Ardie Savea. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
All Blacks star Ardie Savea is in career-best form, and could be unleashed against the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia this year.
The Moana Pasifika captain, who was named Super Rugby Pacific player of the year on Monday, is on the wishlist of one coach.
Ardie Savea scores a try for Moana Pasifika. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Wallabies great Toutai Kefu has been named as the First Nations and Pasifika XV coach and has revealed some players he's keen on.
The match will be played in Melbourne on 22 July. The All Blacks play three tests against France in July, the last being in Hamilton on 19 July, so it seems unlikely that Savea would be available.
Toutai Kefu. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
However, Kefu said he is hopeful.
"Geez, I'd love to have a crack at him," Kefu told Rugby Australia. "He might be available to the [AUNZ Invitational XV], but he'd be great to have for our team."
Kefu is still to finalise the rest of his coaching staff, but Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga's name has been mentioned.
"We've known each other for a while now so I'm sure [Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt] probably had something to do with it. Maybe it was him that mentioned my name.
"Tana's name got mentioned earlier in the piece, but because the British and Irish Lions are visiting Australia, we're probably going to focus on the Australians who have coached in Australia or overseas, they probably deserve the first right of reply."
Meanwhile, Les Kiss has been named as the AUNZ Invitational XV head coach and will be assisted by former All Blacks boss Ian Foster.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
