Savea fit to lead the Canes
"I've actually had a good pre-season, rather than coming in later in the preseason."
Julian Savea
HAMISH BIDWELL
Julian Savea looks happy and fit as a fiddle.
That’s terrific news, given we’re beyond the point where the Hurricanes wing’s words carry much weight. Exiled from the All Blacks after a sustained period of indifferent Super Rugby form and concerns about his condition, it will take a string of stellar performances to earn him a 55th test cap.
The 27-year-old will need luck and the benevolence of the Hurricanes’ coaches too. But at least he’s met them halfway, by shedding a bit of timber and putting a smile on his face.
‘‘I’ve actually had a good preseason, rather than coming in later in the pre-season. That’s been pretty good and I’ve been working on some skill and getting fitter and hopefully faster,’’ Savea said, as the Hurricanes left Wellington for the Brisbane Global Tens yesterday.
Savea is an ambassador for the event and obliged to promote it. The rest of the Hurricanes not so much.
They were unable to provide media with a squad for the two-day event yesterday, with Hurricanes management suggesting Tens organisers Duco had wanted that privilege instead.
Five hours after their media standup at Wellington Airport, the Hurricanes put a squad out themselves. Savea was named skipper of an outfit light on Super Rugby experience.
Ben Lam, Jackson GardenBachop and Murray Douglas leapt out as being among the few who’ve had a reasonable taste of franchise footy.
Otherwise it was a squad largely made by rookies, promising Wellington players and guys on shortterm or training contracts.
Lions prop Alex Fidow is among those capable of going to Brisbane and making a real impact. He’s kept off the 10-15 kilograms he shed during last year’s provincial campaign should be a handful in this format.
As for Savea, his big test is still a
few months away. He began the 2016 and 2017 season as the first-choice left wing, only for Jason Woodward and Wes Goosen to finish as the incumbents.
Savea has since played very well on the right wing for Wellington and insists he’ll be happy on either flank during the upcoming Super season. The Hurricanes aren’t badly off there, with Savea, Goosen, Lam, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Vince Aso among those who’ll be in the mix for the No 14 and 11 jumpers.
Lam, Aso, Savea and Jonah Lowe – who’s unlikely to be sighted much beyond the pre-season – were among the outside backs to score tries as the Hurricanes beat the Crusaders 43-22 in Greymouth last Friday.