One-test All Black Asafo Aumua says he’s learning plenty from “big brother” Julian Savea, but that won’t stop him trying to win their Hurricanes tryscoring duel.
The powerhouse hooker sprang off the bench to score his second try in as many Super Rugby Trans-Tasman matches, and ice a 35-13 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Wellington on Friday night.
It drew him level with Savea on five tries this year, atop the Canes’ scoring charts, as they eye the Western Force in Napier on Friday night and the chance for a third successive bonus point victory.
“I don’t have to run as much as Bus [Savea], it’s just off the maul it’s pretty easy for me. Just making the most of field position, if we’re close, 5m out, then surely [I should score],” Aumua said on Monday.
At 30, the 54-test All Blacks wing Savea rediscovered his tryscoring knack in the past fortnight with four in two matches against the Waratahs and Rebels, to break the club record of 56 as the Hurricanes piled on 15 tries in all.
Said Aumua, with a grin: “It’s been good, the presence he brings to the team, his leadership and he’s got a lot of knowledge. Pretty old too. He’s the man off the field. I’m still learning even though I’m not a winger. He’s like an older brother.”
Just turned 24, Aumua’s been a man in a hurry but had to learn patience in recent seasons after he exploded into New Zealand top-level rugby with a tryscoring rampage for Wellington in 2017.
It earned him an end-of-year tour with the All Blacks, but his test debut didn’t arrive until last November in the 24-22 loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane. He got 10 minutes off the bench, having waited patiently behind frontliners Codie Taylor and Hurricanes team-mate Dane Coles.
In recent weeks that’s been his lot, too, playing the final quarter for Coles, the captain in the injured Ardie Savea’s absence.
“Obviously it’s in my mind [getting a run-on start], but whether I’m on the bench or not I’ll put my best foot forward. Looking further ahead I’m trying to make the ABs and get as much game time as I can and show what I can do.”