Ardie Savea: Where the All Blacks have to ‘front up’ in order to beat ‘hard and direct’ Ireland

All Blacks back-row star Ardie Savea has challenged his fellow forwards to be at their best when they take on Ireland in their eagerly anticipated Autumn Nations Series Test on Saturday.

New Zealand and Ireland will face off at Soldier Field in Chicago – a venue which has happy memories for the men from the Emerald Isle as they clinched their first ever victory over the All Blacks there in 2016.

Since then, Ireland have won four more matches against the men in black, including a historical 2-1 series victory in New Zealand.

All Blacks in fine form in recent clashes with Ireland

However, the All Blacks will go into this weekend’s encounter with their tails up as they have won their last two Tests against Ireland – at the Aviva Stadium last year and their 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in France.

Despite those losses, Ireland have an astute coach in Andy Farrell, who earlier this year guided the British & Irish Lions to a series triumph over the Wallabies in Australia.

There were 16 Irish players in that Lions squad, and although Ireland haven’t fielded their strongest team since the end of this year’s Six Nations, Savea is wary of his opponents and is preparing for a tough battle.

Ex-All Blacks star reveals his top three international teams ahead of the Autumn Nations Series

‘Their game is based on collisions’

“[Ireland are] hard and direct,” he said. “No handbrakes – they like to win quick ball, and they play. Their game is based on collisions.

“They have a world-class forward pack and there’s a big ownership on us as a pack to front up and win those collisions.”

Although Ireland finished third in this year’s Six Nations – after suffering a home loss to eventual champions France – they bounced back with impressive away wins over Georgia and Portugal in July.

And with their Lions contingent back in their ranks, Savea believes the All Blacks will have to be at their best against Farrell’s troops.

“They’ve been world No.1… they know their game so well and how they want to play. When they get it right, they’re a very dangerous side,” he explained.

“We’ve been on the back end of a few of those [losses]. It’s a great challenge to not only match them but come out on top.”

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