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Boks Office: Thoroughbred Savea has workhorses to thank for insane figures

Ardie Savea of New Zealand celebrates scoring his team's second try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between Ireland and New Zealand at Stade de France on October 14, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

After easing his way into the year with a couple of below-par performances by his own very high standards in the Test series against England, Ardie Savea is now showing the sort of form that saw him crowned the best player on the planet in 2023.

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The rampaging No.8 has been the All Blacks’ standout performer in two of their last three Tests, scoring 9/10 in the 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego and in the 42-10 win over Argentina. Even in the 38-30 defeat the week before, Savea was one of the few players to truly carry the fight to Los Pumas.

Impressively, he’s averaging more tries, carries and defenders beaten per 80 minutes on the park this year than last, and his tackle success rate has also shot up. England’s Ben Earl is his only peer when it comes to carries and defenders beaten in 2024.

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      At Eden Park, Savea scored New Zealand’s second try – and his 27th in Test rugby – as they stretched their remarkable unbeaten record at the Auckland citadel to 50 matches. In doing so, he equalled Richie McCaw’s record for most tries by an All Blacks forward in the process.

      New Zealand have fielded three different back row combinations to date in 2024, but Savea has been a virtual ever-present presence at the back of the pack throughout the five matches, the All Blacks talisman only missing the last 25 minutes of the Fiji game.

      Ardie Savea stats
      Reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea, has hit another hot run of form.

      Speaking on the latest episode of Boks Office ahead of the crunch Rugby Championship showdown with the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg on August 31st, former South African flanker Schalk Burger believes the key to Savea’s form has been the work rate of the two players either side of him.

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      While Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson have been tried at blindside, Ethan Blackadder has worn the number six jersey in the last two Tests alongside Dalton Papali’i at seven and Savea at eight.

      “I like what they have done with the loose forwards, with Ethan Blackadder as a workhorse for them, the same with Papali’I; what that does for them is it frees up Savea so Savea can sort of roam and carry in unusual places and chase box kicks and stuff, where the other two guys have a proper work ethic,” stated Burger,

      While Savea’s name was prominent in discussions about the biggest threats posed by the All Blacks, Burger flagged a different player as the one the Springboks will have to stop if they are to maintain their winning run in The Rugby Championship.

      Responding to Jean de Villiers’ comment that Jordie Barrett is “just so solid”, Burger said: “I think biggest key (player), for me, is Jordie.”

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      Comments

      14 Comments
      C
      CR 225 days ago

      PSDT vs Papalii , Jasper Wiese vs Savea, Kolisi vs Blackadder. Going to be epic.

      S
      SC 225 days ago

      I think you may see Robertson select Barrett at 6 and either Blackadder or Papalii at 7. The only certainty is Ardie Savea at 8.

      S
      SC 225 days ago

      It’s funny how South African commentators consistently have more respect for the All Blacks’ loose forward trio than Kiwis.


      Maybe without the fanatical parochialism that has divided NZ Rugby since Ian Foster’s appointment, which has continued under Scott Robertson, a truly neutral observer can see that quality performances by both Dalton Papalii and Ethan Blackadder.

      C
      Chiefs Mana 225 days ago

      Let’s put things in context a wee bit, that same loose forward trio got genuinely dominated the week prior but yes, they worked really well together on Sat (Kremer at lock was a terrible idea).


      Savea needs players that get through donkey work so that he can flourish, why him and Cane worked well together. Still think there’s too many similarities between Blackadder and Papalii but happy to eat my words if they impress in the republic. Blackadder was fantastic on Sat night but I’m unconvinced he’s our future 6, perhaps give him a run at 7 in the weeks after SA.

      F
      Forward pass 225 days ago

      Its funnier how some seem to think they speak for Kiwi's yet continue on with their BS opinion anyway.

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      Comments on RugbyPass

      I
      IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

      Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


      “The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

      Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

      So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


      “I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

      I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

      Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


      “I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

      So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


      “lol u really need to chill out”

      Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

      171 Go to comments
      f
      fl 4 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

      Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


      “The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

      Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


      To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


      I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


      I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


      I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


      “Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

      lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

      171 Go to comments
      I
      IkeaBoy 5 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


      His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


      How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


      Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


      His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


      Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


      Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


      Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

      171 Go to comments
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