Julian Savea 2.0: The quest for the All Blacks right wing job
The rise of Rieko Ioane as the new wunderkid sensation last year forced a relatively young 26-year old Julian Savea back to Mitre 10 Cup for the first time in a long while.
It seemed his chances of reclaiming his All Blacks 11 jersey decreased with every Ioane performance as the 20-year old upstart continued his breakout tour over Europe. During that Mitre 10 domestic season with the Lions, Savea made a relatively unnoticed position swap into the number 14 jersey.
It was not explained why, but connecting the dots it seemed like Savea would re-establish himself as a right wing and push his way back into international contention that way. Instead of competing with Ioane, he would play on the opposite side.
Now, two games into the Super Rugby season, it is all but certain that is the path he is taking. The Hurricanes have started Savea on the right flank in the first two games of the season, and it is fair to say there are growing pains right now.
This transition is far more difficult than you think. If you ask any player who has predominately been on one side and then moved to the other they will tell you it takes getting used to. The frames of reference for Savea have been flipped, and this can throw out everything.
To understand how important one’s reference points are in elite sport, you need to know the story of Jennie Finch. Finch was a top pitcher in women’s softball who was pitted against some of the top hitters in Major League Baseball in the early 2000’s.
Finch was expected to be smashed out of the park by the home run kings of the MLB. What transpired was Finch struck out every one of them without so much as a base hit.
They figured out that the release point of a softball pitcher is completely foreign to a baseball player who’s complete hand-eye coordination has been wired from a slightly higher pitching point. When Finch under-armed the ball to the best hitters in baseball they could not hit the ball, despite being the best hitters in their sport they couldn’t adjust to a change of about a metre in where the ball was released.
Everything can be said to be ‘foreign’ now for Savea, with everything happening inside his left-eye which has probably been subconsciously dormant for the last eight years. When you’re playing the game at the highest level at that speed, this matters.
You have to expect it will take some time for Savea to get a handle on it, but having already spent a provincial season there will help. In addition to re-wiring his perspective, there will be specific things Savea will be expected to bring to the right wing if he is to be a serious contender for the All Blacks.
The All Blacks right wing
The All Blacks love playing current and ex-fullbacks on the right wing.
Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Cory Jane have all played there in the last five years.
Why’s that? It’s because they are usually great under the high ball, having defused and fielded kicks for years. The kick-contest is such an integral part of the right-wing position for the All Blacks. To have an aerial specialist on one side allows the team to release a beast like Savea on the other.
You will often see the All Blacks shift wide left after regaining possession of a box kick. The defence is scrambling backward and often part of the second line of defence (fullback or winger) has been weakened by the original box kick. It is the perfect time to release a power runner on the left edge with limited cover defence. If they can beat someone one-on-one it’s game over.
It’s not a hard and fast rule, the left wing also competes in the air too but with their best catchers on the right flank, it has become a tactic.
In the first game against the Bulls, the Hurricanes had no contestable kicks for Savea to chase. Ihaia West kicked for touch on every exit play, and TJ Perenara did not attempt any box kicks on that side of the field. He did defuse one of the Bulls box kicks in the second half, but we didn’t see enough.
Against the Jaguares with Barrett back at 10, the Hurricanes put a number of contestable kicks up for Savea to compete for in the first half. On four contestable kicks, he wasn’t able to win back possession on any of them twice failing to get a good jump on the ball. On the other two, he conceded one knock-on but also forced one error.
Not a convincing case for consideration. This will be the biggest area of his game to improve on throughout the season to push for selection.
Defence
Making defensive reads as the opposite wing is where Savea will need time to adjust. On his second tackle attempt of the season, Bulls centre Jesse Kriel bounced to his outside shoulder and set up a try. Despite that lapse, he was adequate throughout the game.
During the second half of the Jaguares match, we noticed that he regularly rushed up and in, coming off his wing to pressure and force the Jaguares back inside.
Savea’s tactic worked successfully against the Jaguares, where the ballplayers did not have the vision to go over the top to use the space. He rushed up-and-in to shut down the passing lane. A cutout pass over the top could leave the Hurricanes vulnerable with Beauden Barrett still coming up from a long way back.
He consistently rushed up and in but against tougher competition, this could be a risk. The Crusaders especially, are one of the best teams at beating teams on the edge and Jack Goodhue will have no problem getting the ball over Savea if he continues to jam in.
The Jaguares almost scored on this play if not for a basic handling error with the line begging.
A number of these decisions to rush in where based on being outnumbered, but he often looked to make a play on the ball and not the man. Against superior competition, he may have to play more passively or look to make a tackle instead of looking for an intercept.
Parking the Bus?
Through one and half games, Savea was hardly seen in attack either. A below-par team performance against the Bulls severely limited his chances of making an impact, finishing with only 18 running metres on four carries.
In the first 40 minutes against the Jaguares, he had two touches for little less than 10 metres and one knock-on.
Then all of a sudden, the ‘Bus’ resumed normal service in the 52nd minute. A barnstorming run down the sideline in which Savea ran through, and over, no less than four Jaguares defenders opened up the match. In one instant, Savea proved why he is so dangerous.
The crucial try, finished by Matt Proctor after the 70-metre movement, edged the Hurricanes ahead from 12-9 to 19-9 where the Jaguares couldn’t recover from. Savea exploded in the last half hour making three line breaks and 70-odd run metres.
If he can carry that blockbusting form through the rest of the Super Rugby season, he gives the All Blacks selectors an enticing proposition with two power runners on the edges. However, it could be argued that Waisake Naholo already provides that, and he has the advantage of working with Aaron Smith on a day-to-day basis.
It is going to take a special season and a marked improvement in aerial contests for Savea to force his way in as the number one right-wing option. Despite the challenge that he faces, the All Blacks always utilise depth during the season so there is no reason why Julian Savea won’t be back in black this year. Injuries always play a part, outside of Ioane, Savea would still be the number two left-wing option.
Comments on RugbyPass
9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to comments