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'The Richie McCaw model, that wasn't me': Why Ardie Savea is settled at No 8
Ardie Savea played in the midfield in high school, he played like a winger for the All Black Sevens and he has played in every back-row position for the All Blacks, he’s simply deemed too good not to have on the pitch. But what position does Savea feel suits him best?
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The dynamic forward is one of the most agile and damaging ball carriers in the game, in 2023 he is again one of the season leaders in tries scored in Super Rugby Pacific.
The 29-year-old credits his positional shift for being able to better express his talents and have a heavier influence on games.
“I love being able to carry the ball and get myself in the game through ball carrying,” Savea told SENZ Breakfast. “That’s one of my strengths so yeah, I love it.
“Obviously options at the back of the scrum is another option for me to get in the game so yeah I enjoy it.
“But if I had to play seven, I’d play seven also.
“I’m really easy, I’m at that stage in my career where if I’m starting then I’m just grateful and then just go out there and try and ball out or try and ball out and play freely.”
Although the period of his career where he is jumping from one position to another is over, Savea says not much has changed since he’s settled into life as a No 8.
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“I don’t think I’ve had to change much, it’s just mindset around the set piece and the lineout.
“I think going to eight has suited my skillset because when I was seven, coming through the ranks, I got told to clean rucks, work-horse, engine, which is the Richie McCaw model, and that wasn’t me. So being eight’s allowed me to get around the corner, get my hands on the ball, throw some dummies, some steps.”
Savea and his Hurricanes side face the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific’s final regular season round this Saturday, a match Savea says his side must get up for.
“I think any team that comes up against the Crusaders has to play their best footy and that’s our mindset. They’re the champs for many years for a reason. They got some ballers in their team, Richie (Mo’unga), he drives that team well, with Scooter (Scott Barrett) as well so when we play against the Crusaders we try and bring our A game.
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“I remember the game last year or the year before where we had a last-minute lineout and we lost it and game over. We’ve had some good games and this is another one.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments