell Cup. Randell was an Otago and All Blacks captain who thrived at Lindisfarne College (1987-1991).
In the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, seven of the 23 All Blacks that took the field were from CNI schools, the most of any competition in New Zealand.
Cook-Savage was contracted to the Waikato Academy from St Paul’s and debuted for the province in their centenary season (2021) where they won the NPC Premiership for the first time since 2006.
In 2023 Cook-Savage was Waikato’s leading points scorer and helped the ‘Mooloos’ topple Auckland (27-12), Canterbury (37-35), and Otago (47-7) in successive matches after an unsettled start. The 2024 Rugby Almanack reported:
“Te Paea Cook-Savage was the Mr. Fixit, wearing four jersey numbers in the backline, including first-five against Auckland, when he even managed a drop goal. It was the only drop goal in the whole NPC.”
Professional rugby isn’t the only carrot Cook-Savage secured in Hamilton. He met Chiefs Manawa flanker Mia Anderson at Waikato University.
“She didn’t believe me; I was actually at Uni, aye. It was honestly random when we were in the same class. I kept following her she was like, ‘Are you supposed to be here,’” Cook-Savage laughed.
Anderson scored a try in the Super Rugby Aupiki final, ranked ninth for the most tackles in the overall tourney, and is on an interim contract as injury cover for the Black Ferns. The couple have a son named Kairewa.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ahh too many OK 7’s out there at the moment, would have loved to have Harmon (and Boshier from Panasonic) included on that list (although I don’t know what I’m looking at with those stats!). I would love to see another 7 come through like Cane (who VdF has molded off), who was a real attacking machine before his neck injury and inability to turn his head/upper body to pass or catch properly forced his style to change. No sure McReight is it, he looks more like a canny McCaw than the blasters Hooper and Cane were. The real issue is what use can Schmidt mold out of his ability and skills in just two short seasons. I think Cale could do a lot of the more skillful stuff. McReight is probably best to knuckle down and do the core duties a modern day Cane performs for the other two loosies (if he’s the best Schmidt has to play with at 7).
40 Go to commentsI’ve little doubt that England is comfortably the No 1 team and not only beat other teams but beat them easily. Not so sure about France. They should be No 2 after winning 3 of last 4 matches against NZ and only a straightforward missed kick prevented it from being 4 out of 4. However, then they inexplicably lost to Canada and Wallaroos in WXV. I thought the NZ match was their “cup final” and they took the others lightly, but they were not particularly impressive in 6N except in flashes. I think they have stood still whilst Canada and England have moved forward but I don't think Canada has the depth and their team is ageing. I agree NZ not moving forward. What will be interesting is how the Wallaroos fare against NZ and then again in their September match against Ireland and then in WXV2 against other 6N teams. I was surprised they lost to USA.
3 Go to commentsI don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
44 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
2 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
2 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
44 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
40 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
3 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
44 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
40 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
10 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
44 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to comments