Staggering Savea not typical wing

There hasn’t been a rugby player quite like Julian Savea. Not in recent memory anyway.

Savea is not typical. His professional career is in its sixth year and has encountered the most staggering highs and lows.

He was just about out on his feet at the end of his first Super Rugby season in 2011 when he could barely catch the ball or avoid his own feet when he ran. He’d come into that campaign as a World Rugby Junior Player of the Year and it became impossible to understand why.

Just as extraordinary was the speed at which he bounced back in 2012 with a campaign that showed all of his strengths. It was a campaign which demanded he be included in the All Blacks squad and he announced his arrival in the test arena with a hat- trick against Ireland at Eden Park.

What’s been fascinating is that his form has continued on this up and down pattern and yet his ability to score tries has been consistent. No matter the state of his conditioning, form or confidence, Savea has been able to score.

Last year, he had to be put on a three- week fitness programme by the All Blacks because they felt he lacked conditioning when he turned up after Super Rugby. Because of that, it felt like he didn’t really have a great year and yet he played eight tests and scored eight tries. This year he has had the same issues, but it has taken longer to get him back into form which has been more about his mental state.

No one would say it has been a vintage season by any means but he has played eight tests and scored seven tries. He has also managed to break his duck against the Boks and there isn’t a wing in world rugby wouldn’t kill to have the same strike rate.

Savea, who will earn his 50th cap at Soldier Field, is almost scoring a try a game, which is unheard of.

Savea seems to have a little bit of everything and then one priceless skill for which he has no peer — and that is getting himself on the end of moves and crossing the line.