It was a big ask for any Australian side – not least one which had been patched together after injuries plagued Dave Rennie's squad.īut after last week's fightback, which ended in defeat for the Wallabies after a controversial finale, a historic victory wasn't out of the realms of possibility – particularly given the All Blacks' chequered year which has included a first-ever series loss to Ireland on home turf. 'It's not much, because there's 23 of us on the field and I'm just one of them, but those are the moments you kind of dream of as a kid.Crocodile Dundee was in the cinemas the last time Australia won at the All Blacks' Eden Park fortress and it is more than 20 years, and now 27 Tests, since the Wallabies won anywhere on the old foe's territory. 'It's something you kind of only dream about when you're a kid,' he says. 'I had some best mates ask me 'Ards, does that mean you're at the front of the haka?' With the captaincy, Savea will also stand at the front of the All Blacks haka, standing on his own at the point of the 'tooth' to face the Wallabies.Īt the All Blacks' final training run for Sunday's test, Savea has spoken about the realisation he'd lead the haka for the first time. With Sam Cane, Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Dane Coles unavailable for the All Blacks' Rugby Championship campaign in Australia, Savea, 27, has been handed the reins, starting at Perth's Optus Stadium.

'Something you only dream of': Savea emotional before leading All Blacks hakaĪrdie Savea says leading the All Blacks haka will be a dream come dream, as he prepares for his maiden outing as test skipper against Australia in the third Bledisloe Cup test on Sunday.

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