All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has thrown down a cheeky but pointed challenge to Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi ahead of Saturday’s third Test at FNB Stadium. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Savea promised fireworks between the two close friends when the whistle blows.
Asked on Friday afternoon about Kolisi currently holding an unofficial 1-0 edge over him in the tackle stats, thanks to a ferocious hit on him in Cape Town, Savea made clear that friendship counts for nothing once the game starts.
“I told him, next time, tackle me frontwards, take me home,” Savea said, laughing off the previous hit. “I was lying on the ground and all I could hear was my dad’s voice telling me to get up. So I got up.
𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐌 😤💥
Siya Kolisi with a massive hit on Ardie Savea 💣
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“Siya’s the same guy off the field, we get on well, but once you’re on the field you’re locked in, he’s the enemy out there. That’s footy, we’re going to try and smash each other tomorrow, then jump on the plane again afterwards.”
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Beyond the personal battle with Kolisi, Savea was blunt about the scale of what awaits his side.
“I think we all know the importance and the spectacle of this game,” he said. “If you’re thinking of it like State of Origin [the annual rugby league series between New South Wales and Queensland], it’s game three, one apiece, here in Africa, so it’s a big one.
“It’s exciting to get to play at the Soweto stadium and challenge ourselves to get the win.”
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The All Blacks skipper conceded his side has been guilty of slow starts through the series but insisted the belief within the squad remains unshaken.
“You wouldn’t be an All Black if you weren’t confident by this point in the week, so we’re confident, but we also respect the threat the Springboks pose,” he said.
“Last week they came out firing … we’d talked about starting well and didn’t quite deliver on that.”
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He identified the breakdown as the critical battleground.
“Every rugby team is trying to hunt turnovers at the breakdown, and there’s no doubt the Springboks are strong there. They did a good job keeping us out last week, and they’ll have to do it again this week.”
Savea also dismissed suggestions that a leaner, sharper-looking squad in training signals a change of style.
“I wouldn’t say so. We know how we want to play, and South Africa know how they want to play. The game comes down to fine margins, we lost that battle last week and the Springboks took advantage of it.
“We have to be really clinical, accurate and disciplined. They’re world champions for a reason, and if you do that you won’t get it back.”
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With his family in South Africa for the tour, Savea admitted the trip has carried extra meaning off the field.
“It’s been amazing. The majority of our time here has been absolutely beautiful. For me to go and do my work with the All Blacks and then come home and see them here [in the team hotel] has been a massive blessing.”
But with the series on the line, sentiment ends at kick-off, and Savea knows exactly who stands in his way.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
