Why no one is quite able to wing it like the All Blacks
Of all the assembly lines in all the world, there is none to compare with New Zealand’s mass production of Test wings. New models are superseded with a frequency which leaves the rest of the planet in a permanent state of alarm.
Only an All Black like Julian Savea can reel off a strike rate second to none and find himself replaced in his prime by a succession of younger challengers, from Nehe Milner-Skudder to Waisea Naholo. No wonder that another, Charles Piutau, opted instead for the largest pot of gold, all £950,000 worth of it as offered by Bristol from next season.
When it comes to try-scoring wings, New Zealand’s squadron of flyers do it better than anyone else’s. While they have averaged almost two tries per match over the last two years, only one of their challengers on this side of the Equator has come close to averaging half that number.
By the time the All Blacks complete their annual inspection of the Northern Hemisphere next month, the margin between those figures will have widened. Results over 34 Tests played by the World Cup holders and their ancient European rivals show that New Zealand wings touch down almost three times more often than their Welsh and Irish counterparts and virtually four times more often than France.
Savea, for example, has scored more tries over that period, 16, than all the French wings put together. And yet a career return like no other – 46 in 54 Tests – has not been deemed enough to guarantee immunity from being dropped to make room for younger alternatives who earn their wings on an annual basis.
Wings are judged by the tries they do, or do not score. Over the period under review, Wales have produced fewer than
“Julian Savea can reel off a strike rate second to none and be replaced”
the rest and suffered accordingly, a fact which ought to ensure Steff Evans’ overdue promotion with immediate effect against Australia on November 11.
Despite their poor strike record, Wales have done little to help themselves by their repeated refusal to promote new wings. In that respect, their maltreatment of Keelan Giles has assumed a degree of notoriety, not unreasonably so given his selection on the bench against Japan last year.