With the four-test series kicking off at Ellis Park on Saturday, Ardie Savea is making his first appearance of the tour after resting while the All Blacks beat all three SA franchises in warm-up games. His message is direct — he respects the Boks but believes the All Blacks are equally matched. Savea flags the first test as crucial given the series format: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Johannesburg, then Baltimore on 12 September. South Africa carry significant momentum into the opener — 12 consecutive test wins and five victories in the last six against New Zealand — but Savea's framing suggests the All Blacks arrive with a rested captain, genuine confidence, and an appetite for exactly the kind of brutal, high-stakes rugby the Boks bring.
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Savea: All Blacks ready to match Boks in four-test 'Greatest Rivalry' series
Savea makes his tour debut at Ellis Park on Saturday, backing the All Blacks to match a Bok side on a 12-test winning run. He flags Test 1 as pivotal in the four-match 'Greatest Rivalry' series.
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