All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 6 September
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
It seems completely fitting that Ardie Savea's big milestone has coincided with the biggest test of the season. The All Black loose forward and sometime captain has become such an important part of the team, so this occasion will befit someone of his stature reaching 100 test caps.
Not that Savea would openly agree with any of that. His narrative this season has been one of the most interesting of any player in the modern era, with the attention brought to him by the raising of his game to unbelievable levels in a Moana Pasifika team that many thought wouldn't even survive the competition.
Now he stands as perhaps the most influential player not just in the All Blacks, but test rugby, providing the perfect balance between prized thoroughbred and toughened warhorse.
"I've had a bit of time on the bus today just to sit back and reflect," said Savea at the team naming press conference.
Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
"You know, the journey. For me, I always try and remind myself that every time I put on the black jersey, it's a blessing. And it just happens to be the 100th time this weekend, and it's another huge blessing for me. So I'm grateful for this team, the coaches, the players, the past players and coaches, just everyone that's been a part of this legacy."
It is a little bit ironic that Savea's big game is about as big as it can get outside of a World Cup. The Springboks present the biggest challenge in test rugby right now, but that wasn't always the case, with Savea's first three tests against them being big victories. That included the now infamous 57-0 win at North Harbour Stadium, but Savea's career has taken him through the Springbok resurgence that's seen them win the last two World Cups.
"Huge respect to the Springboks … to be able to go out there and be named to play against the Springboks in this test match, it's a great challenge and something that's going to be hard and tough, but something for all of us to work towards," he said.
Things certainly have changed in that regard, with the Springboks now on a four-test win streak against the All Blacks.
Ardie Savea. Photo: Chloe Knott/Actionpress
A late selection switch by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has seen a fitting situation unfold, with Siya Kolisi set to take the field and go head-to-head with his friend, Savea.
"First and foremost, we are just human beings, men in this room, husbands and fathers. Siya's the same as me … we represent two different countries that want to get the result. So, that's the special friendship, I think it's like that with a lot of international teams and players. We go out there and try and beat each other up and try and do what's best for our team.
"And then we just share conversations, just like normal human beings, we put that aside and just connect."
Savea is now 31 and has signed on until the next World Cup. So the potential is there for him to add an awful lot more tests to the 100 he will bring up on Saturday, but he harbours a common philosophy among All Blacks regarding his future in the team.
"You never know when your time is up in the jersey," he said.
"So you hear your name each week, you get butterflies and you don't want to let the jersey down."
Team lists
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Fabian Holland, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie
Springboks: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Siya Kolisi, 9. Grant Williams, 10. Handre Pollard, 11. Canan Moodie, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel (c), 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 15. Willie le Roux
Bench: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23. Ethan Hooker
