‘World Cup final defeat against Springboks still stings’ — Ardie Savea

Ardie Savea says he is using the hurt of New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup final defeat to fuel his fire in their upcoming two-Test series against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship later this year.

The Springboks will host the All Blacks in back-to-back Tests in South Africa on 31 August at Ellis Park and 7 September in the Mother City, a first of its kind for the Cape Town Stadium.

The Springboks will also welcome World Cup quarter-finalists Ireland to South Africa for a two-Test series in July.

SAVEA READY TO AVENGE WORLD CUP FINAL DEFEAT

Speaking in an online conference organised by the Japan Rugby League One on Thursday, Savea reflected on the pain of losing the showpiece World Cup decider in Paris, and sees the upcoming Tests as opportunities for redemption and improvement.

“It still stings a little bit not being able to win the World Cup,” Savea told reporters, as he currently plies his trade with the Kobe Steelers in Japan. “It’s something that I have had to process, and I think of what we could have done better.

“Hopefully, I can use that to better myself and then obviously better myself in the future, wherever that takes me.”

Looking ahead to the matches in South Africa, the World Rugby Player of the Year emphasises the significance of facing the Boks on their home turf: “Playing two Tests in South Africa is like a highlight for a New Zealand player’s career, especially in front of those crowds.

“South Africa are world champions, and that speaks for itself.”

SPRINGBOKS’ TEST FIXTURES FOR 2024:

• Saturday, 22 June: Springboks vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
• Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
• Saturday, 13 July: Springboks vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
• Saturday, 20 July: SA vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
• Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs Springboks (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
• Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
• Saturday, 31 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
• Saturday, 7 September: SA vs New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
• Saturday, 21 September: Argentina vs Springboks (venue TBC)
• Saturday, 28 September: SA vs Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela)
• Saturday, 10 November: Springboks vs Scotland (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
• 16/17 November: England vs SA (Twickenham, London – date TBC)

*A report from French media outlet Midi Olympique has suggested France will face South Africa on 2 November.