Savea benched as try drought hurts Toulon
A new team, a new environment, but the same old problems.
Former All Blacks star Julian Savea has quickly slipped into a slump at glamour French club Toulon, where he was the superstar signing for the 2018-19 season, replacing Springboks great Bryan Habana.
It hasn’t been an easy transition for the 28-year-old, who joined Toulon on a two-year deal after this year’s Super Rugby season.
The giant wing, who scored 46 tries in 54 test appearances for the All Blacks – second only to Doug Howlett’s record 49 tries – hasn’t managed any tries yet for Toulon.
Last weekend he was warming the Toulon bench alongside another All Black in Malakai Fekitoa, as Toulon lost 29-17 to Montpellier in the French Top 14. It was their fifth loss in seven games and they lie 12th on the ladder, 16 points off leaders Clermont.
A dissection of the troubles at Toulon by The Times was quick to focus on Savea.
‘‘His short term of duty has become best known for the Twitter account of his wife Fatima, who has watched her husband’s new team and offered such observations as: ‘I swear this team doesn’t know how to pass’ and ‘rugby on this side of the world is very behind. I feel Julian’s pain out there on the field’,’’ noted Times rugby correspondent Owen Slot.
He suggested wealthy team owner Mourad Boudjellal would remain true to character and try to buy his way out of this slump by bringing in more big names, especially in the forwards, where they have been hit hard by injuries, and don’t have a pack to utilise their backline.