All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea: Playing the Boks at Ellis Park is goosebump stuff
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is relishing the prospect of leading New Zealand into the Ellis Park cauldron.
All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea has expressed his excitement and nervousness ahead of New Zealand's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener against the Springboks at Ellis Park. For Savea, Johannesburg's iconic stadium is the pinnacle of playing rugby, where he still gets goosebumps when the Springbok "warriors" appear on the field. Despite his 109 caps, Savea returned to South Africa for family time and is keen to contribute to the team's energy.
The 32-year-old captain believes New Zealand can match the Springboks' physicality and quality, with the match set to be a spectacle. Savea acknowledges the importance of discipline and accuracy in set pieces against the Springboks, who thrive on those moments. The emotional aspect of the game is heightened by Savea's close friendship with injured Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, with whom they recently spoke.
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