Rugby World Cup final defeat ‘puts fire in belly’ of All Black Ardie Savea for another try in 2027
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New Zealand's Ardie Savea was named World Rugby player of the year.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS – New Zealand No. 8 Ardie Savea said on Sunday that losing the Rugby World Cup final gives him extra motivation for the next edition of the tournament in 2027.
His All Blacks were beaten 12-11 by South Africa
Savea beat Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth, France captain Antoine Dupont and Ireland centre Bundee Aki to the prize.
“It’s put the fire again in my belly to rectify it,” he said. “I’ve experienced this twice now, 2019 and 2023 and, being a leader in this team, it’s not a nice feeling.”
He started all but one of New Zealand’s seven games at the World Cup and he becomes his country’s first recipient of the award since fullback Beauden Barrett in 2017.
The Hurricanes loose forward guided the All Blacks to a record 20th Rugby Championship in July. “We lost last night and that really hurt, so it’s nice to have something positive,” he added.
Then France flanker Thierry Dusautoir in 2011 is the only other player to have taken the prize, awarded since 2001, after losing a World Cup final.
Ireland’s Andy Farrell was named coach of the year after leading the side to a Six Nations Grand Slam, although his team went down to the All Blacks in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Englishman Farrell pipped the other nominees in South Africa’s Jacques Nienaber, New Zealand’s Ian Foster and Simon Raiwalui, who helped Fiji to the last eight.
Etzebeth, 32, is the only South African in the team of the year, while three others were nominated for player of the year.
“It’s team trophies you want to win,” he said. “If you want to win individual awards then you should probably play golf or tennis. That takes nothing away from Ardie, he’s been exceptional this year.”
World Cup hosts France and Ireland have five representatives each in the side, despite being knocked out in the tournament’s last eight. Savea and three of his compatriots – second-row Scott Barrett, fly-half Richie Mo’unga and winger Will Jordan – are included.
Etzebeth is part of an ageing Boks forward pack that include emblematic captain Siya Kolisi, who will be 36 by the time the next World Cup starts in Australia.
“Hopefully if I get chosen, I’m not going to stop,” flanker Kolisi said. “It would be great, but I don’t know, you can never tell. But at this point, I feel ready to play.”
Dan Carter, a double World Cup winner with New Zealand, and South Africa’s 2007 World Cup winner Bryan Habana were among a number of former greats inducted into World Rugby’s hall of fame. Ex-Wallabies flanker George Smith, former Argentina playmaker Juan Martin Hernandez and Dusautoir were also honoured.
Four women’s awards, including the player of the year, will be handed out after the ongoing WXV event which ends on Saturday. AFP
