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All Black Ardie Savea’s mixed emotions after being crowned world’s best
Hurt, loss and sadness were three words that quickly came to mind as All Blacks backrower Ardie Savea fronted the press after being crowned the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year.
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Those words aren’t commonly associated with such an honour, but Savea couldn’t run, hide or burrow away from the despair of defeat after Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France.
It’s safe to say it was a weekend that Ardie Savea will never forget. Savea, 30, played in rugby union’s biggest Test for the first time as New Zealand faced rivals South Africa for eternal glory.
The All Blacks were dealt a painful blow inside the opening few minutes as flanker Shannon Frizell was sent to the sin bin. But later in the first term, the New Zealanders were knocked to the canvas.
Captain Sam Cane was shown a red card – the first in men’s Rugby World Cup final history. Savea stepped up as the leader the All Blacks desperately needed, and his influence was almost enough.
But the All Blacks fell short. There was only one point in it, but that’s all the Springboks needed to secure back-to-back World Cup titles.
“A lot of hurt. I don’t think we’ve processed it yet, I haven’t personally. I think it’ll really hit when I jump on the plane and it’s all quiet and you spend 14 hours just thinking about it,” Savea told reporters after the World Rugby Awards.
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“I reckon that will probably be the time when it hits.
Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
4
1
Tries
0
0
Conversions
0
0
Drop Goals
0
149
Carries
85
7
Line Breaks
4
19
Turnovers Lost
9
2
Turnovers Won
7
“That was one of the worst losses I’ve had in my career,” he added.
“I like to try and find positive things when things go bad. I woke up this morning and saw my kids and my wife and I just said, ‘I’m blessed.’
“It’s just a game. Even though it hurts and it hurts the nation, that’s one of my worst losses so far.”
About 22 hours after the full-time whistle, Savea walked onto the stage at Paris Opera Garnier to shake All Blacks great Dan Carter’s hand. Savea had just been named the world’s best player.
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While Savea was humble and proud to receive the accolade, there was no hiding from the memories of the night before. The disappointment from the World Cup defeat was still very real for Savea.
But Savea offered a grin to reporters as he held onto his new trophy. With a twinkle in his eye, you could see how much the award meant to him.
“Very honoured and blessed to receive the award, mate. I’m lost for words actually,” Savea said.
“We lost last night and that really hurt so it’s nice to have something positive.
“I’d rather win the World Cup and send off our brothers who are playing their last game for the All Blacks with a World Cup, but hey, it’s not meant to be.
“We’re gonna go back and get around those boys and celebrate their careers.”
Savea is moving away from New Zealand for a bit, but the All Black will be back. The world-class loose forward will miss Super Rugby Pacific after taking up an opportunity for a sabbatical in Japan.
But it’s still the end of an era for New Zealand Rugby.
Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala and Dane Coles are all former All Blacks. Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga have potentially played their last Test in the jersey, too.
When asked to name the teammate he’ll miss playing with the most, Savea quickly responded with “all of them.”
“They come from an old school cloth and sometimes old school is good, it keeps the boys on edge.
“I need them if I’m playing… I think I’m going to miss all of them. They bring their own strengths and qualities and I’m going to miss (coach Ian Foster) Foz.
“I’ve built a special relationship with Foz and I just want to take this time too to honour him. He’s coached the team during COVID and through some storms in this black jersey. It’s a shame we couldn’t give him the fairytale ending but I know God’s got bigger plans for us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments