Service cancelled: The Bus has left the terminal
Big, powerful, and decked out in yellow, the No 11 bus from Rongotai was more than just a form of transport.
For years it carried people, keeping to the left of the white dotted line as it charged from A to B.
But as July came to a close the famous No 11 from Rongotai was no more, on and off the rugby field.
Julian Savea leaves New Zealand Rugby on the back of one last Super Rugby semifinal with the Hurricanes, a loss to the Crusaders. On Wellington’s streets, Metlink’s No 11 has also shut up shop, replaced by a younger, more streamlined option.
The Bus, as he was known, leaves New Zealand as one of the nation’s finest ever wingers, having scored 46 tries in 54 matches between 2012 and 2017.
He heads to France and Toulon as his career enters its latter stages, leaving a stunning legacy in yellow and black in Aotearoa.
‘‘He’s made an excellent contribution to rugby here in New Zealand,’’ Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said.
‘‘He’s a crowd favourite. Very, very popular with the fans. He’s a proud Hurricane, a really proud Wellingtonian, he’s proud of his club, and he’s a very loyal guy.
‘‘It’s a fantastic record. He should be very proud of his time in New Zealand and we wish him all the very best for his rugby and his family in Toulon.’’
Savea ranks second equal for tries scored in an All Blacks jersey, tied on 46 with Christian Cullen and Joe Rokocoko, but in fewer games. Doug Howlett remains the All Blacks’ try scoring leader on 49.
On average, Savea scored 0.85 tries per game in black, ranking fourth of the top 15 try scoring wingers in All Black history. Only Marc Ellis (1.38), Rieko Ioane (one) and Nehe MilnerSkudder (one) are ahead of him, albeit in far fewer matches.
In the 54 games Savea played for the All Blacks, he experienced defeat only four times, giving him a winning percentage of 92.59 per cent throughout his career.
While he played in one of the best All Black sides in history, his figures show just how crucial he was to their performance.
Savea scored 19.66 per cent of the team’s tries during his time with the All Blacks, good enough for fourth among the top 15 All Blacks wingers.
He’s right near the top of every statistical category.
‘‘Jules can be incredibly proud of everything he has achieved in the black jersey,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
‘‘He is a devastating ball runner who inspired others with his physicality and try-scoring prowess. On behalf of all the All Blacks, we want to wish Julian and his family all the very best and thank him for everything he has done for the All Blacks.’’
Savea’s finest performance on a rugby field may have been the day he ran all over France at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, helping New Zealand through to the semifinals.
Often compared to Jonah Lomu, Savea did his best impression by stampeding over two defenders on the way to one try, while he eventually claimed a hat-trick for the match.
It’s performances like that which will endear Savea to the French rugby public.
The Hurricanes have said the door will always be open for Savea should he seek a move home.
‘‘If he plays a couple of seasons for Toulon and then sits down with his family and decides to come home, then absolutely, we’d love to talk to him about that,’’ Lee said.
‘‘For guys to play seven, eight years for the same professional club, you’ve got to acknowledge that. That’s what Julian has done.
‘‘In the semifinal, even though the game was pretty much over with 10 or 15 minutes to go, Julian was still thundering into everything.
‘‘That’s a massive credit to him. He was just as committed in those last 10 minutes as he was for the rest of his time here.’’
Classy Kohli saves India
Virat Kohli rode his luck before delivering a batting exhibition in a brilliant innings of 149 to keep India in sight of England on a gripping second day of the first test. The hosts closed the day on 9-1 – a lead of 22 runs – after dismissing India for 274 at Edgbaston. Kohli made England pay dearly for dropped catches when on 21 and 51, blazing his way to his 22nd test century – and first in England – to end a sorry run of scores on English soil. In fact, his total, after India slumped to 100-5, beat the combined scores in his 10 previous innings in England from India’s tour in 2014.