Ohbrother - ABs first for Ardie
Mate against mate, brother versus brother.
This is an All BlacksBarbarians clash like no other, and one half of the fraternal focus for the week says he has informed his older sibling that family ties are officially suspended for a couple of hours at Twickenham this Saturday afternoon (kickoff 4am tomorrow NZT).
It is impossible to overlook or avoid the uniquely Kiwi nature of this historic match-up that we’re told will attract a crowd of over 70,000 to the home of English rugby as the All Blacks launch their November tour with their 11th clash against the world’s iconic invitational rugby side.
Of course the All Blacks represent New Zealand’s finest, even if Steve Hansen has selected a mostly second-string lineup for this clash (to be captained by Beauden Barrett).
The elder Savea is one of 13 Kiwis in Robbie Deans’ (it has been a Kiwi takeover) Barbarians match-day squad, with 10 starting and a further three on the pine.
This might be the closest we will get to an All Blacks trial in the modern era, and even Hansen has admitted he will be watching both sides closely as he is afforded an unprecedented chance to assess so many contenders strutting their stuff on the international stage.
The resonance, though, comes from the fact that Julian Savea has so recently been dropped by the All Blacks after scoring 46 tries in his 54 tests, and told to have a big offseason and rediscover the enjoyment factor if he wants to add to that total.
Naturally he is piqued by the chance to tick both of those boxes this weekend.
‘‘He’ll be pretty excited to face the All Blacks and I’m pretty excited to play him as well,’’ Ardie said yesterday at the team hotel in Teddington. ‘‘I caught up with Jules yesterday and he’s pretty pumped, so hopefully he doesn’t run down my channel.
‘‘I just knew by talking to him he’s ready to go this week. At the same time we’re ready as well.
‘‘I said to him we’re brothers off the field, but when we come up against each other it’s going to be a different story.’’
Savea is not the only Kiwi with something to prove among the Baabaas. George Bridge, Richard Buckman, Vince Aso, Richie Mo’unga, Luke Whitelock, Dominic Bird and Atu Moli are the other New Zealand-based players in the starting XV. Mitchell Drummond and Dillon Hunt are on the bench.
They all, to some degree, entertain the hope of winning a place in Hansen’s squad one day (with five doing so temporarily after this clash for the French XV game in Lyon).
Then there are former All Blacks Andy Ellis (captain), Steven Luatua and Ben Franks (in the reserves) who will also have their own, more crusty, motivations.
But it’s Savea who undoubtedly has the most to say, and prove.
Ardie has been impressed by his big brother’s response thus far after his post-Lions series cull.
‘‘He’s enjoying playing footy again, and you’re seeing him run over guys again. He could have dropped lip and had a sulk, but he’s fighting hard, working hard and, most of all, having fun.’’
With so much familiarity in this fixture it could have become a little hum-drum. A bit same old same old. But with the Savea factor shining so bright, it is anything but.
Asafo Aumua, Tim Perry, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Patrick Tuiupulotu, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Matt Duffie Akker van der Merwe (SA), Ben Franks (NZ), Ruan Smith (SA), Willie Britz (SA), Ruan Ackermann (SA), Mitchell Drummond (NZ), Robert du Preez (SA), Dillon Hunt (NZ)