Ardie Savea’s verdict on the All Blacks’ selection conundrum and reveals the secret to his sensational form
All Blacks back-row star Ardie Savea.
After shining for Moana Pasifika during an arduous Super Rugby Pacific campaign, there is plenty of talk on where in the All Blacks back-row Ardie Savea will slot in during the upcoming series against France.
The 31-year-old has been New Zealand’s first-choice number eight in recent years, shifting between that position and the openside flanker role for his club and delivered several outstanding performances which eventually saw him claim the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year award.
Savea featured mostly on the openside flank for Moana which has led to speculation that he will return to that position when the All Blacks take on Les Bleus in their first clash of a three-Test series at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.
Savea is certain to start for the All Blacks
Of the loose forwards available to All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, Savea is the one certainty for the starting line-up but the big question is whether he will have a number seven or number eight on his back when he takes to the field this weekend.
With 2024 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Wallace Sititi ruled out due to an ankle injury, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Christian Lio-Willie are the other loose forwards named by Robertson in his first squad of the year.
It looks like Jacobson is set to miss the first Test against France, due to a head knock.
Savea had some breaks during Moana’s memorable Super Rugby Pacific campaign – which saw them miss out narrowly on the play-offs – due to niggling injuries but whenever he returned to action he delivered the goods with several outstanding performances.
The big question now is whether the 94-cap international can produce the same match-winning performances for the All Blacks which he regularly delivered for Moana, against a second-string France side over the next three weeks.
Savea feels the breaks which he took played a big part in him performing at optimum level for Moana during their recent Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
“It’s easy for me to do that. I need it to be at my best. The downtime is just as important as being on,” Savea told reporters in Auckland on Tuesday.
“I probably didn’t realise at the time, I was tired and a bit fatigued, but the heart was full.
‘You’re just doing things that you love’
“When the heart and spirit is full, it kind of takes over your body and you’re just doing things that you love.”
Whether he continues at number eight for the All Blacks or slots in on the openside flank, where he shone in most of Moana’s matches, Savea is happy wherever Robertson picks him.
“I don’t have a say, do I? Just wherever Razor (Robertson) needs me, or where I fit in best for the team, that’s where I’ll play,” he said with a smile.
“If that’s 12 or 13, then I do my best and try to put my best foot forward.
“It’s hard because the loosie roles are quite interchangeable on the field. There’s no specific role, but I just enjoy playing with the guys.”
Robertson revealed on Monday that the All Blacks are keen “to play fast” and winning turnovers is a key aspect for that to happen and Savea and Kirifi are both brilliant in that facet of play.
Savea added that he is enjoying working with the uncapped Test duo of Kirifi and Lio-Willie in the All Blacks group.
“All Blacks is a different level. We have to get around each other and best prepare for this Test level,” he explained.
“It can be a bit heavy and cluttered because you’re trying to learn everything new.
“It’s all about connecting and how fast we can nail our job and our role collectively as a group.”
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