This is what you would call a win-win for Doug Howlett.
At present, the list of top try-scorers in New Zealand Test rugby history are:
- Doug Howlett = 49
- Joe Rokocoko, Christian Cullen and Julian Savea = 46
- Jeff Wilson = 44
- Jonah Lomu = 37
Howlett has sit atop that illustrious list since he scored his last try, in 2007, and anyone that has got close has then failed to push on and reach the half century mark. Howlett’s record has now stood for 10 years and Savea, the closest man to it, is currently out of favour with ABs head coach Steve Hansen.
Having featured against the British & Irish Lions in the summer, Savea was not involved in The Rugby Championship or his country’s November tour to Europe. He is marooned on 46 since scoring against Samoa in June of this year. He did play in Europe, for the Barbarians, but will need a strong Super Rugby season to get back into the New Zealand senior team.
With Savea closing in on his 49 tries, Howlett was struck by a genius idea. He jokes that it was merely a coincidence.
The Munster and All Blacks legend told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly:
“I’ve tried to talk Munster into signing Julian Savea and getting him up here but at this stage it’s not something we are looking for.”
When Ugo Monye, the show’s co-host, later returned to the idea of Howlett using his Kiwi roots to secure signings from New Zealand, he commented:
“That’s not in my job description [as Head of Commercial and Marketing] but, obviously, with my track record and my understanding of the New Zealand environment, I am asked my opinion. And when someone is chasing a record of yours down in New Zealand, I gave them the two thumbs up and tried my best to get him here but it wasn’t to be.”
Munster fans may be disappointed that the initial sounding out of Savea has not gone to plan but the Hurricanes star is still only 27 and would definitely be a prospect worth revisiting, be it next season or after the 2019 World Cup. By then, Savea may well have that try-scoring record in the bag and be content with testing himself in Europe for a few seasons.
It would then require the IRFU to sanction the move. Munster, and their supporters, would welcome ‘The Bus’ with open arms and could argue that the arrival of such a world-class winger would be a smart signing, on [trophies] and off [bums on seats & jersey sales] the pitch.
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