Ardie Savea dubbed ‘best player in the world’ by ex-All Black after ‘OUT OF THIS WORLD’ performance
Moana Pasifika forward Ardie Savea.
Ardie Savea has earned overwhelming praise after a mighty performance in Moana Pasifika’s 27-21 victory over the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific.
It was a historic victory for Moana as it was their maiden win over the Blues since joining the competition.
Kyren Taumoefolau’s hat-trick steered Pasifika to victory with Patrick Pellegrini adding three conversions and four penalties to seal the win that keeps them in the play-off hunt.
Ardie Savea’s masterclass
A penalty try and further scores from Patrick Tuipulotu and Hoskins Sotutu kept the Blues in the fight, but Vern Cotter’s side were dealt a major blow in their race for a spot in the Super Rugby knockout stages.
While Taumoefolau’s try-scoring heroics proved pivotal, it was All Black Savea who garnered the praise online with an all-action display, which included a match-winning turnover near his line to seal the win.
He also made a brilliant clearance from his own tryline earlier in the match in what was a truly breathtaking performance.
“I’ve watched heaps of Super Rugby from 1996 to date. THAT PERFORMANCE BY ARDIE SAVEA TODAY WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!” one fan remarked on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Tight Five Rugby added: “What a moment for Moana Pasifika as they beat the Blues for the first time ever! The Ardie Savea effect.”
What a moment for Moana Pasifika as they beat the Blues for the first time ever!
The Ardie Savea effect. #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/RJdXBJ3Bfi
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) May 17, 2025
Jordan Patu hailed the back-rower as a ‘freak’.
“Ardie Savea’s current run of form is ridiculous. He’s playing like a video game character who has maxed out his stats & unlocked every badge. Dude just started randomly performing flawless chip & chases regularly. Absolute freak of a player,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, ex-All Blacks fly-half Liam Sopoaga was watching on and sang his former teammate’s praises.
“Ardie Savea best player in the world,” one of his posts read.
He added: “Of course it’s that guy Ardie Savea!! One of the great individual performances you’ll ever see.”
Sopoaga believes that Savea’s presence in the Moana squad has raised the game of those around him.
“You can see what being around Ardie has done for some of the Moana players,” he wrote.
“They have seen greatness in the flesh and grown their games.”
The win for Moana sees them move ahead of the Blues on the Super Rugby Pacific standings, with the two sides level on points but the former have won more games.
