Why Ardie Savea's not getting ahead of himself after securing Bledisloe

Stand in All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has played his fair share of Bledisloe Cup games against the Wallabies over his 102-Test career, but Saturday afternoon’s contest would be up there with one of the more important home games in his career.

The Wallabies came to town on the back of a historic victory against the Springboks at Ellis Park last month, and showed signs of the free-flowing Joe Schmidt rugby we have come to expect against Argentina in two home Tests.

For long periods of the game, the away side who haven’t won at Eden Park since 1986, looked very much within touching distance of an upset in Auckland.

It wasn’t to be, as the All Blacks secured the Bledisloe for another year.

But with all of Savea’s experience, he knows that even though the Bledisloe Cup is locked away in the cabinet, the job is far from done in this Rugby Championship.

“So you know, like, we’ll celebrate this one and just like Razor said, I think we’ve got to be hard on ourselves after this and we can’t sit on our laurels, we enjoyed tonight, but get back on the horse and keep each other accountable.”

Much had been talked about the review post Springboks defeat in Wellington for the All Blacks, but Savea says this performance at Eden Park started last Sunday when they came into camp.

“Yeah, you know, we wanted to, I guess, put in a performance that kind of restored some mana back in the jersey, and that started on Sunday when we came back in as a team. 

“We started this game really well and credit to the Aussies because we knew that they’re a great team at coming back, and we kind of let them in towards the end of their first half, but that’s Test matches.

“We’re able to compound a few more moments in the second half and just build points. So it’s a credit to everyone involved in our team and the challenge is now was embracing this one, but then getting back on the horse and trying to go back-to-back in Perth.”

Savea, who celebrated his 100th Test match against the Springboks just under a month ago, was full of praise for the players and the leaders of the Wallabies.

“They’ve got great leaders, great players and experience in their squad. They know how to deal with pressure and when they are down,” Ardie told media post-match at Eden Park. 

“I think because when you’re down that much, you start to, I guess, not chase, but believe in what you’re doing, and try things and fix to get back in the game and that’s what they did. 

“We didn’t help ourselves with the breakdown and giving them that. But I think they just got quality players, quality leaders. 

“They’re able to get themselves out of positions like that. We’ve seen that in the British and Irish Lions series and against South Africa.”