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Boks Office: Thoroughbred Savea has workhorses to thank for insane figures
By Jon Newcombe
After easing his way into the year with a couple of below-par performances by his own very high standards in the Test series against England, Ardie Savea is now showing the sort of form that saw him crowned the best player on the planet in 2023.
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The rampaging No.8 has been the All Blacks’ standout performer in two of their last three Tests, scoring 9/10 in the 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego and in the 42-10 win over Argentina. Even in the 38-30 defeat the week before, Savea was one of the few players to truly carry the fight to Los Pumas.
Impressively, he’s averaging more tries, carries and defenders beaten per 80 minutes on the park this year than last, and his tackle success rate has also shot up. England’s Ben Earl is his only peer when it comes to carries and defenders beaten in 2024.
At Eden Park, Savea scored New Zealand’s second try – and his 27th in Test rugby – as they stretched their remarkable unbeaten record at the Auckland citadel to 50 matches. In doing so, he equalled Richie McCaw’s record for most tries by an All Blacks forward in the process.
New Zealand have fielded three different back row combinations to date in 2024, but Savea has been a virtual ever-present presence at the back of the pack throughout the five matches, the All Blacks talisman only missing the last 25 minutes of the Fiji game.
Speaking on the latest episode of Boks Office ahead of the crunch Rugby Championship showdown with the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg on August 31st, former South African flanker Schalk Burger believes the key to Savea’s form has been the work rate of the two players either side of him.
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While Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson have been tried at blindside, Ethan Blackadder has worn the number six jersey in the last two Tests alongside Dalton Papali’i at seven and Savea at eight.
“I like what they have done with the loose forwards, with Ethan Blackadder as a workhorse for them, the same with Papali’I; what that does for them is it frees up Savea so Savea can sort of roam and carry in unusual places and chase box kicks and stuff, where the other two guys have a proper work ethic,” stated Burger,
While Savea’s name was prominent in discussions about the biggest threats posed by the All Blacks, Burger flagged a different player as the one the Springboks will have to stop if they are to maintain their winning run in The Rugby Championship.
Responding to Jean de Villiers’ comment that Jordie Barrett is “just so solid”, Burger said: “I think biggest key (player), for me, is Jordie.”
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PSDT vs Papalii , Jasper Wiese vs Savea, Kolisi vs Blackadder. Going to be epic.
I think you may see Robertson select Barrett at 6 and either Blackadder or Papalii at 7. The only certainty is Ardie Savea at 8.
It’s funny how South African commentators consistently have more respect for the All Blacks’ loose forward trio than Kiwis.
Maybe without the fanatical parochialism that has divided NZ Rugby since Ian Foster’s appointment, which has continued under Scott Robertson, a truly neutral observer can see that quality performances by both Dalton Papalii and Ethan Blackadder.
Let’s put things in context a wee bit, that same loose forward trio got genuinely dominated the week prior but yes, they worked really well together on Sat (Kremer at lock was a terrible idea).
Savea needs players that get through donkey work so that he can flourish, why him and Cane worked well together. Still think there’s too many similarities between Blackadder and Papalii but happy to eat my words if they impress in the republic. Blackadder was fantastic on Sat night but I’m unconvinced he’s our future 6, perhaps give him a run at 7 in the weeks after SA.
Its funnier how some seem to think they speak for Kiwi's yet continue on with their BS opinion anyway.