Ex-Springbok criticises Ardie Savea after Scott Robertson’s ABs exit

It’s been over a week now since New Zealand Rugby made the decision to part ways with All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, who won 20 out of the 27 Tests in his two-year tenure.

Robertson, who won seven Super Rugby Pacific titles as Crusaders coach, left his role as head coach of the All Blacks as they headed into the second half of the four-year World Cup cycle.

All Blacks and Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams is one of the first current players to speak out, sending his love and prayers to Razor’s family.

“It’s a tough world we live in, right? But a lot of love and prayers go to Razor and his family. I know he’s going to do well, whatever he does,” Williams said.

“And for us as players, we’ve just got to get together and figure it out, I guess. Looking forward to what’s next, but also, love to Ray.”

The Herald also reported that Savea would rethink his future in the black jersey if changes to the coaching staff weren’t made.

Former Springboks prop Steven Kitshoff has given his take on what went down inside All Blacks camp, saying that if the reports about Savea are true, he isn’t a fan of how it all played out.

“In the Springboks environment, Rassie would go, ‘if that guy is acting out, I won’t select him anymore’, even if he’s the best player. We’re not picking the best players, we’re picking the right players,” the prop said on the GameTime podcast.

“Ardie’s move like that is not the right move. Are you saying you’re the best and it’s either me or him? I’m ranting but it’s just something I read and I was a bit sour about it.

“I might have read it wrong or it may not have given the full picture but, with the article that came out, it’s a bit tough for me. As a player you get selected to do a job.”

Kitshoff suggests that Savea should have “manned up”, and taken a different approach in addressing his concerns.

“That’s where I’m like if Ardie could have just manned up and said: ‘I take full ownership to what happened to this team this year and I’m going to do my bit to change the course of side’.

“I would have been like, ‘Ardie, that is the way to do it’… and that’s what I didn’t like.”

“I don’t know if it’s one player, but one player is public about it and goes, ‘it’s either him or me. If you don’t get rid of him, I’m going to play my rugby at Leinster or in Japan’. That is not caring about your country and putting your country first.”