Savea ‘not tossed on scrapheap’
If there is such a thing as an All Black scrapheap, Julian Savea can rest assured he has not been cast upon it.
That was the clear message from All Blacks coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster at yesterday’s announcement of the 37-strong squad to tour north in November – a group that includes six outside backs, but not the 27-year-old, 108kg Wellington wing who has not been required for international duty since being axed following the drawn series against the British and Irish Lions.
Since then, not only has Ben Smith confirmed a sabbatical, but Israel Dagg and Nehe Milner-Skudder have also suffered season-ending injuries to further erode the back-three stocks which were reinforced by the addition of Tasman fullback David Havili mid-Rugby Championship. Now three-test Taranaki utility back Sete Tamanivalu has been recalled for the tour, and North Harbour wing Matt Duffie whistled up for his first All Black appearance.
Yet still there is no room for the elder of Wellington’s Savea brothers, despite his fabulous All Black track record of 46 tries in 54 tests, and some pretty compelling form for the Wellington Lions en route to their charge to the Mitre 10 Cup Championship final.
‘‘We’re really happy with how he’s going but it’s a long-term plan with Jules,’’ said Hansen at his touring squad announcement. ‘‘He and his wife are due to have a baby shortly, and we want him to have a big offseason. Those two things combined left us thinking we’ll stick with the plan and have a look at some other people.
‘‘But Julian has not been thrown on the scrapheap. He’s 54 tests, 46 tries, he has been a great winger for New Zealand, and he has played well for us.
‘‘Just this year we’ve wanted to back him out, give him some space, go and enjoy his rugby again, and have a good pre-season. We want him to enjoy his new baby without any rugby commitments, and then start the season afresh and see how he really goes. We think we’ll see an energised, excited guy.’’
Attack coach Ian Foster echoed Hansen’s views, though made it clear he remained a work in progress with what they had seen at the provincial level with Wellington.
‘‘We’ve been in regular touch with [Wellington coach] Chris Gibbes and they’ve been delighted with him off the park and speak very highly of his professionalism. It’s still coming for him on the park. I think there’s still more in him.
‘‘He’s an amazing footballer and he’s done some amazing things for us, and we’d love him to do some more. Our feeling is we want to make sure, when he’s ready to come back, he’s right at the top of his game and everything is going spot-on.’’
To that end an extended offseason and proper pre-season now became vital for the blockbusting wing they call ‘The Bus’. It is imperative he returns in 2018 a reenergised figure, and shows it on the park for the Hurricanes.
‘‘It’s about him getting fast, confident and skilful,’’ said Foster. Added Hansen: ‘‘Not everyone gets the opportunity to have an off-season of decent quality, so it is important and I’m sure he’ll take the chance to maximise it.’’
The ball appears to be in Savea’s court. He needs to pick it up and run with it, or that scrapheap could yet come into the equation.