{
  "id": 2737455,
  "title": "'Technically the right call' — All Blacks coach Dave Rennie backs ref over Savea’s hit on Wiese",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/technically-the-right-call-all-blacks-coach-dave-rennie-backs-ref",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-23T06:16:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/rugby/international/2026-08-23-technically-the-right-call--all-blacks-coach-dave-rennie-backs-ref-over-saveas-hit-on-wiese/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ardie Savea, the All Blacks captain, admitted to feeling nervous following his tackle on Jasper Wiese during the first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. The collision, which took place in the second half of the 33-16 win for the All Blacks, resulted in no caution from the officials. Savea expressed his contentment with the decision, stating, \"I’ll be pretty biased tonight; I’m happy with the decision. I was nervous, but they made the call, and it worked in our favour.\"\n\nAll Blacks coach Dave Rennie, however, was more critical of the referee's decision, emphasizing the technical aspects of the incident. Rennie pointed out, \"Technically, it’s the right call.\" He explained that upon impact, Savea's head moved forward, meaning the initial force was on the body, with the head following. Rennie praised the referee's decision, acknowledging its positive impact on the match.\n\nThe All Blacks' defense was instrumental in the victory, limiting South Africa to a single try by Andre Esterhuizen. Rennie commended All Blacks legend and defense coach Tana Umaga for his significant contribution to the team's performance. Rennie attributed the team's success to their strong unity and hard work. Despite their win, Rennie remains cautious about a potential South African response in their upcoming match in Cape Town. \"It’s massive,\" he noted, acknowledging their lead in the series. \"You’ve got a leg up [in the series]. Obviously, it doesn’t guarantee anything, and we know they’re such a good side. Next week’s going to be just as tough. It’s nice to be one up, and we’ll enjoy a quiet beer, but we’ll turn our focus quickly to the Lions.\" The All Blacks are scheduled to face the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday evening, the final match before heading to Cape Town for the second Test at DHL Stadium on Saturday.",
  "summary": "All Blacks captain Ardie Savea admits he was “nervous” after his tackle on Springbok counterpart Jasper Wiese in the first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at Ellis Park on Saturday.",
  "key_points": [
    "All Blacks captain Ardie Savea felt nervous after his tackle on Jasper Wiese.",
    "Referee's decision to not caution Savea was deemed correct by coach Dave Rennie.",
    "Rennie praised the All Blacks defense for their crucial role in the 33-16 victory."
  ],
  "editors_take": "All Blacks coach Dave Rennie's backing of the referee's decision on Ardie Savea's tackle shows he prioritizes technical correctness over potential controversy, fitting with the team's emphasis on strong unity and hard work.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}