All Blacks great: Ardie Savea ‘of old’ makes Scott Robertson’s call a ‘no-brainer’
Josh Kronfeld believes that Scott Robertson as an easy call to make on where to play Ardie Savea.
Former All Blacks back-rower Josh Kronfeld has hailed Ardie Savea’s form in Super Rugby Pacific, which could make Scott Robertson’s selection decision easy.
Savea’s performances for Moana Pasifika earned him the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year award, claiming the gong with two rounds of action to spare.
While the All Blacks star has been a regular starter at number eight for his country in recent seasons, he has shone on the side of the scrum for Tana Umaga’s side.
Ardie Savea’s best position?
This has again raised the debate around Savea’s best position, with ex-All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall believing that it is ‘glaringly obvious’ that he is better in the number seven jersey and has called on Robertson to play him in that role this year.
Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt also weighed in on the discussion, stating that ‘it doesn’t really matter’ because of his all-court skillset.
Kronfeld has now added his voice to the discussion. He believes that playing Savea at number eight gives the All Blacks ‘comfort’, but his form for Moana makes the decision an easy one for Robertson.
“He’s been doing the number eight thing for the All Blacks very well; that creates a comfort and you do what you know,” Kronfeld told Stuff.
“But he’s been playing openside week-in, week-out and just growing and growing. You could almost argue he’s the Ardie of old. And it’s fantastic to watch.
“I think it’s a no-brainer to have him playing at No 7. Especially when he’s playing it so well.”
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“It’s hard to go past Ardie Savea isn’t it?”
Robertson will be looking to fill Sam Cane’s void on a permanent basis this year and is spoilt for choice in the back-row. Dalton Papali’i, Du Plessis Kirifi, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai and Ethan Blackadder all provide options at number seven with some doubling up as blindside flankers.
If Wallace Sititi were to switch to number eight, having played on the blindside of the scrum, his Chiefs teammate Sampeni Finau could also fill in at number six.
With Robertson spoilt for choice, Kronfeld feels that it’s hard to go past the best number seven in the country in the position.
“In terms of the All Blacks, I think it is fantastic to have Ardie showing so much form,” the former back-rower added.
“It just gives us so many options around what our loose forwards could look like.
“Now we are going, ‘who is the best number seven in the country at the moment?’ It’s hard to go past Ardie Savea isn’t it?”
