Watch: Julian Savea returns to Wellington and scores against the Hurricanes
After a decade of service to the Hurricanes, Julian Savea was understandably expecting to depart the club on his terms. He wasn’t expecting to find himself searching for a new club as soon as a new coach came in who wanted to prioritise the club’s young talent.
But, that’s exactly what happened over the offseason and now the former All Black is donning new colours and a new number, lining up for Moana Pasifika in the midfield.
Having represented Wellington for 153 Super Rugby games, Savea returned to his hometown on Friday for a final pre-season contest ahead of the 2024 season.
Savea spoke bluntly of the discussions – or lack thereof – he had with the club when looking to extend his career in the famous yellow.
“I was pretty pissed off, to be honest, but that’s rugby and they’ve got a job to do,” he told Newshub last October. “Just the process… they didn’t let me know until later on and that’s the biggest thing.”
The 50-cap All Black would go on to express a little excitement about the prospect of versing his old team.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and I guess I’ve got that game marked on my calendar as well.”
Fast forward to Friday, and while just pre-season, Savea’s homecoming got off to a strong start.
Lining up at second five-eighth, Savea was quick to inject his physicality into the match. In just the opening minutes he produced a damaging hit-up that turned a promising attacking position, 10 metres out, into a chance to rumble over from just two metres. The visitors soon found their way over the line.
Savea was a cheat code for getting over the gain line, even in stagnant play throughout the game.
Just minutes later he was proving why his transition to the midfield was a masterstroke by new coach Tana Umaga – a man who knows a thing or two about shifting in from the wing – receiving the ball just behind the halfway line, drawing two defenders with a direct run and popping a short ball to a striding Henry Taefu who was then free to run 20 metres.
With his next touch, Savea found a seam from 20 metres out and evaded two tackles to run the ball in near the posts. All this happened in the first 18 minutes of the match.
Julian Savea scores for @MoanaPasifika_ against his old club!
Look away @Hurricanesrugby fans!
ADVERTISEMENTWatch the game live & free on NZR+ 👉 https://t.co/EmbdsDycma pic.twitter.com/KV5EG8f3tR
— Super Rugby NZ (@SuperRugbyNZ) February 16, 2024
Savea has also said he was very close to making himself available for Manu Samoa selection for last year’s World Cup, and if it hadn’t been for an injury may well have joined names like Lima Sopoaga and Steven Luatua as former All Blacks in the Samoan environment.
The pre-season match was a see-saw battle early, with the teams exchanging blows in quick succession, finding weaknesses in their opponent’s defence.
Flanker Duplessis Kirifi scored two tries in the space of just seven minutes which began to build a lead for the home team just before halftime. Moana Pasifika faced a 14-33 deficit at the break.
It was Moana who struck first in the second period, but a penalty try and a double to the dangerous Kini Naholo secured a 50-point day for the Hurricanes, who conceded a similar scoreline last week against the Highlanders. Full-time: 59-26.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments