‘Stakes are high’: Savea ready to go to dark places against Boks at Ellis Park
SPOTLIGHT: When All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie decided to leave captain Ardie Savea behind for the early stages of the Greatest Rivalry tour, the decision raised a few eyebrows among New Zealand fans.
With Savea as captain, it was expected that he would be on tour from the outset and feature in some of the franchise matches.
However, Rennie explained the strategic decision as an opportunity to freshen up the 32-year-old after a 19-month-long season which began in Super Rugby and continued when he went on sabbatical to Japan.
Savea rejoined the side a week before the first Test but missed all three warm-up matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls.
He will lead the All Blacks out on Saturday, earning his 110th cap and making his 18th appearance against the Springboks.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Savea said the break away from the game did him good, and he’s ready to get stuck into the Boks.
“I’m good, excited to be back in South Africa and just hungry to get going,” he said.
“It was one of those things that you don’t realise you need until you’re in it.
“Obviously just being a dad, drop-offs, pick-ups, and helping the wife where she needs me around the house.
“At the same time, you watch the boys, and you wish you were here too. I’m really blessed to be back in the environment; I’m just trying to add to the energy that’s already been here.”
Savea has captained the All Blacks against the Boks on several occasions and admitted it’s always challenging and special.
He described leading the side out at Ellis Park as a “goosebumps” moment and one of the best places to play rugby.
Saturday’s clash will be no different.
“It’s always special for me, but to do it here on a special occasion is even more special.
“The stakes are high, there’s a lot of hype and edge around it, but I think that brings the best out of all players.
“We respect the Springboks and the world-class outfit they are, but also, I believe we’re just as good; hopefully we go out there and put on a spectacle.”
The story continues below…
The skipper also emphasised the importance of winning the first Test to lay down a marker for the rest of the series.
He and his troops expect a physical battle from the Boks, and it’s a clash that will take them to the gutters, he said.
“Every game against the Springboks is physical and challenging.
“They are at the peak of their game; whoever is putting on that Springbok jersey, they bring the edge, they bring the physicality, and if they want, they’ve got the firepower out wide to play that sort of game.
“We know the threats they have, and every time we play the Springboks, man, it’s challenging.
“It takes you to places where you can kind of question yourself, but as an All Black, that’s where you kind of want to be.”
Having seen improvements in their discipline during the tour, Savea reemphasised the importance of not giving the Boks easy penalties.
When asked whether the next four weeks would push his side’s limits to the next level, the skipper simply said: “I hope so, we’ll find out tomorrow.”
Register your interest to receive priority updates on RWC27 ticket releases. Don't miss out, stay in the loop!
