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ENGLAND and New Zealand, who meet in a two-Test series this summer, find themselves in similar places due to the RFU and NZ Rugby imposing a national team ban on players who decide to take up contracts overseas.
There are also similarities in many leading England and New Zealand players reaching the end of their inter national careers and going overseas to finish their playing days, with France becoming the main destination for the English recently, while Japan has been the equivalent for New Zealanders for a long time.
However, there are younger Test players such as England’s Joe Marchant, Jack Willis and Henry Arundell in France’s Top 14, and current All Blacks like Ardie Savea, Richie Mo’unga, and Shannon Frizell in Japan League One, who have also been attracted by commercial and playing opportunities outside their own countries.
The main difference is in scale, because there are around 100 New Zealanders playing in the 23-team, three division, professional Japan League One, whereas there are only around 20 English exports in the French leagues so far.
Savea has talked recently about how he has been revitalised by playing rugby in Japan with the Kobe Steelers during a post-World Cup sabbatical. It has ruled him out of this season’s Super Rugby, and has also led him to say that South Africa’s decision to allow its players to represent club teams all over the globe has helped to make them world champions.
New Zealand, and England, should take note, because he’s not wrong. Savea’s describing a work environment which clearly suits him. It also suits the South Africans, not least because economically in Japan or Europe they can earn at least 10 times what they can back home.
At his best Savea, 30, has been a talisman for the All Blacks because he is so potent and impactful. When the All Blacks went through a lull after the 2019 World Cup, and were losing matches, he was always their best player. It’s why he was made captain and, like Siya Kolisi for South Africa, he has become a player everyone measures themselves by.
Savea is not a tall, rangy, off-loading No.8 like Kieran Read, but is workmanlike and dynamic, blasting holes up the middle. In fact, Savea has strong similarities with England’s Ben Earl, but having won 78 caps he has a lot more experience. Earl has deserved the good raps he’s had this season, and if they get the opportunity to play against each other this summer, Savea will provide the Saracens star with a register of where he is.
Savea fits the bill very nicely in Japan, because their game is what he is: quick, fast, skilful, and explosive. Of course, that World Cup final loss to South Africa is going to sting – I had one chance to win it 33 years ago, and it still stings – because in a career you might get only one opportunity to win a Wor
