Jeff Wilson on why Ardie Savea must fill All Blacks bench role

I think Savea is overrated, Wilson is right.

Or it could be Sititi.

A strange idea, but anyway… Ardie Savea has been the target of this kind of thinking ever since he joined the All Blacks. I remember that his critics only saw him as an impact player back in 2018, 2019, and so on.

He has been the most consistent player for the All Blacks for years now… for seven years (2019–2025). Putting him on the bench is, in a way, an insult to what he has done on the field over all those years.

ASAV will be the next captain, and that’s a good thing. And we need to find two complementary players alongside him: Flanders and Lakai. Sititi and Parker can be excellent bench options.

That said, occasionally seeing Ardie on the bench, like other senior players in the squad, could possibly be a good idea.

What is also certain is that the impact of the bench really needs to be improved—something Scott Robertson and his staff have never truly managed to do. Because, yes, international matches are almost always won or lost in the second half.

The only reason you would do this is if his motor starts running out. If he can play a full game and still be influential in the 80th minute then that’s the obvious choice.

The 6-2 bench split is also obvious and it was bordering on dereliction of duty for Razor not to try this out. Carrying a specialist left wing on the bench is for some reason more important than a forward who has 10x the involvement in every game.

The 6-2 bench split is no substitute for good strategy and execution though. The main problem the All Blacks have faced over the past couple of years is doing the wrong thing at the wrong time and having no ability whatsoever to counter attack. If those things remain true it doesn’t really matter what the make up of the bench is.

No point in putting the ALL BLACKS’ Captain on the Bench.

well dont know go with a prop who can play either side hooker lockflanker half back love barret or mckenzieand someone who can play centre 2nd 5 and wing

Damn this guy cracked Rassie’s 2018 code, give him a beer

Sometimes it should be Ardie on bench sometimes it should be Wallace sometimes it should be Cody sometimes it should be Samisoni sometimes it should be Tupou V sometimes Scootet and so on and so on …funny tho JK suggested Ardie on bench couple years back on breakdown got laughed off set

Tamaiti got folded last season he's not strong enough for his size and Aumua is better than Taukeiaho, he was massive vs poms in 2024 and throwing was on too.

Love it, everyone following the Springboks recipe.

We don’t need a 6-2 split. Almost every team we’ve beaten in the past two years went with one, and lost. It doesn’t add the impact many think it does. And why would you want a playmaker like Christie to come on and slow down the game? You need pace in the last twenty, in which case Hotham is your man.

I like the thought process. Thats a powerful bench. Would like to see the starting bench to see how the spread of mass works. Curious too about how he would use this bench. I dont know that it is the last 20 thats key. If the Bok game in Wellington, the Autumn series and the 6N is anything to go by - the key period for momentum is between minute 30 and minute 65. It seems teams are playing a super high intensity first 25-30 minutes and the team that can keep accelerator down from minute 30 through to 65 will take control of the game. While orthodoxy suggests a 50 / 30 split - reversing that and going 30 / 50 so the ABs get say Sititi or Lakai going mad for the first 30 and Ardie comes on minute 30 could do exactly that while having him on the field in the finish too.