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'Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee': Ardie Savea's advice to teenage Hurricanes debutant Ruben Love

(Photo by Mark Tantrum/Getty Images)

Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has offered teenage playmaker Ruben Love some words of advice ahead of the youngster’s first start in Super Rugby against the Crusaders on Sunday.

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Love has been handed the No 10 jersey by head coach Jason Holland in what will be just his second outing at this level, two weeks after he made his debut in a five-minute cameo appearance off the bench against the Highlanders.

Despite such vast inexperience in Super Rugby, the 19-year-old has been called upon to direct his side around the park in one of the most important attacking positions against the reigning Super Rugby Aotearoa champions and current league leaders.

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All of that makes for a daunting introduction to life in Super Rugby, but Savea told reporters on Saturday that he has the full trust of the 2019 New Zealand Schools star.

“It’s awesome to have Ruben get the nod at the No 10 jersey,” Savea said.

“He’s one of the hardest working men I’ve ever come across and he’s the youngest in the team, so that’s a testament to him.

“For him to come in and lead the team is a massive ask and a massive challenge but for someone like Rubes, I think he’s got the head and the finesse to lead the boys. I’m really excited about him.”

When asked what his final words of encouragement would be for Love before Sunday’s clash in Wellington, Savea quoted the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

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“Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee, [like the] famous Muhammad Ali,” he laughed.

Savea’s comments echo those made by Holland, who labelled Love as “an absolute student of the game”, on Friday.

“He does all the right things during the week, but he’s got a bit of energy, he’s got a bit of an excitement factor that he could pull, he’s got pace, he’s got acceleration, step, so all those things are exciting,” Holland said.

“He’s an attacking player and he’ll be an attacking No 10, but he’s also got the smarts to know when to get a bit of depth and when to kick and when to pass.”

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The Hurricanes currently lie in last place on the Super Rugby Aotearoa standings with just one win from five matches.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, have four wins from five matches and sit four points clear at the summit of the competition table.

Kick-off for Sunday’s match at Sky Stadium is scheduled for 3:35pm NZT.

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PoppaRick 1 hour ago
The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

It annoys when sport “Professionals “ make statements like that . The Best Team, plays their Best game in the final. The start of the Season is pure entertainment for the Fans and training for the Teams. The last 2 years in a row the Chiefs timed their run wrong and “Choked “. Not a word used when speaking about the Crusaders, EVER!!

Hamish Bidwell should put something behind his arrogant statement. He’s playing the weatherman game, he knows, if he gets it wrong, meh!

But he takes kudos for getting a 50/50 right.

Remember game #1.

Rob Penny took his front row off including Tamaiti Williams who was demolishing the Chiefs scrum and causing havoc all over the field. The Saders lost the second half and the game, meh? Yes meh! We lost Tamaiti first game last season a loss we didn’t recover from when added to Jordan, Scooter, Backadder , etc. Yet they beat The Blues in the last Round game. Oh that’s right the Chiefs ( qualified first ) then lost to the Blues, at home! With 🐄🔔S.

The Crusaders as a whole, from top down, know the season is decided at the end.

Not a team I would write off so easily.

As for the Cow Bells. If I had Chiefs supporters coming over to watch the game at mine. I would ask them to leave the bells at home, purely because they are so bloody annoying. My house my rules. Next year don’t lose in the “Finals” (joke), get the home final and tell the Crusaders to leave the horses at home (🤣🤣🤣).

I can’t wait the game will be awesome for so many reasons.

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