Ardie Savea Warns of ‘Long Day’ Against England in Upcoming Tests
New Zealand’s star player Ardie Savea has cautioned that their upcoming matches against England will be a daunting challenge if the All Blacks fail to match their opponents’ physicality.
The two teams are set to clash next weekend in the first of two highly anticipated Test matches, marking the beginning of the Scott Robertson era as the new All Blacks head coach. Robertson named his 32-man squad on Monday, which notably lacks several high-profile All Blacks retirees following the Rugby World Cup.
“We understand what they bring, and if we don’t match up or front up, it’s going to be a long day,” Savea told reporters. The dynamic number eight pointed to the 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat as a painful memory, where the All Blacks were “smacked on the nose and couldn’t recover.”
England, on the other hand, have had the opportunity to play six matches together since the global tournament, including a recent 52-17 victory over Japan. In contrast, the new-look All Blacks squad has had very little time to prepare for the challenge.
Savea acknowledged England’s strengths, highlighting their physicality, skill, and the threat posed by fly-half Marcus Smith’s “unpredictability.” The All Blacks have not beaten England in their past two encounters, drawing 25-25 in their most recent clash in November 2022.
Despite the departures of several All Blacks greats, including Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Brodie Retallick, and Sam Whitelock, a strong core remains in the squad. However, head coach Scott Robertson faces the task of rebuilding and ensuring his team is ready to take on the in-form England side.
Beauden Barrett, a versatile back, has assured supporters that the coaching staff is well-organized and that the game plan will be kept simple, with the team focused on executing their strategy with clarity.
The upcoming Tests between the rugby powerhouses promise to be a captivating display of skill, physicality, and tactical prowess as the new era of All Blacks rugby under Robertson gets underway.
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