Victor Matfield and John Kirwan believe giving All Blacks captain Ardie Savea an extended break before the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series is the right decision.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie on Monday named a 44-man squad for the tour of South Africa and confirmed that Savea will miss the opening three matches against the Stormers (7 August), Sharks (11 August) and Vodacom Bulls (15 August) before linking up with the squad ahead of the first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on 22 August.
Rennie explained that Savea had been playing and training almost continuously since January 2025.
The loose forward featured throughout the 2025 Super Rugby season before playing Test rugby, then went straight into the 2025-26 Japan Rugby League One campaign with the Kobe Steelers. After returning to New Zealand in June this year, he immediately resumed international duty, playing all three of New Zealand’s Nations Championship Tests in July.
“This seemed the obvious time [to rest him], and so yeah, it was a pretty simple decision,” Rennie said.
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Kirwan agreed that the break was justified given Savea’s workload.
“I think he’s had back-to-back seasons,” the former All Blacks wing said on the Rugby Rivals podcast. “He’s been on a financial sabbatical for two seasons in a row.
“I also think psychologically last year was really hard on him. He got blamed for some stuff that was really unfair around what happened with Razor [Scott Robertson].
“If he’s psychologically and physically tired, then it makes sense.
“It’s a big call, but Ardie has earned the right to have a break.
“That decision would’ve come from the coaches and conditioning staff. If they can get Ardie at his very best for the three Tests, then so be it.
“I think it’s a good decision if that’s what they believe is best and everyone’s happy with it.”
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Matfield believes the modern game requires a more individualised approach to player management than in previous eras.
“Rugby has changed so much,” he said. “In the old days, if the gym programme was like this, everybody did the same programme. The same applied to fitness.
“Now it’s all about what’s best for each individual player. How do we get him to be at his best on Saturday?
“If that means staying at home for an extra week, or not going to gym or training on the field for a week and just doing walk-throughs, then that’s what happens.
“Every player gets managed differently.
“If they believe that’s the best way to have Ardie at his best for the first Test, then well done to them.”
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From a leadership perspective, Matfield said modern teams no longer rely on just the captain.
“These days there’s always a leadership group. He’s just one of the leaders out on the field.
“I think that’s probably good man-management if that’s what he needs.”
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The post Big Vic, JK back ‘big call’ to rest Savea appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Victor Matfield and John Kirwan believe giving All Blacks captain Ardie Savea an extended break before the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series is the right decision.
The post Big Vic, JK back ‘big call’ to rest Savea appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
