Ardie Savea: Playing the Springboks 'takes you to places where you question yourself'

Ardie Savea is back in the All Blacks camp and is “hungry to get going” after two weeks of rest, during which he watched his team begin the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour with three wins.

The Kiwi captain said he hasn’t looked to assert himself on the team since joining them in Johannesburg, only looking to “add to the energy that’s already here”, happy with the momentum that’s been built in his absence.

Feeling refreshed after his two weeks of “just being a dad”, the 32-year-old said his time off was “one of those things you don’t realise you need until you’re doing it.”

Savea has since been named to start at No.8 this Saturday for the first of four Test matches against the Springboks over the next month, a gruelling schedule inspired by the old tours that forged the rivalry between the two nations.

“The energy’s high, the vibe is high. The edge — we know how big this tour is, and this game tomorrow. We’re excited, but we also know what’s coming,” Savea assessed.

“We respect the Springboks, the world-class outfit they are. But also, I believe we’re just as quality. Hopefully we go out there and put a spectacle on.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

24

17

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

Savea wasn’t short of praise for his opponents, going on to say the famous rugby nation is currently at the peak of its powers.

“Every game against the Springboks is physical and challenging, and they’re at the peak of their game. Whoever is putting on that Springbok jersey, they bring that edge, they bring the physicality. If they want, they’ve got the firepower out wide to play that sort of game too.

“Every time we play the Springboks it’s challenging. It takes you to places where you kind of question yourself. But as an All Black, that’s where you want to be.”

Adding to the scale of this weekend’s challenge for the All Blacks is the fact that one of the rugby world’s most hostile environments, Ellis Park, will play host to the match.

“It’s probably the best place you want to play as a footy player; Ellis Park,” Savea claimed. “You run out, you see the Springbok warriors coming out, and the team and the crowd. It’s pretty special.

“Just being here, I just walked past Jean de Villiers. I watched him when I was a kid. Just shaking his hand was pretty special. I think just being in Africa again, being able to play at Ellis Park, you always get goosebumps when you come play here.”

Ruben Love will have his first crack at the reigning world champions since winning the black No.10 jersey in July, and will square off with the Springboks’ young superstar playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. It’s one of many mouth-watering match-ups in game one of the series.

Savea says it’s no surprise to see Love step into one of rugby’s most famous jerseys. Reflecting on the start of the 25-year-old’s professional career, Savea said it was clear from the outset that Love had the mindset to take him far in rugby.

“He’s been awesome. I kind of always knew that Rubes had it in him. When he first came into the Hurricanes, he was different. The young boys come in and they find their way, whereas he was just locked in, took control, took charge, and he’s doing that now in the environment.

“I’ve been really impressed with Rubes. He’s just taken charge, taken lead, which is what you want from a 10.”