Ardie Savea, a powerhouse for the All Blacks, is gearing up for a thrilling Grand Slam tour but remains cautious of England's prowess, particularly at Twickenham. Included in Scott Robertson’s 36-member squad, Savea and his team are set to embark on a campaign that will test their mettle against some of the fiercest international squads. The tour initiates with Ireland in Chicago, followed by clashes with Scotland, England, and Wales on their own turfs.
New Zealand’s track record on Grand Slam tours is notable, with successful campaigns in 1978, 2005, 2008, and 2010. Despite his debut in 2016, Savea confessed on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin that the concept of a Grand Slam was initially foreign to him.
"I think it’s really exciting. I kind of didn’t understand what it was until the last couple of weeks being at home,"
he admitted, now fully appreciating the rare opportunity at hand.
The historical clashes between New Zealand and England reveal a dominance by the All Blacks, with eight wins out of ten encounters since 2014. However, Twickenham has witnessed tight contests, including a draw in 2022 where England rallied to level the score. Savea recalls the dynamic influence of the English crowd:
"I think when we played England last time, we got out to a hefty lead. We let them back in and we drew the game. You could just see their confidence grow through the atmosphere, through the crowd and just through their belief."
Despite the daunting atmosphere at Twickenham, Savea stresses the importance of unity and momentum. "Over there, you’ve only got each other. We’ve only got the ABs there and our fans there. For us, we’ve got to make our stamp. We’ve built good momentum the last two weeks, and we’re trying to build off that," he explained.
The All Blacks' upcoming fixtures are a blend of challenge and opportunity, promising some gripping rugby action as they aim to secure another Grand Slam victory. With the squad's solid preparation and the historical backdrop of fierce competition, the stage is set for some memorable encounters on this tour.
2,193 posts
Ardie Savea, a powerhouse for the All Blacks, is gearing up for a thrilling Grand Slam tour but remains cautious of England's prowess, particularly at Twickenham. Included in Scott Robertson’s 36-member squad, Savea and his team are set to embark on a campaign that will test their mettle against some of the fiercest international squads. The tour initiates with Ireland in Chicago, followed by clashes with Scotland, England, and Wales on their own turfs.
New Zealand’s track record on Grand Slam tours is notable, with successful campaigns in 1978, 2005, 2008, and 2010. Despite his debut in 2016, Savea confessed on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin that the concept of a Grand Slam was initially foreign to him.
"I think it’s really exciting. I kind of didn’t understand what it was until the last couple of weeks being at home,"
he admitted, now fully appreciating the rare opportunity at hand.The historical clashes between New Zealand and England reveal a dominance by the All Blacks, with eight wins out of ten encounters since 2014. However, Twickenham has witnessed tight contests, including a draw in 2022 where England rallied to level the score. Savea recalls the dynamic influence of the English crowd:
"I think when we played England last time, we got out to a hefty lead. We let them back in and we drew the game. You could just see their confidence grow through the atmosphere, through the crowd and just through their belief."
Despite the daunting atmosphere at Twickenham, Savea stresses the importance of unity and momentum. "Over there, you’ve only got each other. We’ve only got the ABs there and our fans there. For us, we’ve got to make our stamp. We’ve built good momentum the last two weeks, and we’re trying to build off that," he explained.
The All Blacks' upcoming fixtures are a blend of challenge and opportunity, promising some gripping rugby action as they aim to secure another Grand Slam victory. With the squad's solid preparation and the historical backdrop of fierce competition, the stage is set for some memorable encounters on this tour.