New Zealand: Former fly-half Stephen Donald calls for Julian Savea selection in All Blacks XV

Former New Zealand fly-half Stephen Donald has called for the selection of robust wing Julian Savea in the All Blacks XV that will play two games in the Northern Hemisphere in November.

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Savea last played for the All Blacks in 2017, earning his 54th cap and playing an important role in the 2015 Rugby World Cup triumph.

The wing returned to New Zealand from Toulon in 2020, after his European move did not go according to plan at the French club, with the intention of playing for the All Blacks again.

Will add value

However, the All Blacks boast huge depth on the wing, and his return to the national side did not materialise. Donald believes Savea is an obvious choice for the secondary side set to be coached by Blues boss Leon MacDonald.

“Send him … send him for so many reasons,” Donald told SENZ’s The Run Home.

“Send him because winger-wise, he couldn’t be that far out of the reckoning.

“Secondly, (if) you’ve got a team like that that you’re sending away, imagine having one of our greatest ever a part of it?”

A strong platform for talent

The All Blacks XV is designed to be a development team away from the All Blacks, grooming stars for Test level.
Donald believes the team should be focused on a standard of players rather than just young stars with potential.

“It’d be fascinating what way they go with that,” added Donald. “If it wasn’t World Cup next year, would it be full of 21, 22 year olds that might be the future of the All Blacks?

“I’d like to see it not, I’d like to see it be a genuine, ‘you’re next cab off the rank, you deserve to go on this trip and play these games.’ so, it’ll be interesting to see.”

New Zealand Rugby’s head of high performance Mike Anthony sees it as an excellent opportunity for the next “tier” of talent to get exposure to overseas rugby and fans.

“The quality of these matches will present an ideal challenge and development opportunity to experience different playing styles and get exposure to overseas touring. To play against international opposition, in front of large, passionate crowds is invaluable for our next tier of talent a year out from RWC 2023,” Anthony said.