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'He looks like a beast': Ardie Savea names the one player he'd sign for the Hurricanes
All Blacks star Ardie Savea has listed four of the most promising youngsters coming through the ranks at the Hurricanes, and named the one player he would sign for the franchise.
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Speaking on the What A Lad podcast, hosted by ex-Hurricanes fullback James Marshall, Savea spoke highly of the 2022 Hurricanes squad, which was revealed last month ahead of next year’s inaugural edition of Super Rugby Pacific.
The squad, led by head coach Jason Holland, features six current All Blacks in the form of Savea, Jordie Barrett, the returning TJ Perenara, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax.
The Wellington-based franchise also boasts former internationals Julian Savea and Peter Umaga-Jensen, as well as two new signings Owen Franks and Dominic Bird, both of whom have been capped by the All Blacks.
However, Savea told What A Lad that it is his side’s “freakish” young talent that excites him the most heading into next season.
“A mixture of older, senior players, then you have a little bit of experienced players and then we’ve got some mean as young talent coming through,” the 59-test loose forward said.
“Honestly, there’s some freakish guys, fast, strong. It’s pretty nerve-racking to see. Keeps everyone on their toes.”
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When asked which youngsters stand out the most from the current crop of Hurricanes, Savea pinpointed fellow loose forwards Devan Flanders and Braydon Iose, playmaker Ruben Love and midfielder Billy Proctor as the picks of the bunch.
“There’s a few. Just off the top of my head, Devan Flanders, he’s a beast. Braydon Iose from Manawatu, the likes of Ruben Love, those young brothers coming through, that’s pretty awesome,” Savea, who captained the Hurricanes this year, said.
“Those three and Billy Procs, unsung hero. Quiet dude, but just, like I said, goes about his mahi [work], and I love that.”
While Savea remains enthusiastic about the personnel within the Hurricanes roster, he didn’t shy from naming Fiji star Josua Tuisova as the one player in international rugby he would like to sign for the franchise.
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Tuisova has forged a name for himself as one of the most powerful and exciting players in the sport, but Savea admitted that he has only seen highlights of the barnstorming Lyon flyer.
An All Blacks star has revealed he is interested in playing Major League Rugby should the competition continue to build traction over the coming years. #AllBlacks #MajorLeagueRugby #MLR https://t.co/NaW6MUXqod
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 12, 2021
Nevertheless, an anecdote shared to him by older brother Julian from his time as Tuisova’s teammate at Toulon between 2018 and 2019 has proven to be enough to convince Savea that the 2016 Olympic gold medallist would be a quality signing by the Hurricanes.
“I’d go, just because I’ve seen his highlights, and he looks like a beast, Josh Tuisova,” Savea told What A Lad when asked which player he would sign for the Hurricanes.
“I’ve never seen him before, but obviously Bus [Julian Savea] played with him, and when I hear Bus say, ‘He’s the real Bus’, it must mean something.”
Savea and the Hurricanes will open their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Waratahs at a yet-to-be-determined venue in New South Wales on February 18.
Listen to Ardie Savea’s interview on the What A Lad podcast below:
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments