Julian Savea can break duck and wing his way to record against Springboks
The All Blacks' try machine has scored 38 tries in 39 matches but has yet to touch down against South Africa
LONDON, 22 Oct – There is one glaring omission in Julian Savea’s amazing try-scoring record, which could be good or bad news for South Africa as they ponder how to stop the in-form All Black at Twickenham on Saturday.
Savea, who shrugs off comparisons with the previously incomparable Jonah Lomu, has amassed 38 tries in 39 matches since making his New Zealand debut. Yet in five tests against the Springboks, the wing has yet to touch down.
This is the player who has already equalled the joint record held by Lomu and Bryan Habana of eight tries in one World Cup and whose hat-trick contributed to the humbling of France in their 62-13 quarter-final defeat.
The old foes lock horns in the semi-final knowing that a try from either Savea (pictured, against France) or Habana will be another record-making score, for the South Africa wing is also tied with Lomu on 15 World Cup tries.
SINGING PRAISES
Prudently, the Springbok camp have been singing Savea’s praises in the build-up to the match. If they know how to stop the man known as 'The Bus', no one is saying.
Instead Habana has been showering the 25-year-old New Zealander with compliments, as has JP Pietersen, Savea’s opposite number on Saturday. Pietersen, however, stops short of putting Savea into the class currently occupied solely by Lomu.
“I haven't played much against him,” Pietersen said. “In Super Rugby I played against him but I was at centre and at Ellis Park for the Boks (October 2014) I came off the bench, so this weekend will be my first ‘proper’ battle with him.
“I don’t think you can compare him to Jonah Lomu because Lomu did something that no one has ever done. But Julian is a great player in his own way and whatever he does, he does well.
“He is strong in contact, good under the ball and he can also kick. So I will have to be at my best. He’s playing very good rugby and he’s a difficult customer. I know it’s going to be a tough challenge.”
RAW TALENT
Habana was rather more effusive having monitored Savea since he first burst on to the scene as a raw talent.
“When he first got that All Blacks jumper there were doubts about his ability but you can see the way he has come on in leaps and bounds over three years and especially over this tournament,” Habana said.
“There have been comparisons with him and the great Jonah Lomu and if you look at the try-scoring feats, he went past Jonah this weekend as well. He is not only physical, not only got unbelievable pace, but has improved his all-round game. The way he works off his wing, his kicking game has improved.
“I put out on social media on Saturday, for him to have equalled Jonah and my number of tries in one World Cup is incredibly special and due reward for someone who has shown himself a global superstar.”
If anyone knows how it feels to be a global superstar, it is Habana. The scene is set for something special.
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