Cory Jane happy in Savea’s shadow

Julian Savea racked up the big numbers but fellow All Blacks winger Cory Jane had as much reason for satisfaction in Hamilton on Saturday night.

Savea bagged a hat-trick of tries in the 36-13 third Test win over England to maintain an explosive start to his Test career.

His 23 tries from 22 Tests is a figure only bettered by another left winger, Joe Rokocoko (27 tries) at the same stage of their All Blacks careers.

Savea, 23, who has crossed eight times in four Tests against England, was typically humble, attributing his prolific career tally to the way the All Blacks play.

“It’s more about reacting to what we see in front of us. We see the opportunity, we’ll take it.”

Happier to talk about himself was Jane, whose credentials were questioned following an error-riddled display in the second Test win at Dunedin last week.

Jane, at 31 the oldest-ever All Blacks winger, responded with a supreme, if tryless, all-round display.

He fielded high balls with aplomb and unleashed balance, acceleration and his trademark fend to beat defenders.

“It was like the old Cory. I just relaxed and didn’t try to do too much,” Jane said.

The icing on the cake came two minutes after the fulltime hooter when Jane left three defenders grasping before sending Hurricanes teammate Savea away for his third.

He says he didn’t prepare any differently to any of his other 47 Tests.

It was a matter of shutting out negativity and making his first act a confident one – in this case fielding a high ball.

“You either respond by doing your job or you let it get to you.

“I just went back to what got me here in the first place and it felt good. Just using my agility and my fend – the attributes I’m not too bad at.”

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