Podcasts about Ardie Savea

What are critics overlooking about Ardie Savea's delayed arrival in South Africa — and how can Beauden Barrett force his way back into the All Blacks' test team.Ross Karl, Bryn Hall and James Parsons examine the decision to rest the captain and how it actually effects the inner workings of the team.They also look at a rare challenge for Beauden Barrett. After more than a decade as a near-automatic test selection, the All Blacks great now has to prove himself against the Stormers.Plus, what really happens inside the opposition training team, whether Leroy Carter could provide emergency halfback cover, the need for another lock against the Springboks, who has more to lose in the series, Richie Mo'unga's return and the opening weekend of the NPC.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nieu-Seeland se plaasvervanger-kaptein, Codie Taylor, sê hulle het geen illusies oor die uitdaging om die Springbokke as wêreldkampioene op 'n tuisveld aan te pak nie. Hy sal die span lei tot die gereelde kaptein, Ardie Savea, by die span aansluit voor die eerste toets op 22 Augustus teen die Springbokke op Ellis Park. Die All Blacks se toer van agt wedstryde skop Vrydag amptelik af teen die Stormers in Kaapstad. Taylor sê hulle weet dit gaan 'n moeilike toer wees, maar hulle is gereed:

The entirety of the All Blacks squad - minus Ardie Savea - have now arrived in Cape Town and they've been welcomed into the fortress they'll play at twice on the Greatest Rivalry tour. A public event was held at DHL Stadium, with around 5000 fans watching on. It's a city where the All Blacks have traditionally had strong support and they'll face the Stormers there next weekend as well as play the second test there. South African rugby writer Brendan Nel joined Piney to discuss ahead of next week's game. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It had to happen, didn't it? The NZR sabbatical policy chooks have come home to roost. The excellent Gregor Paul, NZ Herald rugby scribe, penned a wonderful piece around the madness of the union's veteran player edict, designed to help tourniquet the bleeding of experienced players to big moneyed clubs around the globe. It didn't stop the flow; it just temporarily rerouted it. In their haste to stop senior All Blacks departing to wealthier climes, the dreaded sabbatical clause was triggered – a way for players to cash in on their All Blacks success without fleeing for the money on a permanent basis. This concept helped NZR avoid having to pick players from overseas; the last bastion of AB player central control. On the face of it, the clause appeared to be a pragmatic way to ensure the continued access to 70+ test veterans and stop the increasing pressure of income accelerated player loss. As I've often pointed out, the wording of the clause is more than problematic, it's just plain wrong. A sabbatical is a rest or break from work; an extended period of time intentionally spent on something that's not your routine job. So, most players aren't on a mental and physical break from the rigours of the game, they're just on a sanctioned cash grab. Ardie Savea has made the most of this opportunity, opting to chase the money as opposed to hitting pause. As a result, he's rooted. The best way to counter that exhaustion is to... give him more time off, to make up for all of the time he's already taken off. Instead of travelling with HIS team to the republic for the biggest tour in living memory, he's having a bit of a lie down. Weird. If anything positive arises from this nonsense saga, it will be a serious reworking of that easily abused clause, which in rugby parlance, is no longer fit for purpose. And in case you think this is an Ardie beat up, it's not. He was presented with an opportunity and took it. I'd do the same. The issue is with NZR, but the huge swathe of changes made within the halls of power will hopefully usher in a new way of thinking and acting, leaving dramas like this back in the past. Where they belong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unbeaten in the Nations Championship, the All Blacks and Springboks are now on a collision course for the Greatest Rivalry Tour.Aotearoa Rugby Pod unpacks the All Blacks' impressive 40-21 victory over Ireland and the attacking identity emerging under Dave Rennie. What does “continuity plus brutality” mean, why has New Zealand's ball retention improved, and can its high-tempo approach succeed in South Africa?Plus, the panel analyses the rise of Tupou Vaa'i at blindside, Ardie Savea's captaincy, the All Blacks' improving aerial game and the growing influence of Cam Roigard and Ruben Love.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All Blacks continue to fend off the 'easy beat' tag around Italy as they begin final preparations for Saturday's Nations Championship test in Wellington. Loose forward Luke Jacobson told Mike Hosking the Italians are the most improved international side over the past couple of years. He says they've tipped up Scotland and England in the Six Nations, and they're a hugely passionate team who will be keen to try and tip the Kiwi side at home. The All Blacks will name their team upon arrival in the capital this afternoon. Coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Ardie Savea will play, despite speculation he could be rested following a high workload over the past 18 months. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has sprung a couple of surprises in his first matchday 23. Ruben Love - the bookies' favourite to steer the side after a red-hot Super Rugby season with the Hurricanes - has been duly named to start at 10 in Saturday's test against France in Christchurch. But the intrigue comes arguably elsewhere - with Damian McKenzie to play at fullback with Will Jordan pushed to the right wing. Luke Jacobson has also won the nod to start at openside flanker, meaning captain Ardie Savea starts at number eight. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith recapped the action further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcus talks odd motel etiquette, how England will fare at the World Cup, whether the Christchurch rugby crowd will (or should) boo Ardie Savea on Saturday, and what right you have to make someone take a hat off. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tana Umaga On How Ardie Inspires & Building Rennie's All BlacksAll Blacks legend Tana Umaga joins the Aotearoa Rugby Pod after returning to the national team as defence coach.Tana explains what makes Ardie Savea such an influential leader and how he inspires those around him during the toughest moments. He also takes us behind the scenes of Dave Rennie's first camp, discussing the challenge of bringing a coaching group together from different parts of the world, preparing a Test side in a short timeframe, building relationships with players and developing a game plan to stop France.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 23 June, 2026, Auckland University economics expert Susan St John on why we need to go back to a surtax on super. Medicines New Zealand chief executive Graeme Jarvis on why it could be a slow process getting funding for weight-loss drugs. Sports socialist Holly Thorpe tells us what's driving a record number of gym memberships. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Maurice Williamson on whether new All Blacks captain Ardie Savea needs to step up in media interviews. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's talk about Ardie Savea's interview on Mike Hosking's show. I think we can all agree that it was awful, as the texts pointed out immediately. It was pretty flat and miserable, which was strange because this was Savea's first big media outing the day after being announced as All Blacks captain - to the biggest audience in the country. You'd think that if there was ever an occasion to sound a little excited, engaging and bring your A-game, that would have been it. Especially when you're the captain - and not just employed to play rugby. You're now also employed to win over (or at least retain) the fans, for a game that's under significant pressure from all the other, arguably more entertaining options out there: rugby league, basketball, Netflix - you name it. Whatever it is that your eyeballs are glued to instead of rugby union, he should be trying to win you over. Now, to be fair to Savea, this isn't exclusively an Ardie Savea problem. He is a little bit like that - his interviews generally sit on the less engaging end of the spectrum. But this is a much wider issue. This is a rugby union problem, where it has become acceptable - and maybe even desirable - for players to be monosyllabic, dull and emotionless. Why? I suspect it's to avoid saying anything controversial, headline-grabbing or even mildly titillating. But the sport, and its New Zealand headquarters, need to rethink this strategy. They need to go back and listen to the text feedback from that interview and ask themselves: is that really the response they want their newly appointed captain to generate the day after the announcement? Because we should be talking about what an inspirational figure Ardie Savea is. Instead, we're talking about how poor his first interview to hundreds of thousands of listeners was. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New All Blacks captain Ardie Savea denies he's worse off from having skipped Super Rugby to play a season in Japan. Savea returns to lead the national side for the upcoming Nations Championship tests after returning from Kobe in Japan. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from Tuesday on Newstalk ZB) Is That Even a Swear Word?/Democracy's Last Gasps/Ardie Already Disappoints/Remember DVD Shops?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wow, what a performance from the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby Final!This week we review that 60-5 win over the Chiefs, dive into Dave Rennies first All Blacks squad and all of the main talking points from yesterdays announcement, discuss the All Whites disappointing 2nd half in their 3-1 loss to Egypt and review all the NRL action from Round 16.Cheers as all ways to the TAB & Michelob Ultra for their support.

Fresh off the press - the ARP crew breaks down Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad!The 34 man squad, captained by Ardie Savea, includes four new caps, one eyebrow raising inclusion at halfback and the return of a veteran from Japan.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Pacific Waves today: Ardie Savea named All Blacks captain; Tonga government releases its budget; UN climate talks in Germany conclude; Cook Islands fisherman found by NZ air force crew. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 23rd of June, Sir Keir Starmer has officially announced his resignation as the UK Prime Minister, with a transition of power expected by September. The All Blacks' new captain Ardie Savea talks about stepping into the role and expectations for the upcoming series. Warriors Coach Andrew Webster finds his team at second on the ladder at just over the midway point, so we'll see whether he's on Mike's "this is our year" train! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New All Black captain Ardie Savea denies he's worse off from having skipped Super Rugby to play a season in Japan. Savea returns to lead the national side for the upcoming Nations Championship tests after returning from Kobe in Japan. He told Mike Hosking that there's a perception that Japan isn't that great of a team, but they have world class coaches and players mixed in with local players. Savea says you've got to be playing high-quality games, and while you can define what that means, he doesn't know – what he does know is that Japan has been great. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) No Plan. No Legacy/All These Policies/There Is No Cost of Living Crisis In New Zealand/How About Those Rates?/He Ain't No Song and Dance ManSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get the latest on the All Blacks announcement from a veteran rugby commentator, after Ardie Savea was named captain in new coach Dave Rennie’s first squad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first All Blacks squad under Dave Rennie has been unveiled. There are four fresh faces – the Hurricanes' Xavier Numia, Fehi Fineanganofo, and Josh Moorby, as well as the Blues' Anton Serger. Ardie Savea is returning from his sabbatical in Japan to captain the squad. Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Ryan Bridge it's a list that reflects an optimistic, forward-thinking brand of rugby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new coach and a new captain for the All Blacks, with Ardie Savea named skipper for the first squad of Dave Rennie's coaching era. There are four new caps - three from new Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes - and the big omission is 88-test outside back Reiko Ioane. All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan joined Piney to recap. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi are surely a lock when the All Blacks are named next week. But, our deep dive into the loose forward stats reveal a couple of surprises could be come Monday.Using ARP's Super Rugby Form Statistics Index, which feeds into our Test Selection Index, we assessed every major contender for Dave Rennie's side.Some names will surprise you.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News:Rassie Erasmus has named a 51-man Springbok squad for a season-opening double-header in Gqeberha. 21 uncapped players included in the squadAphelele Fassi has been granted a sabbatical by the Sharks to play in Japan and will return to Durban in June next year.Bordeaux have signed two young players from South Africa - Benjamin Coetzee and Diaan Augustyn on junior contractsEmbrose Papier, has a contract with the Bulls until 2027, however The Sharks in Durban have offered to pay a fee to release him early - Sharks desperate?Ardie Savea and Dave Rennie are Japanese League one winnersStormers head coach has apologised to Leinster and Leo Cullen for Ruan Ackermann's red card

Anton Segner is making a serious push for the All Blacks.The Blues openside has emerged as one of Super Rugby Pacific's form loose forwards, combining breakdown menace, defensive work-rate and strong carrying to put himself firmly in Dave Rennie's selection frame. Aotearoa Rugby Pod debates whether Segner deserves an All Blacks call-up, alongside Ardie Savea, and whether his all-round game now makes him impossible to ignore.Catch all our content across @aotearoarugbypodofficial channels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want a lesson in how to set up a business properly, then Moana Pasifika is not your guide. I wandered through the whole sorry saga in Kate MacNamara's excellent work, which took me back once again into how it all started and how most likely, even then, it was always going to end up the way it has. Sports Minister Mark Mitchell has said there is no public money for professional sport, and he is right. And yet before he ever arrived with his head screwed on properly, we were run by people who held a different view. Sport NZ is owed money. They will never get it back, given it's a loan and payments have already been missed. The team and its business case were doomed from the start. Ironically, I note the same company that did the business case, Deloittes, also got the job of trying to sell the joint last year. The figure of $5 million was bandied about. MFAT piled in financially, as in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So that's political, not really sporting. Then you come to the various linked groups involved – Moana Pasifika Limited, Pasifika Medical Association, and Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust, as well as Pasifika Futures. The medical association claimed they had plenty of dough to run the thing. Why? Because of a contract Pasifika Futures had. Who was that contract with? Whanau Ora. So there's more public money. The bit of the contract that Pasifika Futures were clipping could pay for the rugby. They held the contract for over ten years. The last year alone was worth $44 million. The rugby team did the usual stuff for money like sponsorship and tickets but none of it covered the bills, far less paid back what was owed. And obviously no one is paying $5 million for a team that, to be frank, isn't that good and doesn't attract a crowd. So what actually was it about? Fairies and unicorns. The young Pacific kid sees Ardie Savea running round the field and thinks "I can do that. So I'm going to eat well, run hard and be a star”. Or something like that. The fact they could look at any other team and see something similar doesn't seem to have put the handbrake on a very bad business idea from day one. So we the taxpayer will lose yet more money from yet more folly. It's amazing how good ideas look when it isn't your money you're stumping up with. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Moana Pasifika Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/thepiraterugby/p/the-unpublished-vol2-the-worry-with?r=2nk5sv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web This month's Rugby Transfer Review investigating the potential impact of Moana Pacifica's demise on the rugby transfer market and what next for Super Rugby - are New Zealand holding themselves back? Also discussing: Australian agents playing the media like a fiddle All change in Fiji Scotland trying to do rugby on the cheap? Welsh rugby vibes latest Rugby Transfer Hub on twitter: https://x.com/rugby_hub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I know there's a suggestion that maybe - just maybe - Moana Pasifika can be saved. But do yourself a favour and don't waste your time hoping for it because I think this is going to be the club's last season. I don't relish saying that because Moana Pasifika was absolutely one of the highlights of last year's Super Rugby season. But it has never stacked up financially, has it? The only reason it was able to pay its way for a while was because it received a temporary injection of Government money from various agencies. There was a bit of financial help from New Zealand Rugby, a bit from World Rugby and of course the fact it was majority owned by a charity that drew tens of millions of dollars in Government income. Once that Government contract was cut, the financial support came to an abrupt end. Now the money has run out. It's lost its big star - Ardie Savea is now in Japan. It's losing games, sitting at the bottom of the table again and the fans have drifted away. You could argue - and it would be a fair argument - that Moana Pasifika was never really given a fair go because it doesn't even have a true home ground. But even if you gave it a home ground and even if you had a star like Ardie Savea every single season, I'd still say it wouldn't make enough money to wash its face - because none of the clubs do. Or very few of them, anyway. So if you're hoping against hope that someone swoops in to save Moana Pasifika, tell me who? It can't be New Zealand Rugby - because if they step in for Moana Pasifika, are they also going to start bailing out the Hurricanes when they make a loss? It can't be the Government either, especially with the prospect of a global recession hanging over us. That basically leaves private business. And if private business people do step in, it will be entirely out of generosity. And how long does generosity last if there are no results in the bank and no results on the field? So I'd say: put your hopes away. This will be Moana Pasifika's last season. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The demise of Moana Pasifika is not a good story. The conscious uncoupling of the club from Super Rugby Pacific doesn't come as any surprise though. Not a bad idea, but the execution was awful. The team were hog-tied from the get-go. The slow slide of the side started at inception and even though the tenuous grasp the franchise had on its position showed shadows of sustained grip on its place in the program, Moana Pasifika was only ever heading south. Unsupported, underfunded, unwanted, unable to provide players with a solid path on the route to I don't know where. A place holder franchise, without a genuine and consistent home paddock, a holding pen for athletes before they were herded into a flock shepherded by NZR, or a northern team, or for Savea, Japan. The idea was wonderful, a home for the huge numbers of Pasifika players who couldn't find contracts in other super franchises, another chance to tap into this seemingly endless resource. Except the Fijians. Another nonsense in this rudderless Pacific journey. Professional rugby contracts at the top level need to be earned, not distributed out of necessity. The Blues, the traditional home of AKL based Pasifika, saw them as a parasite. The public didn't know what they stood for. The players loved the idea, but as soon as they showed promise, they were off to greener pastures. I'm sure that being owned by PMA, the Pasifika Medical Association, wasn't helpful either. Again, good intention, but problematic as one of the key sponsor veins to tap into over the years for oval ball codes has been everything that Pasifika health doesn't need. Fast food and liquor, right? Arguably the only positive was the astonishing arrival of Ardie Savea, who brought eyeballs and bums to the games, but it was all for nothing as the gun for hire promptly upped sticks and buggered off to cash in, sorry expand his horizons, play with his global whanau, I dunno, whatever. This not a punch down on a mortally wounded group, it's just a naked precis of an experiment that had a good heart, but a terrible respiratory system. Super Rugby needs to drop the Pacific moniker and revert to type. Super Rugby works just fine, and now with 10 teams it works even better. Back to the old school when the comp was vibrant and crisp. Super 10 anyone?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been revealed that Ardie Savea’s future with the All Blacks hung in the balance. His push to quit was amid whispers of player discontent and coaching fractures exposing deep cracks in the team’s foundations. Players apparently openly questions coaching, discipline, and its overall direction. Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald rugby analyst, Gregor Paul, joins us to break down the inside story, and the deeper turmoil inside the All Blacks. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier unpack the reaction and wider implications of Gregor Paul's Ardie Savea column published in the New Zealand Herald, sparking debate across the rugby landscape. The duo also cast an eye ahead to a notably light Round 8 of Super Rugby Pacific, discussing what it means for teams and fans alike as the competition only has three games. Plus, there's time for a moment of reflection as they farewell the Crusaders' iconic 'temporary' home stadium. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode of The Agenda, Manaia Stewart and Finn Caddie join ACC Head G Lane to discuss the recording of the first-ever episode of 'Great Routes of NZ' formerly 'Dudes Routin' (00:00)...WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE!Next, the fellas discuss the news that Ardie Savea almost quit the All Blacks last season (06:35), Melie Kerr going full beast mode against South Africa (16:45), the Wahs bad break (24:35) and the NRL vs Super Rugby Easter Weekend schedule (27:45)... Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (33:15)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Black Ardie Savea appears to have reconciled with New Zealand Rugby after a potential estrangement last year. The Herald reports he came close to international retirement after the defeat to England at Twickenham. Savea was understood to have become disillusioned with the amount of the sport he was playing and time away from home, despite moving from the Hurricanes to Moana Pasifika and opting for a couple of sabbaticals in Japan. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Warriors William Warbrick! Great to have such a talent heading home to NZ & locked in at the Warriors for 3 seasons - excited to see him lace up in Warriors colours. This week we talk the biggest NRL news from Team List Tuesday, including Mitch Barnetts broken thumb, Freddy Lussick starting for the Panthers & Payne Haas's return for the Broncos- plus we preview every game happening on this long weekend.Then, I go through and name my Super Rugby form XV - made up of players from NZ franchises only, before we have a look at the 3 Super Rugby games this weekend.Finally, a quick chat on the NBA and also the Ardie Savea article released by the NZ Herald.Thanks as always to the TAB and Michelob Ultra for their support.

Earlier today, a piece was published by the NZ Herald detailing the relationship between Ardie Savea and NZ Rugby over the past couple of years, from contract discussions to relationships within the team and the coaching staff. Gregor Paul, a rugby writer with the Herald, wrote the piece and he joined D'Arcy to break it down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Ardie Savea-less Moana Pasifika will be looking to build on their stunning 2025 season as Super Rugby kicks off this weekend. Star signing and former All Black Ngani Laumape says while he leaves a void, the squad will not let the standards set by Savea drop. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

It was a breakthrough season for Moana Pasifika in 2025. With six victories, including wins over the Hurricanes, Highlanders, Blues, and Crusaders, the team ended up finishing 7th – just shy of the playoffs. They're kicking off their 2026 season next Saturday, with a clash against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka. Coach Tana Umaga joined Piney ahead of the season to discuss their plans to keep momentum rolling, and the difficulty of losing their players during the offseason. He told Piney that no one person can fill the gap left by Ardie Savea, but the leaders within the team are stepping up to the plate. “It's still a big shadow to have hanging over us, but our boys, they embrace that.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've done my best to avoid the headlines over the last few weeks, but Scott Robertson being booted from the All Blacks snapped me back. I feel for him. Just as I did for Ian Foster, last time around. These guys are in high profile jobs, coaching high performance athletes. All top coaches know it's a perilous business. But to be cut after just two years in the job, and after a period of inconsistent and occasionally poor but not absolutely catastrophic results, will leave Razor and his keenest supporters forever wondering what might have been. I don't have any inside running on the review or the process that led David Kirk and NZ Rugby to swing the axe. But it occurs to me that one of Scott Robertson's biggest errors was one of his first major decisions in the role, and I've been wondering to what extent it set the tone for his tenure. June 24, 2024. The All Blacks were preparing for their mid-year tests against England and Fiji, and Scott Robertson named the man who would captain the All Blacks. I was stunned when he made that announcement. I said as much on this show. Not because I don't think Scott Barrett is an incredible rugby player. Not because I don't think he's an outstanding leader and he isn't deserving of the All Blacks captaincy. But because for anyone with even a passing interest in the game and the team, there was a much more obvious candidate hiding in plain sight. Robertson said he had an established relationship with Barrett from their time at the Crusaders. Very well, but surely coaching the national team meant other factors should be prioritised? Surely getting the best was more important than sticking with what you know?! And surely winning the trust of the playing group begins with empowering their obvious leader? Captaincy carries different responsibilities in different sports. In cricket, it's a significant tactical burden. Every ball your team bowls, you're theoretically making a decision. In football, netball, and rugby, a little less. You're not setting fields or choosing bowlers. You have a game plan or a formation, but apart from the odd decision on penalties and a well-timed word to the ref, most of the game more or less happens in the moment. It puts a different kind of demand on leadership. One that is less overtly tactical, and focuses on the sort of person whose play, and behaviour will unite his teammates, inspire their play, and set a standard for the team. And come on, I say this as a lifelong Canterbury fan, does anyone in this country think Ardie Savea isn't that man? If you were picking 15 starting players for the All Blacks, in order of value to the team, there is surely not a single rugby fan who wouldn't pick Ardie first, almost every time. If you were picking a World XV, he's maybe the only current All Black who'd be a shoo-in. The man is an incredible physical force. He has a cool head. He's tactically as good as anyone else. And above all, he oozes mana. And the frustrating thing is, we can all see it. You can see it in the haka, or when he's charging with those high knees or winning a turnover. You can see it in the way opposition plays like Siya Kolisi embrace him. You can see it when a side like Moana Pasifika goes from averaging 12th place in its first three seasons to finishing seventh under his leadership, with more points than the previous two season combined. I think if we were to go back ten years, to the Whitelock-McCaw-Smith-Smith-Carter era, you could argue that our talent was so much better than in most other rugby playing nations, the captaincy perhaps didn't matter as much. But now that the World has caught up, it beggars belief that Razor didn't make Ardie Savea captain. That he didn't see the leadership and esteem that was jumping out of the television. And what message did that send to the team? I don't know what happened. But maybe Scott Robertson's mistake was that he thought by emulating his Crusaders setup as much as possible, he would replicate the success. But he needed to go further. He needed to take greater risks and forge new relationships. And I think that one decision had a huge, outsized impact. And now, having worked for so many years to win the job, just like that, Razor's opportunity is gone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have parted ways with head coach Scott "Razor" Robertson amid a turbulent performance review that has left the future of several key players, including Ardie Savea, in doubt. Closer to home, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are back in the For The Love Of Rugby studio to preview the final round of the Investec Champions Cup pool stages as European giants face the possibility of being slain ahead of the knockouts.

Welcome to Wednesday's Rugby Daily, I'm Cameron Hill. Coming up today, your permutations hit ahead of this weekend's final round of pool games in the Investec Champions Cup. Mike Sherry on the front-row injury crisis for Andy Farrell ahead of the Six Nations, And a whole heap of transfers and rumours - including Ardie Savea to Leinster - as the clubs bid to get their business done for next season.Rugby on Off The Ball with Bank of Ireland | #NeverStopCompeting

Ardie Savea took out Player of the Year at the NZ Rugby Awards last night, but another big award went to someone who spends 80 minutes trying not to be the centre of attention. Maggie Cogger-Orr was named Referee of the Year, recognised for a career-best season that includes the Women's Rugby World Cup semifinal between England and France.

A revamped All Blacks side has been tasked with maintaining an almost 72-year unbeaten legacy against Wales on Sunday morning in Cardiff. Three players —captain and lock Scott Barrett, flanker Simon Parker and Will Jordan, who shifts to the right wing— remain in the run-on side from last week's loss to England. Ardie Savea and Codie Taylor are among the players rested...along with Cam Roigard and Beauden Barrett. Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking much like the bronze medal match at the Rugby World Cup, no one really wants to play it. He says it feels more like a box ticking exercise, but they've got to get through it, come home with a win, and then face what comes over the course of the summer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks legend and double world cup winning New Zealand captain Richie McCaw joins Alfie, Alex and Will to look ahead to the match against England this weekend.He explains why an All Blacks team should never be 'developing', what makes Ardie Savea such a great player and how he thinks the game will go at Twickenham. The boys also explain why it is such an important match for the Steve Borthwick England era and why his team selection shows what sort of match we could have in store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All Blacks are returning to Eden Park to defend their record. Coming off the back of the worst-ever defeat just 12 days ago against South Africa, they're set to host the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup opener on Saturday. There are six changes to the side, with Ardie Savea taking over the captaincy from an injured Scott Barrett. Coach Scott Robertson told Mike Hosking the pressure of performing at Eden Park is still there, but he would describe it as a gift. He says people care so deeply about performing in a place with so much history, and their gift is to earn it again. “You've just gotta rise to it – that's the key.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rain and the ref seem to be common excuses going around the South African water coolers this week, but in all honesty the Boks had only themselves to blame for gifting Ardie Savea a victory in his 100th Test. While the Springbok men failed to create history, the women will write a new chapter as they appear in their first ever RWC quarter final against New Zealand this week, lining up a tasty Kiwi doubleheader for Bok fans. Andy is optimistic this week about Rassie's brow-raising, youthful selections for the second Test, while Phil and Ant are more pragmatic. Perhaps even more gruelling than dissecting a Springbok loss is having to say nice things about the Wallabies for the third episode in a row. Yuck. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

On today's episode of The Agenda, Finn Caddie joins Jeremy Wells to answer the most pressing question from the ACC Caravan Facebook Group (00:00)... WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE!Then the fellas get into the "Soccer Ashes" and the origin of the name (07:30).Also, they discuss Rassie swinging the axe and making huge changes to the Springboks for the 2nd Test this weekend (14:00), and why Kevin Pietersen feels like he can chime in on Tupou Vaa'i's "embarrassing" celebration of Ardie Savea's match-winning turnover (11:50).Plus, Finn puts Jerry through a quiz of the New Zealand XI for the 1992 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final against Pakistan (16:30).Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (28:15)...GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE AGENDA & BYC LIVE PODCAST HERE! Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE!Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An immediate game reaction pod this week. The most hyped game of the year delivered, the All Blacks held strong to keep their 30-year fortress intact and gave Ardie Savea the perfect 100th test celebration, while the Boks were left muttering about what could've been. Over in Townsville, the Wallabies played the role of international rugby's rom-com kings once again, pulling off another ridiculous comeback against the Pumas. And we talk BS and Rugby whilst smiling and slightly drunk. Grab a beer and Enjoy.

One change to the All Blacks run-on side for Sunday morning's Rugby Championship rematch against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Simon Parker debuts at number eight, moving Ardie Savea to openside flanker with Du'Plessis Kirifi dropping out of the 23. Wallace Sititi and Tamaiti Williams return from injuries for the first time this year via the bench. Coach Scott Robertson told Mike Hosking they've zeroed in on finishing this week, as well as keeping things fresh. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Black Ardie Savea is backing his under-fire Super Rugby Pacific side. Savea captained Moana Pasifika to their most successful season on record this year, but the franchise's funding model is now under scrutiny. Moana Pasifika became part of the Pasifika Medical Association Group a year ago and Te Puni Kokiri has launched an independent review into allegations of use of public funding by the group for the professional rugby side. The Pasifika Medical Association is rejecting claims that public funds have been used in an inappropriate manner. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.