'It's a warrior game': Ardie Savea explains controversial gesture
Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has explained what he was thinking when he made a controversial gesture towards a Rebels player during their Super Round clash on Friday.
Playing their second Trans-Tasman derby in as many weeks, the Hurricanes were looking to remain undefeated ahead of their match against the Blues in round three.
Playing with his heart on his sleeve, world-class loose forward Savea was on a mission during the opening 40 at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
Savea worked tirelessly in an effort to do the Canes jersey proud, and was largely successful during the first-half as he crossed for two tries and made some strong stops on defence.
But as the half-time siren ticked ever closer, a brain-fade from Savea has unfortunately become the major talking point out of an otherwise thrilling contest.
After receiving a yellow card, the All Black ran his thumb across his throat, and directed the gesture at Melbourne Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens.
Rebels centre Reece Hodge said “he’s threatening to kill him”, as picked up on the Stan Sport broadcast.
The home crowd were outraged as Savea walked off the field, and let out of a chorus of boos as he prepared to return to the field after his time in the sin bin was up.
Bit of push and shove and Ardie Savea is NOT happy 😡
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Not matter how much they tried, the cheers from the Hurricanes fans in attendance couldn’t match the cries of disapproval of those supporting the Rebels.
Savea, who almost all rugby fans would agree acted uncharacteristically in this exchange, apologised for his actions after the match.
“I just mean when I come on I’m going to try and smash you, pretty much,” Savea told reporters.
“I understand that can be taken the wrong way and like in the post (match interview) I apologised, I apologised to the player I did it too as well after the game.
“It’s just the heat of the moment mate, it’s a warrior game but I’ve got to lead by example being the skip so I got that wrong.
“Something that I can keep learning and growing from.”
As reported earlier, Savea could potentially face further punishment for this incident.
But the backrower isn’t deflecting the blame, but insisted he’s learned his lesson after having a post-match phone call with his “old man.”
“I’m not sure too sure, that’s out of my control. People can take it the way they can,” he said.
“It’s a heat of the moment, it’s a warrior game. You’re in there, you’re ready to battle, you’re trying to smash each other and there was a bit of banter going on (and it) got the best of me.
“Usually I’m cool, calm and collected in those kind of moments so that’s something for me to work on.
“I got off the field and my old man called me and kind of groaned me off so that’s a lesson learned.
“He’s a pretty calm dude but it’s not often I get a call like that after the game. Mum was in the crowd today too and she asked if I was all good cause usually I’m not like that,” he added later.
“I called me wife, she told me, ‘Are you all good?’ Brain explosion from me.
“I understand the role I play with the kids watching the games and stuff like that so it doesn’t excuse what I did but we make mistakes and hopefully I grow and learn from it.”
Savea is widely considered to be one of the best players in international rugby, and would be a major loss for the Hurricanes if he was ruled out.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland said he hopes that everyone can just “get on with it” after Savea took responsibility.
“Yeah obviously I hope it doesn’t go any further,” Holland said. “Ards is not happy with that but we all make errors and we’ve got to just accept them and get on with it.”
The Hurricanes’ thrilling 33-39 win over the Melbourne Rebels was the second match of Super Round at AAMI Park, following the Crusaders’ 52-15 demolition of the Highlanders.
Next up tomorrow, Moana Pasifika are set to face the Chiefs before Fijian Drua go head-to-head with the Waratahs.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments