The Moana Pasifika captain, a man after God’s own heart, Ardie Savea, has been named Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.
His leadership often overlooked by the All Blacks, Ardie Savea has re-ignited Pasefika people’s excitement and support for the Moana with inspirational leadership since joining the franchise this season.
On Friday night the rugby world witnessed an unforgettable performance as Savea led his team to a historical victory against the Blues.
Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz / Photosport.
Super Rugby Pacific made the announcement on Sunday night, after the 31-year-old established a lead in voting that would be impossible to surpass with just two weeks left in the regular season.
Savea collected the maximum six votes against the Blues in Round 14, and 42 votes across the season so far, putting him beyond the reach of Brumbie Tom Hooper (31 votes) and Chief Damian McKenzie (28 votes).
Savea has scored five tries, made more than 350 post-contact metres, completed 110 tackles and won 15 turnovers in 10 appearances.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup Player of the Year and former Hurricanes captain has transformed Moana Pasifika with a chance to make the playoffs in his first season with the Pacific side, leading them to historical wins against the Crusaders, Highlanders and Blues.
Savea led from the front on Friday night with one of the greatest displays in the history of rugby matches, inspiring greatness from the rest of the Moana Pasifika boys.
Marc Hinton of Stuff summarises it well. “Savea was simply magnificent throughout, whether it was winning turnovers, carrying furiously, charging into everything with no care for his body, or unleashing touches of magic like the chip, chase and regather that featured in the lead-up to Taumoefolau’s final try..”
Savea ran for 89 metres on 21 carries. He beat 8 defenders, made 1 clean break, and dished out 4 offloads. But those numbers don’t do justice to Ardie Savea’s superhuman performance witnessed by a sold out stadium and fans across New Zealand, Samoa and the Pacific that night.
“There is surely not a rugby player on the planet his equal in this form.”
“Ardie’s passionate leadership and dominant performances for Moana Pasifika this year have made an indelible mark on his teammates, his opponents and our competition as a whole,” Super Rugby Pacific Chief Executive Jack Mesley said.
It seemed there was nothing Savea could not do, and when asked in a post match interview with Jeff Wilson, Ardie Savea gave all glory to God.
“I want to thank Jesus, without Him we would not be here.”
“We prepare and do what we can, and God does the rest..”
Asked about “belief” Savea responded, “it is faith. We do our part and put our faith in the Holy Spirit..”
Moana Pasifika have the Chiefs this weekend. A win would make it a clean sweep over all New Zealand franchises this season after already securing wins over the Crusaders, Highlanders and Blues.
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