Ardie Savea issues blunt ‘this is my house message’ to the Springboks
All Blacks back-row Ardie Savea and head coach Scott Robertson.
It always felt that there was going to be a moment that summed up this iconic Test between two great rivals and of course it was Ardie Savea who delivered it.
On the day of his 100th Test and with just a minute remaining in the contest, it was the great back-rower who stole the ball at the breakdown on his own line to effectively seal the win for New Zealand.
The Springboks had got back into the match through Cobus Reinach’s try and were pressing for the seven points which would level the match, but up stepped Savea.
Savea’s message
After referee Karl Dickson had awarded the penalty, the flanker celebrated wildly and appeared to utter the words: “This is my house”, no doubt in reference to the All Blacks’ long unbeaten streak at Eden Park.
Many thought South Africa would be the ones to break it, but Scott Robertson’s men performed when it mattered to extend their run to 51 games at the Auckland ground.
“It epitomised who he is, really. He’s a person who makes big plays and that just sums him up beautifully. It was his moment on the 100th,” head coach Robertson said.
“A guy that’s so mentally tough and physically tough, and shows so much resilience and keeps getting up – it did reflect the Test match.
“His ability to go between seven and eight and carry the ball and hunt for the ball, his tackles – his overall performance reflected the whole 100 games.”
Savea has once again been one of the All Blacks’ best performers this year but the team went into Saturday’s game under significant pressure.
Following their defeat to Argentina, another slip-up, this time at a ground where they haven’t lost at since 1994, would have had the knives being taken out for Robertson and his squad.
However, they produced their best performance of the season to deservedly overcome the back-to-back world champions.
“You guys do a great job building that pressure. As a player, mate, you thrive on that, and it makes you want to do better,” Savea said.
“That’s what the people of this nation deserve and that’s what we are expected as All Blacks to do. For me, I love it. It gets the knots in the gut going and makes me want to perform for the people.”
Taking Eden Park form to Wellington
It felt vitally important for the All Blacks that they kept their Eden Park record intact, but Savea wants them to take that form elsewhere.
They next face the Springboks at Sky Stadium in Wellington – a ground where they haven’t fared particularly well at over the past few years – and the flanker would no doubt like to be issuing that ‘my house’ message everywhere he goes in New Zealand.
“Every stadium in New Zealand’s our home. That’s the mindset we should have. We shouldn’t wait until Eden Park to get up and put a performance like that,” Savea added.
“So enjoy tonight, and then go back down to Wellington and try and go there and do a job.”
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