When wing becomes a passenger, it’s time to park ‘ The Bus’
o protest rallies around Lambton Quay, nodding heads around the rest of the country and little dissension on talk- squawk radio.
Playing any Lions side this season has not been a welcome omen for Julian “The Bus” Savea who is benched for tomorrow morning’s ( 12.30am, NZ time) Super Rugby semifinal.
In June, the All Black left wing was bypassed for the start of the test series against the British and Irish Lions and has suffered a similar fate for the playoff in Johannesburg.
This time the hulking Savea has managed to hold a place on the bench while smaller teammates Nehe Milner- Skudder and Wes Goosen have been given the work on the wings with Jordie Barrett completing the back three. They’ll need their wits and work rate on the high veldt with the Lions expected to mix up their running game with a more complete kicking assault.
That change in order for Savea revives memories of Joe Rokocoko who suffered similar glitches in his All Black career after a flying teenage start. The 27- year- old Rokocoko eased in production and selection after some of the lithe skills which marked his debut dropped below the rest of his rivals after 68 tests. Rokocoko went offshore and remarkably, seven years later is still playing for Racing Metro in Paris.
Savea turns 27 next month and after moderate form last year when he was dropped by the Canes and All Blacks, he is once again struggling to get the selectors’ approval.
The All Black panel overlooked Savea for the first two tests against the touring Lions and his reprieve for the decider only happened because of a slew of injuries to Waisake Naholo, Reiko Ioane and Ben Smith.
Savea made a blistering debut as a 21- year- old All Black in 2012 until wings such as Charles Piutau, Naholo and Nehe Milner- Skudder brought their wider skills to the workplace.
Teams have worked on ways to reduce Savea’s impact and zero in on his lack of dexterity and decisionmaking on defence. They’ll get him to turn and chase kicks, make choices in the defensive line, stack the inside channels when he runs off the ruck or crowd his space near the touchlines.
At full noise on attack, Savea remains a daunting challenge for any defenders as he powers up his 108kg frame but finding enough room for those opportunities to balance the defensive work rate demands on a modern wing, is proving his issue in the selection room.