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Ardie Savea’s lungs burned and her body and her pride were wounded. In a stadium that usually roars his name, a pin drop could be heard, after the sound of players from the South roaring and celebrating their impressive victory.
But All Blacks star Savea is ready for more, wherever this North-South match may fit into the rugby calendar after being revived for this year’s Covid-19 like no other.
“Yes, 100 percent. I wish it was a three-game series, ”Savea said, following South’s 38-35 last-gasp win at Sky Stadium on Saturday night.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Akira Ioane and Ardie Savea threatened North, but South had the last word in Wellington.
“Hopefully whoever’s in charge can make this game happen every year and turn it into a State of Origin series. Pretty heartbroken with the loss and it would have been great to play again next week and redeem ourselves. Definitely North vs South, man, make it an accessory. “
READ MORE:
* North vs South – Double trophies head south after five attempts each.
* The Jordie and Will Show – How South Got the Last Winning Play
* North vs South player rankings: Who shone or fought for the South
* How the players from the North scored in the revived clash between islands
After New Zealand Rugby got the result of its dreams with Super Rugby Aotearoa and houses full of people when the alert fell to level 1, the update with the return of Covid to the community meant that no one took their seats in the bar of the stadium with capacity for 34,500 officials, television teams and media. .
It took me a while to get used to, as north end Caleb Clarke stormed 50 meters upfield with his first touch in complete silence. The music blared during breaks in the game and the announcer on the ground was still doing his thing, against the backdrop of an eerie and turbulent silence.
Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
North’s Caleb Clarke takes a break during the North v South rugby match at Sky Stadium.
After a failure of five attempts each, he imagined that below level 1, thousands of bettors would have gotten their money’s worth and increased the NZR coffers. Certainly the TV product paid off for Sky, desperate for live content.
Savea said of the empty stadium: “It’s weird. We approached that as a team, we had to depend on each other, trust our circle to bring the energy and fill the stadium with our energy. You generally trust the crowd to get you excited and the music that is playing. This time it’s about looking at ourselves and staying in the moment, which is sometimes quite difficult. “
For fight fans there was even a fight, but no punches, when TJ Perenara and Codie Taylor clashed and Savea rushed in, with Asafo Aumua (north) and Mitchell Dunshea (south) facing off.
So what will become of the match, last played in 2012 and revived with two trophies on the line: the centennial Cup of Love that was recently found after 88 lost years, and the fact especially Hawke’s bay, a rimu hook carved on a kauri base.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
North players Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith and Hoskins Sotutu catch their breath during a quick second half.
It may come back, depending on how much All Blacks rugby is played and what Covid allows. The victorious captain of the South, Sam Whitelock, raised in Manawatu but now a staunch man of the Canterbury and Crusaders, would also return after a very enjoyable week at camp.
“One hundred percent. Growing up with Mom from the South and Dad from the North, there have been some friendly banter. Mom will be sitting at home with a little smile and Dad might be a little upset.”
Savea enjoyed a reunion with Akira Ioane, and teamed up with another dynamic Blues striker, Hoskins Sotutu, in something of a dream trio. With a star-studded baseline, the black team gave it some air and looked home after one of the best in the game, Rieko Ioane, and then Ash Dixon crossed.
“It’s more my lungs, huh. Today was fast, there was a bit of glare and the runners were playing.
John Cowpland / AP
South’s players celebrate after defeating North in their rugby game in Wellington with a late try.
“A little more running than usual and also physical, the South team bought it tonight. Probably a step higher than Super Rugby, you have the best players on the field. It was a brutal 85 minutes. “
And Savea had the rare experience of meeting Jordie Barrett, his Hurricanes teammate who first played provincial rugby for Canterbury, hence the Taranaki man’s white jersey. It was not pleasant, since Savea was in a corner.
“I didn’t even see it. He’s a tough man, huh. He hit my temple, so it was like a shock. He didn’t know how hard he could tackle like that. I felt his power, old Jords, and I don’t want to be in front of him again. “
