Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'He looks like a beast': Ardie Savea names the one player he'd sign for the Hurricanes

Photos: Getty Images/Photosport

All Blacks star Ardie Savea has listed four of the most promising youngsters coming through the ranks at the Hurricanes, and named the one player he would sign for the franchise.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking on the What A Lad podcast, hosted by ex-Hurricanes fullback James Marshall, Savea spoke highly of the 2022 Hurricanes squad, which was revealed last month ahead of next year’s inaugural edition of Super Rugby Pacific.

The squad, led by head coach Jason Holland, features six current All Blacks in the form of Savea, Jordie Barrett, the returning TJ Perenara, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax.

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload | Episode 13

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload | Episode 13

The Wellington-based franchise also boasts former internationals Julian Savea and Peter Umaga-Jensen, as well as two new signings Owen Franks and Dominic Bird, both of whom have been capped by the All Blacks.

However, Savea told What A Lad that it is his side’s “freakish” young talent that excites him the most heading into next season.

“A mixture of older, senior players, then you have a little bit of experienced players and then we’ve got some mean as young talent coming through,” the 59-test loose forward said.

“Honestly, there’s some freakish guys, fast, strong. It’s pretty nerve-racking to see. Keeps everyone on their toes.”

ADVERTISEMENT

When asked which youngsters stand out the most from the current crop of Hurricanes, Savea pinpointed fellow loose forwards Devan Flanders and Braydon Iose, playmaker Ruben Love and midfielder Billy Proctor as the picks of the bunch.

“There’s a few. Just off the top of my head, Devan Flanders, he’s a beast. Braydon Iose from Manawatu, the likes of Ruben Love, those young brothers coming through, that’s pretty awesome,” Savea, who captained the Hurricanes this year, said.

“Those three and Billy Procs, unsung hero. Quiet dude, but just, like I said, goes about his mahi [work], and I love that.”

While Savea remains enthusiastic about the personnel within the Hurricanes roster, he didn’t shy from naming Fiji star Josua Tuisova as the one player in international rugby he would like to sign for the franchise.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tuisova has forged a name for himself as one of the most powerful and exciting players in the sport, but Savea admitted that he has only seen highlights of the barnstorming Lyon flyer.

Nevertheless, an anecdote shared to him by older brother Julian from his time as Tuisova’s teammate at Toulon between 2018 and 2019 has proven to be enough to convince Savea that the 2016 Olympic gold medallist would be a quality signing by the Hurricanes.

“I’d go, just because I’ve seen his highlights, and he looks like a beast, Josh Tuisova,” Savea told What A Lad when asked which player he would sign for the Hurricanes.

“I’ve never seen him before, but obviously Bus [Julian Savea] played with him, and when I hear Bus say, ‘He’s the real Bus’, it must mean something.”

Savea and the Hurricanes will open their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Waratahs at a yet-to-be-determined venue in New South Wales on February 18.

Listen to Ardie Savea’s interview on the What A Lad podcast below:

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

4 Comments
i
isaac 1058 days ago

Ardie...if your brother speaks of someone like that...youd be lying to say you haven't even watched a highlight reel ...common.. who are you kidding

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Rugby fugitive Rocky Elsom in hiding after fleeing Ireland Rugby fugitive Rocky Elsom in hiding after fleeing Ireland
Search