Rugby: All Blacks star Ardie Savea finally wears a mouth guard in the Tri Nations clash against Argentina

All Blacks star Ardie Savea will be looking for a different reception from New Zealand Rugby this week, after finally opting to wear a mouth guard.

Savea was seen without protective gear during New Zealand’s 24-22 loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane last weekend, less than a month after the NZR convicted him of not wearing a mouth guard during the Bledisloe Cup II in Eden Park.

The 47-proof loose forward broke the NZR players’ collective bargaining agreement, whereby the players agreed to “wear a mouth guard during play” under section 53 of the 2019-2020 document.

New Zealand Rugby said they were “incredibly disappointed”.

But tonight is a different story, with Savea wearing protective gear during the All Blacks Three Nations game against Argentina.

In 2013, Savea and Wellington’s teammate Tomasi Palu was sent from the field by referee Nick Briant to retrieve a mouth guard after they were caught without one during a match against Canterbury.

Then, at 19, Savea was unaware that mouth guards were mandatory and promised to wear one after she stopped due to breathing difficulties.

“I feel like I need to use one now,” he said after receiving his marching orders seven years ago.

“I know the referees are going to start applying it from now on, so I’ll put one on as soon as possible.

“That was bad on my behalf. It’s good that they’re cracking down and forcing players to wear one. It’s not a good example for young players to follow.”

Savea was criticized three years later after he and five other teammates – Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Dane Coles and Tawera Kerr-Barlow – failed to wear mouth guards while playing for the All Blacks against Wales.

Just fifteen days after that, Savea, Coles, and Vaea Fifita were seen without protective gear while playing for the Hurricanes against the Blues.