Savage arrived back less than a year ago after studying mechanical engineering in North Harbour, while McGougan had a stint with the Auckland academy, before struggling with fitness and injury over the last few seasons back in the Bay.
"Everyone had written us off before the season had even started," McGougan said. "Even the referees expected us to be inexperienced in the set-pieces and that we'd give away a whole heap of free-kicks. But the boys thought 'stuff that' during pre-season and got stuck in and it really paid off."
Less surprising, but just as deserved, was the inclusion of Steamers stars Colin Bourke and Mike Delany, while skipper Tanerau Latimer is expected to play a big part in the new-look team.
But for embattled Chiefs coach Ian Foster, dealing with the loss of six of his tight-five from last season's team, the form of the rookie Steamers props was a revelation.
"Six months ago, they probably weren't even close to Super 14 but they've really taken the challenge through increased game time," Foster said. "Six months ago, we were pretty depressed because we were losing Simms and Ben and Tom Willis - we were worried where we were going as a franchise.
"Their departure has given two others an opportunity which was half the good news - the other half was how those two have taken that opportunity."
Foster believes Eastern Bay-raised McGougan and Rotorua local Savage will have another point to prove at Super 14 level, and their inclusion, along with Hawke's Bay powerhouse Arizona Taumalolo and hooker Hikawera Elliot, will let his pack become a weapon.
His assistant coach, former Waikato prop Craig Stevenson, believes that the best is still to come from the pair.
"They showed a lot of promise as youngsters, and Googs especially has made a few life-changing shifts and it's worked for him. He's got his shit together basically.
"He's pretty much been unbeaten this year, apart from maybe Wyatt Crocket in the Canterbury game. He learned from that and the way he scrummed against (Jamie) Mackintosh and other guys who were highly ranked - I thought he was outstanding."
The signs are pretty good for their continued development too - McGougan celebrated his call-up in style, completing 4km worth of sprints for his first venture into professional training.