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‘Pretty pissed off’: Julian Savea reveals frustration following Hurricanes exit

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

After a decorated 153-game Super Rugby career with the Hurricanes, former All Blacks wing Julian Savea will don a new club’s colours in 2024 after signing for Moana Pasifika.

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While the Rugby World Cup winner is “looking forward to the challenge” with the Tana Umaga-coached side, Savea has opened up about the disappointment in his Hurricanes exit.

The man affectionately known around the rugby world as the ‘Bus’ was off contract with the franchise at the end of last season and the Canes decided not to re-sign the veteran.

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Savea was officially revealed as a Moana Pasifika player in September, with the 33-year-old tweeting that he was “grateful” for the opportunity.

But, as Savea suggested in an interview with Newshub’s Ollie Ritchie, there appears to be more to this story.

“I was pretty pissed off, to be honest, but that’s rugby and they’ve got a job to do,” Savea said.

“Just the process… they didn’t let me know until later on and that’s the biggest thing.”

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Moana Pasifika will travel to Wellington to face the Hurricanes in Round 13 which could potentially see Savea take the field with a bit of a point to prove.

It’s a game that Savea is already looking forward to.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and I guess I’ve got that game marked on my calendar as well,” Savea added.

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But with 54 Tests to his name and a glistening 60-try Super Rugby career as well, there’s no denying that Savea will go down in history as one of the Hurricanes’ greats.

“Savea’s pace, strength and ability to finish out wide will be a tremendous asset for Moana Pasifika on the field, but his impact off the field will also prove beneficial,” Moana Pasifika said in a statement in September.

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“With one of the most recognisable names in rugby, his injection into the Moana Pasifika community space will be inspirational to Pasifika rugby hopefuls in New Zealand and across the Pacific.”

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1 Comment
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Pecos 423 days ago

Forever ingrained - RWC2015 the Bus versus Les Bleus.

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RedWarriors 54 minutes ago
How Dupont-less France tossed a grenade into Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations

In both instances, Ireland can cross halfway in comfort and there are 20 or 30 metres of space in which to work, but a clear sense of purpose is conspicuously absent. Whether it stumbled into a handling error or a breakdown pilfer or delivered a negative kick back to their opponents, Ireland’s transition attack was toothless.”


I disagree with this in the first instance there is a three on one if Osborne receives the pass. He will get past Moefana with only Ramos appearing to confront Osborne, Aki and Sheehan with no-one behind. Probable try, not toothless. As Osborne is on the opposite wing to what he has been training for there is a handling error (understandable). You did acknowledge that Lowe was a blow, but thsi was not a toothless attack, the French defense was beaten there.

The second instance is a kick to Nash, again he will not have trained as much on kick receipts and takes the ball into trouble. Ireland’s systemic preparation is massively important to them but vulnerable to a pre match injury.


As I said previously, in all parallell universes France win, but it might have been a better and more interesting contest without that Injury.


My hopeful view before that match was of a Leinster-LaRochelle type scenario with Ireland building a score and then withstanding an onslaught. Turned out first half was a low scoring Leinster-LaRochelle encounter. Second half was tired Leinster versus Fresh Toulouse.

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