News about Ardie Savea

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: Forget about Doha, please, all roads should lead to Madrid. Spain may be awash with football mania once more, but it is also primed for lift-off in rugby. Perhaps the most significant result during a busy Test weekend was Spain's 29-20 win over Tonga in Nuku'alofa. While the hosts were chronically limited, Los Leones had come close to upsetting Samoa in Apia six days earlier, so there is no doubting that they are on the rise, despite the savage setback of being thrown out of the last World Cup, as excessive punishment for fielding an ineligible player in qualifying. Hours after their momentous victory, Spanish players danced around their hotel after the country's Under 20s fought back from a 14-0 deficit to beat Fiji and retain their place in the junior global showpiece next year. It was another result which reinforced the sense of momentum and vast potential across the Iberian peninsula - after Portugal's heroics at the World Cup late last year.

CHRIS FOY IN AUCKLAND: Agony , again. England's bid to become record-breakers at Eden Park was scuppered as Mark Telea's second try averted the threat of a momentous upset. Just as they had in the first Test seven days earlier, Steve Borthwick 's national team led their vaunted opponents midway through the second half. And in a repeat of the cruel script from the series opener in Dunedin, where it finished 16-15, the All Blacks extinguished English hopes. The tourists had been desperate to make history by becoming the first visiting team to successfully storm the fortress of Kiwi rugby since France won here way back in 1994. The All Blacks subsequent 48 Tests at Eden Park had yielded 46 wins and just two draws. No challengers had conquered them, but England came mighty close this time.

Scott Barrett has been entrusted with the New Zealand captaincy despite the disciplinary issues which led to the lock to become the first All Black to be sent off twice in Test rugby. The 30-year-old has been chosen ahead of Ardie Savea - the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year - to be on the on-field figurehead for the new era under Scott Robertson. The head coach, who took over from Ian Foster after the World Cup last autumn, has turned to a man who he knows well from his successful, title-winning era in charge of the Christchurch-based Crusaders. One of three Barrett brothers in the All Blacks squad, Scott will become the 81st captain of New Zealand and he said: 'It's quite humbling, so it's not something I took lightly. It's a big responsibility.' Explaining his decision, Robertson added: 'Having that existing connection to Scott was important. He's tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he's got the respect of the players and coaches.'

ALEX BYWATER: When England takes on New Zealand in a thrilling two-Test series this summer, they've been warned that they will face a resurgent and even better Ardie Savea. In Dunedin and Auckland, driven forward by the disappointment, he will face Steve Borthwick's England next year.

ALEX BYWATER: Leicester's hopes of retaining Jasper Wiese, the South African World Cup champion, have been put into jeopardy after he was offered a huge sum of money to play in Japan. Earlier this year, the Springboks saw their global glory in France thanks to a tenacious No 8 Wiese. Since joining the Tigers in 2020, he has been a crucial and influential figure in their success, who has been instrumental in them winning the Premiership in 2022.

DJ Khaled, a well-known American singer, has rallied around the World Cup final and sent a passionate message of support ahead of the blockbuster clash between South Africa and New Zealand. This Saturday evening, the two nations face each other in their fourth World Cups. Khaled has bitten the rugby bug during the tournament in France and is now a newfound devotee of the sport.

The defending champion South Africa, which is also competing for the title No. 1, is awaiting New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final next weekend. England, or Scotland. On Saturday, the semi-finals will be announced. There was a question mark over whether the All Blacks would be able to support physically and mentally their uleading attempt to topple Ireland in the quarterfinals. They did, outclassing Argentina's side in the first round of the inaugural tournament.

In the first ten minutes of the match (00:00-59)' at 6/4, the first two price boosts are for 'New Zealand to score a try,' and 'Will Jordan and Mark Telea both attempted a try' at 3/1. Jordan has four attempts at this year's tournament, while Telea has crossed the tryline on three occasions. The other two price increases are for 'New Zealand' who scored 20+ points in each half' at 6/1, and 'Mateo Carreras and Ardie Savea' both scored a try' at 14/1. In their last three matches, Carreras and Savea have both scored two tries.

As they prepare for a last-four match against Argentina with the assistance of Dan Carter, New Zealand coach Ian Foster said his team had learned from their 2019 semi-final loss to England. The All Blacks have reached the business end of the World Cup for the fourth straight tournament, although they were on the wrong end of a huge disaster in Japan. England stunned the world by defeating the southern hemisphere giants to reach the final four years ago.

RORY KEANE: This one is going to be painful for a long time. Another World Cup quarter-final exit. Another Blacklash. At least Ireland went down fighting. Deja-vu and the depressing sinking sensation are among the reasons. The late siege at the endgame was heroic, but the seeds for this humiliating loss were laid long before the exhausting, yet fruitless final attack. Ireland has received so many accolades over the past 24 months, but opponents' timing was unstoppable. They won the game that mattered, just as much as they did in Tokyo four years ago.

In an amazing Paris match, New Zealand head coach Ian Foster praised a "extraordinary day" as the All Blacks prepare for a World Cup semi-final with Argentina, defeating Ireland. Despite losing Aaron Smith and Codie Taylor to yellow cards, the southern hemisphere giants earned 28-24 winners through Leicester Fainga'anuku, Ardie Savea, and Will Jordan. 'This was a special day for us.' I've lost my voice. Foster said, "I think the world has been writing about these two quarterfinals for two years."

Ian Foster, the All Blacks' chief, insists that his actors are ready to perform in Saturday's quarter-final showdown with Ireland, but that a disciplinary mistake has clouded their plans and deprived them of a star winger. After what was described as a violation of team protocol, Mark Telea was not considered for selection.

CHRIS FOY IN LYON: Aaron Smith scored a first-trick on a night of All Black nexation as written-off New Zealand made a revealing statement about their enduring status as top World Cup challengers. This result would cause a lot of buzz around the world. Every other country with grand ambitions will welcome this performance with fear and apprehension. As if they were hapless part-timers, Italy was put to the sword. By halftime, seven converted attempts had been dismissed, and they were completely humiliated. To think that there was pre-match rumors about an upset. It didn't take long for the outlandish scenario to be buried under an avalanche of points and so much one-way traffic. Smith was ok. In midfield, Jordie Barrett was unstopable. Ardie Savea was writhing in a weak Azzurri tackle. The All Blacks were battling for turn-over penalties. Richie Mo'unga converted with wide-angle shots, and they stayed on target. Ireland has been watching the drama unfold from their base in Tours and comprehending the complexity of the challenge they face in the quarter-finals against the tenacious victors on Friday.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The Rugby World Cup will kick off on Friday night, marking weeks and months of planning, organizing, and discussing. In the tournament's opener, New Zealand and France will meet in a bid to top Group A, which promises to be a thrilling affair. In the meantime, the likes of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will be aiming to ensure their qualification via their respective organizations.

As preparations for the Rugby World Cup continue, New Zealand and South Africa will go head-to-head this evening. The All Blacks came into the match off the back of a 23-20 victory over rival Australia earlier this month. South Africa defeated Wales 52-16 in their last World Cup warm-up match, with the Springboks.

The Wallabies have added a fresh Bledisloe Cup heartbreak to their lengthy list, throwing away a 14-point half-time lead to lose 23-20 in Dunedin

Even after dropping a mammoth 12 players for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup return clash in Dunedin, the All Blacks remain unbackable favourites to topple the Wallabies who still have to 'kick down' the door that has been opened for them

The Wallabies are set for an intense showdown as they gear up to face the All Blacks in Dunedin, looking to bounce back from their recent defeat

Exclusive INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON (NIK SIMON): Start south out of Windhoek center, swerving round the roadside baboons, and then the Auas Mountains are within ten minutes. They are cut open by the meandering B1 highway that joins Robert Mugabe Avenue. An arid oasis of camel thorn trees and blooming aloe plants, lush green, sucked every last drop of water from the drained and dusty hillside. Johan, a retired wildlife photographer who knows the area inside out, is in the driver's seat. He pulls over at the gas station on the edge of town and heads straight for the meat counter, where he picks up a kilo of droewors. He says, 'dried sausage,' and he gives one over.' 'Just a snack!' On the right-hand side, you will pass an ostrich farm, announcing the start of the long and open road. The next town, a small Baster community made up of German Namibians, is just 62 miles away. Our destination is even further. 250 miles.

Ardie Savea (pictured right) of the Melbourne Rebels has admitted that he'has to be better' following his throat-slitting gesture (pictured left) directed at Melbourne scrum-half Ryan Louwrens during a tense Super Rugby Pacific match. The Hurricanes captain was apologetic after the match, but the incident was likely to be investigated by the governing body SANZAAR.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England must view the crunch match against New Zealand on Saturday as a World Cup final. It's time to avoid discussing planning for France next year, and Eddie Jones and the team's team have a huge victory. Playing with pace - not like that of iconic sprinter Usain Bolt! Both keeping Ardie Savea quiet and keeping Kiwi talisman Ardie Savea quiet will be highly useful.

ALEX BYWATER OF AUCKLAND: Ruby Tui is a player who is redefining what is possible for women's rugby, with a streak of red in her hair, a magnetic personality, and the ability to cause carnage on the field. In every bookshop and airport lounge around New Zealand, the front cover of Tui's latest autobiography gazes at you. Her celebrity is rising in the rugby-mad world, and she is just as popular as her male compatriots, Beauden Barrett and Ardie Savea, are on the top of the charts. Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand prime minister, and the Black Ferns dined dinner on Thursday. Tui appeared in a Twitter video.

Ian Foster's side made mincemeat of the visitors at Eden Park, threatening a record-breaking loss at 32-0 with 20 minutes to play before winning 40-14. On Saturday night, fans of their team's 'completely useless' performance took to Twitter to condemn their team's 'completely null' performance. One fan wrote, 'It's time to give up rugby as a national sport.' 'When the [All Blacks] have failed as well at home as they have at home recently, it's really sad.'