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The plays against the Crusaders that showed Julian Savea could still be a centre for the Hurricanes
Returning Hurricanes winger Julian Savea scored his 52nd Super Rugby try against the Crusaders but it was his handling as a floating resource that has impressed watchers as the home side went down 27-30 against the Crusaders.
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His ball skills were on show in two other Hurricanes’ tries, firstly in the lead up to Ngani Laumape’s try where he fixed Crusaders openside flanker Sione Havili with a deft double pump to free up Peter Umaga-Jensen on the outside.
In the lead-up to Wes Goosen’s try, it was Savea’s pullback pass to fullback Jordie Barrett which split open the Crusaders edge defence. Combining with Dane Coles, Savea feigned the short ball to Coles to expertly find Barrett out the back.
The line by Coles drew in the Crusaders defenders, freeing up Barrett to punch into a half-gap off Savea’s pass before offloading to Goosen.
Julian Savea’s handling skills are excellent.
He scored one of the Hurricanes’ three tries against the Crusaders, but also helped to create the space for the other two — in both of these sequences, he squares up just before the tackle and times his release of the ball perfectly: pic.twitter.com/dvaYx6WXJw
— The Chase Rugby (@thechaserugby) April 11, 2021
After leaving the Hurricanes to join Toulon on a two-year contract midway through the 2018 season, the All Black begun a transition into the midfield regularly turning out for the French club as a second-five or centre.
At the start the move was questioned, but over time there were signs that the transition might work for his new club.
I laughed at it a little when I first saw it, but Julian Savea is actually looking pretty good at inside centre.
Extra responsibility and traffic look to have brought something new out of him.
— Ali Stokes (@alistokesmedia) January 18, 2019
Why is Julian Savea playing inside centre?
— Abel Makkonen Tesfaye (@Donnie_Azof) January 21, 2019
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On the subject of returning wingers. Julian Savea is back for Toulon tomorrow. Admittedly, playing at inside centre again.
Big test for Louis Carbonel at ten with very little play-making outside him. pic.twitter.com/qrPesXVvbi
— Paul Eddison (@pauleddison) March 22, 2019
Since returning home to New Zealand, Savea played his comeback match as a 12 in club rugby and spoke of a potential long-term move to the midfield with former Hurricanes teammate James Marshall on the What a Lad podcast.
“For me, [playing in the midfield] wasn’t a part of the plan,” Savea told Marshall.
“I debuted on the wing [for Toulon], we played like the first 10, 15 games then the Six Nations came along … Obviously, all the French boys went off and we lost a few internationals for Fiji and stuff like that.
“There were a couple of spots [in the centres] and coach was like, ‘Yo, how do you feel about playing in the midfield? Would you play 13 or 12?’
“I was like, ‘Probably 12, I’ll just carry all day.’ Since then, I started staying there.”
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Back in Mitre 10 Cup with the Wellington Lions, Savea re-established himself as a right wing and that is where the Hurricanes have used him this season in his return to Super Rugby.
The wheels on the Bus ?@skysportnz + @Hurricanesrugby #HURvCRU #SkySuperRugbyAotearoa pic.twitter.com/SH0dYuHhk3
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) April 11, 2021
Perhaps without the speed of his younger self, Savea’s big frame at 1.92m could still be a big problem for opposing sides as a 12 in New Zealand. His size and weight are comparable to Welsh and Lions centre Jamie Roberts, who was long used as a crash-running 12 to generate gain line for Warren Gatland.
‘The Bus’ is known for power running and bumping off defenders, which could prove useful in a midfield role in the midfield for the Hurricanes at some point down the track.
Showing his skills as a ball-player against the Crusaders furthers his chances that a move to midfield might be on the cards in New Zealand, where wingers are usually younger to maximise the peak of their athletic ability.
Julian Savea is looking really fit compared to previous years.#HURvCRU
— BigWill???? (@BigWill_Rugby) April 11, 2021
The Hurricanes have no shortage of options in the midfield with Peter Umaga-Jensen having a breakout year last year as a 13 and Billy Proctor committing long-term to the club with a five year contract back in 2018.
Former Warriors onvert Ngani Laumape has held down the second five position for the Hurricanes since 2017, and continues to be a force with his angry-style of destructive running.
Laumape will have a nervous wait after being yellow carded against the Crusaders for using a forearm to the face of lock Scott Barrett, which could potentially see the 12 serve a suspension.
If that is the case, the door could be ajar for Savea to make a move to 12 in Laumape’s absence.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“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.
24 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
4 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 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)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments