'He reminds me a bit of myself': Ardie Savea on Wallace Sititi

When the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year says you remind him of himself, that's a good sign you're doing something right. That being said, it doesn't take Ardie Savea to figure out Wallace Sititi is one hell of a rugby player.

The Test rookie celebrated his 22nd birthday with his first-ever start for the All Blacks against the world champions in Cape Town in September, a match where he made a name for himself on one of the biggest of stages outside of a World Cup.

Three Tests later - two more starting at blindside against Australia and one at No. 8 vs Japan - the budding star is yet to let his foot off the gas, proving to be not just one of New Zealand's premier talents, but one of their most consistent performers.

Sititi played at No. 8 all season for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific, and his little experience playing on the blindside flank in the professional game makes his emergence at the international level all the more impressive.

While it's expected his best position is still at No. 8, a man by the name of Ardie Savea currently occupies that jersey.

Savea, perhaps the world's best No. 8, says he and the rookie have become close throughout the course of this international season.

"He's been amazing coming into this environment, he's found what works for him and he's playing great footy and that's a testament to himself and his preparation and the levelheadedness, the calmness he has," Savea told media in London.

"Mate, he's inspiring his teammates around him and that's special."

Sititi's form has sparked debate over whether Savea shifting to the openside flank to accommodate the rookie at No. 8 would be worthwhile for the All Blacks, something Savea was asked to weigh in on.

"I'm not too sure. Mate, with the way he's playing, he reminds me a bit of myself. He can play eight, seven or six, and be great at it - not saying I'm great," Savea laughed.

"He's quality. I think Wally and myself, we've got the same mindset. We're pretty grateful, wherever we are. If we're starting then we're just grateful to be starting, that's been my career and Wally's the same.

"Mate, he can play eight and awesome, he can play six and be awesome, even at seven. Wherever he ends up I know that he'll be quality."

Despite his impressive Super Rugby Pacific campaign, it was still a shock to many when Sititi was named in the opening All Blacks squad of the year, especially given the omission of Super Rugby MVP Hoskins Sotutu.

Reflecting on the initial selection call, forwards coach Jason Ryan said selectors' eyes had been on the young talent for some time, before highlighting Savea's influence on Sititi since he joined the environment.

"He caught our (the All Blacks coaches') eye in Super Rugby, sort of midway through. He'd also been pretty well known through an NZ under 20s campaign around his ball carry and his real point of difference, his defence," Ryan said.

"What we have been impressed by in the Test arena is just how natural he seems to be in the way he carries himself. He's got a lot of leadership qualities about him, to be fair, in his own little way. He works really hard with Ardie and the other loose forwards wanting to grow his game.

"Then there's the other side of it around his body and getting his conditioning right to Test level so that we can take him further. The sky's the limit really around Wally."

While fans will have to wait and see what selectors have in store for the All Blacks' clash with England this weekend, Ryan says the team benefit from the versatile skill sets of both Sititi and Savea.

"I think they really complement each other. Wallace is a No.8 for his franchise (the Chiefs) and he played No.8 for us in the weekend and we see him genuinely as a No.8 who can cover six (blindside). But he's played six and taken his opportunity there and I think the two of them add a massive amount of ball-carry power to our pack, which is good.

"He's (Sititi) really is such an explosive line out jumper and he can get off the ground so fast. So, I think that's probably helped out a little bit of variation where you've got Ardie jumping at the front of the line out and Wallace is jumping at the back.

"I think that complements both of them and they work pretty hard together and they compete very hard at training. It's a good combo that's keeping everyone else honest."