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'Surely in line for a recall': Growing calls for an All Black return for Savea
There were shades of the old Julian Savea in Dunedin last night as the Hurricanes winger bulldozed his way through the Highlanders on multiple occasions which has sparked talk of an All Black recall.
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The 31-year-old was at his blockbusting best in the first half, running through the Highlanders midfield on a well worked scrum play that almost resulted in a fantastic individual try.
Savea discarded Highlanders left wing Scott Gregory with a vintage bump off in the backfield before crashing over in a two man tackle.
The ball slipped out of his fingertips at the last second which denied him a try that would have gone straight to his career highlight reel.
Julian Savea reminding everyone why he’s called ‘The Bus’ 🚌 pic.twitter.com/EgqbzbFUnC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 16, 2022
Highlanders second five Thomas Umaga-Jensen also got similar treatment from ‘The Bus’ in the second half, coming off second best in a collison with Savea.
The Hurricanes right wing finished with five defenders beaten on six carries for 46 running metres as his side held on for a 22-21 win.
Savea’s form with ball-in-hand has been building throughout Super Rugby Pacfic, with his strong carries a highlight so far. He took to Twitter to claim ‘age is just a number’ with some of his best carries in 2022.
Age is but a number 🤘🏾🤘🏾 https://t.co/qY6s0Oioh7
— Julian Savea (@juliansavea7) April 11, 2022
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Newshub reporter Patrick Gower claimed that Savea was ‘surely in line’ for an All Black recall following his performance against the Highlanders, which was a sentiment shared by many fans.
Julian Savea surely now in line for All Black recall.
You won’t see #AucklandMedia #CantabMafia say that though.— Patrick Gower (@patrickgowernz) April 17, 2022
Haven’t looked at the ABs wing depth much yet this year but Julian Savea can’t be far off being seriously considered for a recall.
Especially if J Barrett to 12 and Jordan to fullback becomes a thing (which I think it will).
— Max Power 🇺🇦 (@jrodbourn) April 16, 2022
Julian Savea has looked a lot like Julian Savea over the last fortnight #higvhur
— Brian Ashby (@BrianAshby2) April 16, 2022
Curious… ignoring the absurd depth in NZ’s outside backs, how big a game does Julian Savea need to have to be back in the ABs conversation?
Shades of his old, prime self with these bulldozing runs #HIGvHUR
— Lachlan Waugh (@lachlan_waugh) April 16, 2022
I love seeing Julian Savea back in form
— The Watcher (@MTshwete) April 16, 2022
Looks like Julian Savea found his hit stick again
— Emori Wainiqolo (@HabibiMozza) April 16, 2022
Julian Savea just got in a time machine and went back to his 2015 form with that run
— Mathew 🇳🇿 (@MatNewton) April 16, 2022
Julian Savea playing like 2012-2015 Julian Savea #HIGvHUR
— ¯\_(?)_/¯ (@Vinsanity275) April 16, 2022
Foster’s All Blacks in 2021 featured Crusaders Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and George Bridge as the preferred wingers, who will again provide stiff competition for Savea to break back into the squad as a winger.
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The Hurricanes have used him on the right wing, which would pit him against Jordan or Reece, who both scored tries against the Blues on Friday night. Savea might have to bank on teammate Jordie Barrett’s move to 12 being permanent.
If Barrett, who was last year’s fullback choice, earns selection in the All Black midfield this year, there might be room for Savea on the wing if Will Jordan fills the 15 jersey in Foster’s back line.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments