Savea in doubt for home clash
The wait for Julian Savea’s first Mitre 10 Cup match at Wellington’s Sky Stadium in three years could extend, after he was rated a doubtful starter due to injury yesterday.
Wellington coach Leo Crowley bracketed Savea with Pepesana Patafilo in the No 11 jersey to face Bay of Plenty tomorrow (7.05pm), on top of three changes in the absence of All Blacks TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea and Asafo Aumua.
It means halfback Kemara Hauiti-parapara, No 8 Teariki Ben-nicholas and hooker Tyrone Thompson all start, while bench hooker Bruce Kauika-peterson is in line for a debut and is permitted to back up for Northern United against Old Boys University in the Jubilee Cup final the next day.
Patafilo was elevated to the starting lineup and Savea benched just before kickoff in the stirring 39-21 win over Auckland on Sunday, due to a groin niggle suffered at warmups.
With a quick five-day backup, the former fan favourite will need to pass a fitness test to play his first home match for Wellington since their 2017 Championship final win over Bay of Plenty.
‘‘First time [for that injury], maybe it’s just that I’m old now. I can’t just rock up to training and not warm up any more. I’m not 21 any more,’’ Savea said.
‘‘It is frustrating but I’ve got confidence in our medical team and we’re just working really hard to get back out there. For me it’s about keeping positive and the boys are doing their job and I can help in other ways.’’
Savea, 30, made a dream return against Waikato, scoring a try with his first touch from a pass from his brother. That shock 53-28 defeat was just his second full game since returning from a stint in France.
Asked about Savea’s percentage chance, Crowley quipped: ‘‘51-49’’. He would see how Savea ran at training later yesterday and make a call ‘‘in the next 24 hours’’.
The coach had no issue with losing Perenara, Ardie Savea and Aumua from their victory over a powerful Auckland before joining the All Blacks camp in Whakatane.
The 35-man All Blacks squad will be largely idle from today until next Monday when they reassemble in Hamilton, and Crowley said he didn’t push for their return.
‘‘We discussed it with our All Blacks last week and we basically said ‘you boys have this weekend off’.
‘‘They’ve all got young kids and their commitment to us was to come to Auckland and get a job done, they honoured that, so we’re honouring our side.’’
Of losing his stars with more than a fortnight until the Bledisloe Cup opener on October 11, Crowley said: ‘‘Some other teams it may affect more. I’ve always been happy with my squad whether the All Blacks
were or weren’t in. It sits comfortably with me.’’
Hooker Dane Coles, sidelined with calf and back injuries since the Hurricanes’ final match on August 15, could potentially play off the bench for match fitness against Canterbury next weekend. Another hooker, James O’reilly,will be available then too with one more week to serve on his suspension.
With prop Alex Fidow (concussion protocols) ruled out, Wellington’s front row of Josiah Tavita-metcalfe, Thompson and Kaliopasi Uluilakepa are all 21 or younger.
With a spring in their steps after toppling the Auckland giants, Wellington return home for the first match with crowds permitted under Covid-19 alert level 1 to face a 1-1 BOP side without All Blacks captain Sam Cane, and never an easy proposition.
Inspired by captain Du’plessis Kirifi, the Lions’ big defensive display at Eden Park after some leaks in Hamilton was a performance worthy of last year’s Premiership finalists.
The only downside is that Taranaki’s victory means no Wellington Ranfurly Shield challenge in Christchurch next weekend.
Said Crowley: ‘‘Across the country it [shield fever] is absolutely alive. The emotion from our boys when they missed out on a chance in two weeks’ time, and compare that to the elation from Taranaki. Well done to them. It’s alive every week.’’