Cape Town - Former Springbok flyhalf Butch James has picked All Black wing Julian Savea as his player of the tournament at the recently concluded Rugby World Cup in England.
Savea was the tournament’s top try-scorer with eight and also won the Try of the Year award at the official World Rugby awards on Sunday.
He showed brute strength to bounce off three French defenders and touch down in the left corner for a try which helped his team to a 62-13 win in the quarter-finals.
While compatriot Dan Carter won the official World Rugby Player of the Year award, James feels Savea was the best player at the World Cup.
“I enjoyed watching Savea. He reminded me a lot of Jonah Lomu back in ’95 and ’99,” James said via a video posted to his Twitter page.
James also mentioned All Blacks Carter and Ma’a Nonu as well as Australians Scott Fardy, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Drew Mitchell as players who stood out.