Julian Savea is optimistic about the All Blacks\u2019 chances after their recent coaching changes and feels his brother, Ardie, is the right man to lead the team.<\/p>\n
The veteran speedster, who scored 46 tries in 54 Tests for New Zealand between 2012 and 2017, is currently plying his trade with Super Rugby outfit Moana Pasifika but is sidelined due to a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n
Savea<\/a> was in the All Blacks<\/a> set-up at a time when they were the dominant force in the international arena and finished their triumphant 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign in England as the leading try-scorer at the global showpiece.<\/p>\n Although they are currently ranked as the number two side in World Rugby\u2019s official rankings \u2013 behind their arch rivals the Springboks \u2013 Savea admits that the All Blacks and the general state of the game in New Zealand, particularly at Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> level, is concerning.<\/p>\n \u2018Definitely not looking good\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely not looking good to be honest \u2013 getting the eyes and bums on seats,\u201d he told The New Zealand Herald<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve relied on the All Blacks to push us through \u2013 expecting viewership, or kids nowadays to play rugby, because of the All Blacks.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think it was a bad strategy to rely on that for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, other sports like football and basketball have been more appealing to youngsters, especially as rugby deals with issues such as concussions and concerned parents.<\/p>\n He feels that the current trend for rugby union in New Zealand is concerning.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely think there should have been things in place to make rugby more appealing to the younger generation,\u201d said Savea.<\/p>\n When asked if the situation is salvageable, Savea replied: \u201cI don\u2019t know, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n With Dave Rennie replacing Scott Robertson as the All Blacks\u2019 new head coach, many rugby lovers in New Zealand think Rennie should install a new skipper.<\/p>\n When Robertson took charge of the All Blacks, he appointed Scott Barrett, who he worked with at the Crusaders, as captain ahead of Savea\u2019s younger brother, Ardie<\/a>, who was the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year.<\/p>\n It was a massive decision and one that potentially backfired with questions often raised over Barrett\u2019s leadership as well as his form.<\/p>\n The older Savea believes his younger brother is the right man for the leadership role.<\/p>\n Dave Rennie is \u2018no dummy\u2019 as ex-All Blacks coach pinpoints the \u2018advantageous\u2019 position New Zealand is in<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Ards would be an awesome captain for the All Blacks\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI think Ards would be an awesome captain for the All Blacks \u2013 he leads from the front anyway, so I think for him personally he understands that if someone else gets [to be captain] there\u2019s a greater good kind of thing happening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n With the All Blacks not reaching their usual great heights, which was the norm during his time with the three-time world champions, Julian reveals that the men in black\u2019s form is something which he discusses regularly with Ardie.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard,\u201d said the 35-year-old regarding the All Blacks\u2019 performances in recent years. \u201cI always give Ardie sh*t about it. I\u2019m like, \u2018I\u2019ve never lost this much!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s always giving it back to me as well \u2013 he says, \u2018I never had Richie [McCaw], Ma\u2019a [Nonu], Conrad [Smith] and DC [Dan Carter]\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite their recent hiccups at Test level, Savea feels the All Blacks have the players to build a new leadership group and challenge the Boks\u2019 status as the best team in the world.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember every time I came to the All Blacks, it was easy because everyone just had to do their job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019ve got everyone else doing their own job, it\u2019s easy to trust \u2013 it just makes me worry about what I have to do, which makes it easy.<\/p>\n \u201cI just remember feeling, \u2018man, this is awesome\u2019 \u2013 being able to just focus on what I need to do for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n He also feels that peripheral factors have added to the pressure on the players.<\/p>\n