When Ardie Savea received a text message from All Blacks coach Ian Foster on Friday his mind started scrambling, wondering what he might have done wrong.
“I just got a text from Foz and I thought I was in trouble,” Savea told reporters.
“I was stressing out, wondering, what have I done? I searched the media to see if I’d done anything, but he just sat me down and mentioned it to me. I was literally shaking.”
The news Foster delivered was all good – Savea was named to captain the All Blacks for the first time in Sunday’s Bledisloe 3 against Australia in Perth.
Sam Whitelock, who stood in for injured Sam Cane as captain in the first two matches is one of three players staying at home with babies imminent. Aaron Smith, who has 101 Test caps, is another who would have been deemed captaincy material, while Richie Mo’unga is also missng.
Savea was emotional as he spoke to NZ outlets from the team camp in Perth.
“To be able to lead such a team, it’s out of this world when I think about it,” Savea said. “And to be able to tell Mum and Dad was huge.
“Two people that migrated from Samoa to create a better life for their kids – sorry, I’m getting a bit emotional – to be here for them is pretty special.
“I’m still in awe. It’s a team that you dream of as a kid, and being able to lead is amazing. I’m lost for words and really grateful.
“Just to be named in a team was a goal that seemed so far away, but everything happens for a reason and I’m just going to embrace it.”
Savea will have the support of newly named vice-captains Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett.
“I’m nervous but I’m excited as well, and I know I’ve got great leaders around me that I can lean on,” Savea said.
“It’s amazing having those two lads right beside me. Guzz [Retallick] brings a lot of experience and fire and Baz [Barrett] is just cool, calm and collected, and he’s controlling our game over here.
(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Savea has captained the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.
“A big thing is just being myself and leading the way I usually lead, which is just trying to do it through actions,” he said. “I’m not a quiet dude but I usually go about things in a quiet way, so I won’t change much.”
Foster’s explanation of the decision was telling, and suggested he went for Savea for emotional rather than tactical reasons with the tour unusually long and demanding due to COVID.
“In some ways it’s a changing time and we’ve gone with a changing strategy,” Foster told NZ radio Newstalk ZB.
“Ardie has been a key part of our leadership group and I love that he has a very different style of leadership.
“He’s very empathetic, he’s got a great affinity right across the group and reads the group well from a family and emotional side, and I think that’s a really important quality to have in the situation we’re in.
“He’s a growing man in the environment and I’m delighted; I think he’s got a great feel for the team and it will be a great learning curve for him too.”
Foster also revealed that former NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has shared some advice with him about his experience of being with the Warriors and dealing with being away from home for a long stretch.
The All Blacks have arrived in Australia and won’t see home until late November.
“I’ve had a good chat to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in Auckland before we left about what it was like over there and some of the things that were working,” Foster told Newstalk ZB.
“Because, particularly the Warriors, they’ve done an amazing job. I know they haven’t got the results that they wanted but it’s been an amazing circumstance what they’ve had to go through. There have been some lessons out of there.
“But we also like to find our own solutions at times, so whilst we’re open to what other teams are doing, I think the key is that we don’t treat any week as being the same as the last one; we just look at where the group is at and what we feel we need.”
thebleedingobvious
Roar Rookie
I really have to credit Foster for his selections this year, he’s seen thru Jodie Barret on the wing (and fullback actually) he just needs to see thru Dmac and put Will Jordan at 15 and we have the best possible 15! I think Cane, especially Whitelock and now Ardie Savea as captain have been great choices. In Savea’s case astute also, we won’t hear any more talk about going to league, it’s the affirmation and appreciation Ardie needed and also deserved IMO. The guy is really gonna step up IMO because he’s so proud and blown way by the Captaincy. Sam Whitelock also really surprised me from the taciturn kind of wary response we used to get from his type, to the open and erudite on topic guy he is now, not that guarded kind of careful what I say crap of the past, not that these guys are ever gonna say something controversial! Cane too, was much more confident to be open when selected as Captain than he used to be. Its not just the job itself but the honour that changes these guys. Actually, even listening to Quade Cooper speak so well, it just shows how much rugby and time in the spotlight matures these guys. Anyway, this all speaks to me of Fosters’ ability to make the group feel good about themselves, actually the way Robertson might have, so I think Foster was the right way to go, given his much greater experience coaching test level than Robertson, though I will admit now if he doesn’t beat the Bok’s all my doubts return! But I don’t think showing passion ala Scott Robertson and sharing your passion to have the job, is enough to cut it with an AB coach selecting panel, as Robbie Deans found out. You have to have a plan a coaching team and an ongoing convincing strategy as to why pick me, not just I coached (Wayne’s Smith’s created legacy) Crusaders to more titles. Probably Robertson needed, Joseph and Brown on board as co coaches and probably they’d only take it on as head Coaches! Or be happy enough taking mega $ from Japan otherwise. Taking on the Crusaders isn’t enough, it isn’t a real test of coaching ability, and having coached only the Crusaders alone isn’t enough of a CV for Robertson IMO.
nroko
Roar Rookie
True, but many people move for work, often setting up a new "home"...
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Define "home" for the Argies. Many stayed in Europe, where they "work".
Blessing
Roar Rookie
Absence sure does make the heart grow fonder. Frizzell has suddenly become the second coming of Kaino on the Roar. I lost count of the games he went missing last season. I’m a Highlanders fan but don’t get the hype.
Blessing
Roar Rookie
What did you want Ardie to call himself? Dudette?
Blessing
Roar Rookie
Trying to cause mischief. I like it.
Tony
Roar Rookie
Great guy, but don't understand why the coaches play him at 8. He is 15 kgs too light. When Whitelock et al return, Ardie is best coming off the bench. In the absence of Cane and Frizell, the AB best back row starters are Papalii, Iaone and Jacobson. They will also need more beef in the backline later in the tournament or they will be out muscled by the boks.
Beefa
Guest
I wish our Wallabies had a passionate hard-man like Ardie as our captain instead we have a Spanish Peacock.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
I just hope they plonk him into the #7 role and leave him there so they can solidify the #6 & #8 with certainty from then on out. AS, he's a popular bloke we get that but your so right, he does go missing, more in games that are not going well which is when you need him to stand up the most and now more so as C.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
You just need to look at the stats MK. Doesn't make enough tackles.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Loosey I apologise as I thought you said it was a dead rubber, my bad. Again sorry buddy :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Agree! But also remember this is no dead rubber as RC points are on the line, and also the Wallabies will want to win for their fans and Country. People are suffering through the pandemic so I am sure Hooper and the team will be fired up :thumbup:
Loosey
Roar Rookie
I want to see a marker laid down in this game. Not sure what sort of marker it will be but after letting 57 points in last time out, I have big expectations. The WBs have been flattering to deceive but it’s natural following the abject TT performance. DR has lots of work ahead of him turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse. There is no such thing as a dead rubber in Trans Tasman match ups. Sorry I’ve run out of cliches.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
I'm in the same boat too BigD. Hell of a player, but hasn't as yet, cemented "his place" as a starter for mine. I get that it's not entirely his fault. Constantly moved from one position to the next…nor has he produced in the big games for me either. Has gone missing more than I prefer. Again, that's probably due to constantly playing a different position from one game to the next. I'd be happy if it's only a once off, for the reasons you have also mentioned BigD.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Loosey I appreciate good banter, but to be honest you do have a great chance. Aussie are building well, their game plan looks good so the fans need to be patient. But I think Australia will be damn hard to beat, many will go All Blacks but my crystal ball says maybe otherwise.
Ex force fan
Guest
Thanks for clarifying. It is a long time to live in hotels, however I have people at work who haven’t seen their families for longer than a year because if they go hone they can not get back.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
Great news for him personally. Always loved watching him play. Here’s hoping for a 0% win record as captain after this week. :silly:
ethan
Guest
He is in trouble... when he meets the Wallabies this week. Muahaha. I dream. Congrats Ardie.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
He will be fine . He is a warrior !
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Ardie at 7 actually was very good in defence but his attacking plus finding the gaps with his passing maybe meant that some did not realise how good he was in defence. Number 8 is not where you get the best of him