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Ardie Savea describes England's Ben Earl as 'pretty swaggy with the ball'

By PA
Ardie Savea of New Zealand celebrates scoring his team's second try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between Ireland and New Zealand at Stade de France on October 14, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Ardie Savea sees a kindred spirit in Ben Earl as he places New Zealand on alert for an England forward assault in Dunedin on Saturday.

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Savea and Earl were the outstanding number eights at last autumn’s World Cup and they will go head to head for the first time in the series opener at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The rival back rows have similar builds and share comparable strengths with their explosive carrying, athleticism and footwork central to their teams’ attacking game.

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    All Blacks ace Ardie Savea chatted to Jim Hamilton in Japan, reflecting on the RWC 2023 experience, life in Japan, playing for the All Blacks and what the future holds. Watch now on RugbyPass TV

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    Earl even finished the tour opener against Japan at inside centre and Savea, the reigning world player of the year, has been impressed by a 26-year-old who was a peripheral player for England less than a year ago.

    “I’m a big fan of Ben,” said Savea, who also described Maro Itoje as a “pillar” of the tourists’ pack.

    “He plays similar to myself. He’s pretty swaggy with the ball, runs hard and has got some good feet. He’s someone we need to nullify, but it will be very hard.”

    New Zealand have won 33 of their 43 meetings with England yet Savea’s record is less definitive, reading won one, lost one and drawn one.

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    The 19-7 defeat in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals was the most painful of those experiences, but the 25-25 draw at Twickenham in their most recent meeting 20 months ago was also instructive.

    “England will be direct and strong in the set-piece and at mauling. In the past they’ve had success going through us. If we don’t match that, it will be a long day for us,” Savea said.

    Head-to-Head

    Last 5 Meetings

    Wins
    3
    Draws
    1
    Wins
    1
    Average Points scored
    19
    20
    First try wins
    60%
    Home team wins
    60%

    “I myself haven’t really had a good history playing England – the last time I played them we drew.

    “They’ve always been awesome battles with England and I’m sure this one will be just as awesome.”

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    The first of two Tests against England will be New Zealand’s maiden outing since being edged by South Africa in the World Cup final in November. It will also be Scott Robertson’s baptism as head coach with Scott Barrett the new captain.

    When asked what should be expected of the All Blacks, Savea said: “Simple things done well. I expect the boys to look out for each other and show a lot of care.”

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    Comments

    1 Comment
    B
    Barry 273 days ago

    Love Ardie!

    Stand out moment/comment of the last RWC final.

    “Reeeeeeeeeed card!?”

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    fl 1 hour ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

    Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


    “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

    I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


    “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

    I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


    “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

    I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

    176 Go to comments
    J
    JW 5 hours ago
    French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

    Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


    They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


    That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

    9 Go to comments
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