All Blacks captain Ardie Savea takes break after Ireland win

All Blacks captain Ardie Savea celebrated a significant victory over Ireland, leading his team to a 40-21 win at Eden Park. This triumph maintains the All Blacks' impressive record at the Auckland venue, where they have not lost since 1994.

Following the match, Savea embarked on a family holiday, traveling to Samoa and Fiji with his wife and children. This break precedes his return to the All Blacks squad for their upcoming tour of South Africa.

Head coach Dave Rennie, the first All Blacks coach with Pasifika heritage, has overseen a successful start to the 2026 season. The team secured a clean sweep in their initial three home matches of the Nations Championship, defeating France, Italy, and Ireland. Rennie expressed pride in the team's performance, particularly the win against Ireland, which he believes showcased the team's potential moving forward.

Savea himself contributed to the scoreline with a powerful try, demonstrating his strength and determination. The team's performance, especially in the latter stages of the match against Ireland, has been highlighted as a promising sign for their future endeavors.

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I think for us we only can control what we can control, and that's our preparation. We knew what was at stake and the best way to prepare for them was how we turned up each day and prepared. Thought the lads prepared well, especially our guys that didn't get a chance. They really pushed us to the limit at trainings and when you get that and then we get a performance like that tonight, just proud of everyone in the squad.