As the Super Rugby Pacific landscape shifts with Moana Pasifika's unfortunate exit, the future of their standout players, including the dynamic All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea, is thrust into the spotlight. The Crusaders, amidst their own tactical recalibrations, appear as a potential new home for Savea, especially given their recent experiments with player positions in the wake of Tom Christie’s departure.
Former All Black James Parsons sparked discussions on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod by proposing the Crusaders as a fitting destination for Savea. With the Hurricanes as a sentimental favorite due to Savea's long-standing ties, and the Blues also in the mix, the Crusaders' current gap at openside makes this a conversation worth having. The team has been testing Leicester Fainga’anuku, traditionally a centre, in the openside flanker role with mixed results.
"Could the Crusaders be after Ardie? If you think about this, Leicester moving to seven, is there an opportunity that they feel like it’s something they need in their game?"
Parsons’ thoughts were echoed by ex-Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall, who also appeared on the podcast, expressing enthusiasm at the prospect of Savea donning the Crusaders jersey. "If he’s up for a conversation around signing, why wouldn’t you? He’s one of the best players in the world," Hall noted, emphasizing the strategic advantage Savea could bring to the squad.
The discussion took a playful turn when Parsons suggested a positional swap might be on the cards, reflecting the modern rugby trend towards versatile, 'hybrid' players. "Could we see Penns (head coach Rob Penney) put Ardie at centre and Leicester at seven?" he quipped, a scenario that Hall supported by affirming Savea’s versatility: "Look, you can put Ardie Savea anywhere on the field, it doesn’t matter if it’s seven, 13 or anything. Maybe a little bit of a hybrid switching them in the game to keep teams guessing."
The ongoing experimentation with Fainga’anuku at openside continues to be a point of interest and mild controversy, especially when tactical decisions, like not moving him during the recent Hurricanes clash after Braydon Ennor's late withdrawal, come into play. Parsons expressed his surprise at these choices, noting, "I was surprised even with the late change, they didn’t move Leicester out into the midfield to keep Dallas McLeod on the wing, but they’re all in on the seven train, that’s for sure."
As the rugby world turns its gaze towards the 2027 season, the potential reshuffling of players like Savea could redefine team dynamics and strategies in the Super Rugby Pacific, making every move a critical play in the larger game.