Ardie Savea celebrates the All Blacks victory over Ireland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Getty Images
Ardie Savea celebrates the All Blacks victory over Ireland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Getty Images
Ardie Savea has made it clear he is firmly behind Scott Barrett as the new captain of the All Blacks, despite missing the job himself.
Savea, 30, was one of the front-runners to assume the All Blacks’ leadership role after it was vacated by Sam Cane.
As the reigning World Rugby player of the year, Savea was the popular choice to take on the role, and was backed by current and former teammates to assume the captaincy.
Savea led the All Blacks on numerous occasions in 2023, notably at the start of the Rugby World Cup in France when Cane battled a back injury. He also took over leadership in the final when Cane received a red card.
Barrett’s close relationship with Robertson was a decisive factor in him getting the role, after the pair combined for seven Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders in seven successive years.
Asked whether he had any disappointment in missing out on the job, Savea said there were no negative feelings.
“Not really,” he professed. “I think all the noise was outside noise, it was everyone here [the media].
Front of that queue was Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, who would have provided Savea the biggest competition to claim the starting role for the All Blacks.
But with 14 tests to play this year, starting with England and Fiji, Savea says there will be chances for those who missed out to win places further down the line.
“You feel for many players that missed out,” he added.
“I’m sure it will be hard, but I’m sure those guys will bounce back and work hard and do what they can to play well in whatever games come.
“It’s a really tough team to make. A big congratulations to the new guys.
“It’s a blessing to be in this team, we’re very privileged.”
One of those new players is 21-year-old rookie Wallace Sititi.
In his first season of Super Rugby, Sititi made the Chiefs’ No 8 jersey his own, and was pivotal in his side’s run to this year’s final, where they were beaten by the Blues.
But along with fellow Chiefs loose forwards Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson, Sititi’s form has been rewarded with a test call-up.
And having watched what he could of Sititi while playing club rugby in Japan, Savea can’t wait to rub shoulders with his new teammate.
“He’s amazing,” he said. “I tried to watch as many Super games [as I could], but I mainly followed the Hurricanes and Jules [brother Julian] at Moana.
Wallace Sititi impressed for the Chiefs. Photo / Photosport
“But obviously, at the back end [of the season] he’s played extremely well for such a young guy. You wouldn’t expect that.
“I’m sure he’ll learn a lot off me, but I’m going to learn a lot off him. We’ll come together quickly and try and do what’s best for the loose trio as a team.”
The All Blacks’ season opens on July 6, against England in Dunedin, before the second test a week later at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.
