Richie McCaw Makes His Feelings Clear on All Blacks Captain Ardie Savea

Sunday, 26 July 2026 at 22:59

byRugby Rucker

Richie McCaw knows exactly what it takes to lead the All Blacks.

The legendary openside flanker captained New Zealand to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles and remains widely regarded as one of the greatest leaders the sport has ever seen.

So when McCaw speaks about the current All Blacks skipper, Ardie Savea, rugby fans take notice.

Far from offering criticism, the two-time World Cup winner has made it abundantly clear just how highly he rates the dynamic loose forward.

"I Love Watching Ardie Savea"

In an interview with

The Times, McCaw admitted Savea is one of the players he most enjoys watching in world rugby.

"I love watching the old dog Ardie Savea change the momentum of Tests with his game-breaking carries or jackals from the back row."

It is high praise from a player who redefined the openside flanker role during his illustrious career.

McCaw's comments underline what makes Savea so special. While the current captain may not play exactly like his predecessor, his ability to produce match-winning moments through powerful carries, relentless work at the breakdown and inspirational leadership has made him the heartbeat of the All Blacks.

A Message From One Captain to Another

When Savea was appointed All Blacks captain ahead of the 2026 season, McCaw reached out privately with some advice that was later shared publicly by New Zealand Rugby.

His message read:

"My advice, for what it's worth, is give it more than you ever have, which I know will be hard beyond belief. But if you do this you will never ever have any regrets."

The message reflected McCaw's own approach to captaincy, where relentless commitment and leading by example became the foundations of one of the greatest eras in All Blacks history.

All Blacks Handed NIGHTMARE Route to 2027 Rugby World Cup Final

The All Blacks have been handed a potentially brutal route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup final after being drawn alongside hosts Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest pools.

With the competition expanding to 24 teams and introducing a Round of 16 for the first time, New Zealand can already map out their possible path to the Webb Ellis Cup — and it is packed with danger.

Pool A: A Trans-Tasman Showdown

New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, creating one of the marquee clashes of the group stage. The All Blacks and Wallabies are expected to battle for top spot, with the pool winner earning a potentially more favourable route through the knockout stages.

Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each pool automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams across all pools also advance.

For New Zealand, the objective will be simple: finish first in Pool A.

Round of 16: A Third-Placed Opponent Awaits

If the All Blacks top Pool A, they will face one of the tournament's best third-placed teams in the Round of 16.

Based on the draw, that opponent would come from Pools C, E or F. Possible challengers could include:

On paper, this should represent a manageable first knockout assignment for New Zealand.

Quarter-Final: Potential Clash with South Africa

The bracket reveals the first major obstacle on New Zealand's path.

Should the All Blacks win Pool A and progress through the Round of 16, they are likely to face the winner of Pool B in the quarter-finals. Defending champions South Africa are overwhelming favourites to top that group, which also contains Italy, Georgia and Romania.

That means the Rugby Championship rivals could be set for another World Cup knockout classic, with the Springboks standing between New Zealand and the final four.

Given South Africa's recent dominance and World Cup pedigree, many observers view this as one of the most anticipated potential quarter-finals of the tournament.

Semi-Final: France Looms Large

If New Zealand overcome South Africa, the likely semi-final opponent would emerge from the opposite side of the bracket containing Pool E.

France are strong favourites to win Pool E, which also includes Japan, Samoa and the United States.

Les Bleus are expected to navigate their side of the draw and could set up a blockbuster semi-final against the All Blacks. A meeting between two of world rugby's most talented squads would undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the tournament.

Potential Final Opponents

Should New Zealand reach the final, several heavyweight nations could await.

The opposite half of the draw is expected to be led by:

Ireland
Scotland
Argentina
England

England's route appears favourable if they top Pool F, while Ireland and Scotland will again meet in the pool stage before potentially making deep runs into the knockout rounds.

Argentina, meanwhile, remain one of the dark horses after their impressive performances in recent World Cups.

Predicted Route to the Final

Assuming the major nations win their pools, the All Blacks' most likely pathway would be:

Pool Stage

Australia
Other Pool A opponents

Round of 16

Best third-placed qualifier (from Pools C, E or F)

Quarter-Final

South Africa (Pool B winner)

Semi-Final

France (Pool E winner)

Final

Ireland, England, Scotland or Argentina

Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!