Ardie Savea Shares Honest Take After Shoulder to Head Tackle on Springboks Star Jasper Wiese
- All Blacks captain Ardie Savea admitted he was nervous after a shoulder-to-head tackle on Springbok No. 8 Jasper Wiese went to review
- Referee Matthew Carley chose not to issue a yellow card after reviewing the second-half incident between the two No 8s
- New Zealand coach Dave Rennie weighed in on the controversial call as the All Blacks took a 1-0 series lead over South Africa
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New Zealand claimed a 33-16 victory over South Africa in the first Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry at Ellis Park on Saturday, with All Blacks captain Ardie Savea at the centre of a contentious officiating moment that could easily have altered the contest.
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A shoulder-to-head collision between Savea and Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese in the second half drew the attention of referee Matthew Carley, who sent the incident to review. Despite the nature of the contact, no yellow card was produced, and Savea remained on the field.
Savea relieved, Rennie backs the call
Speaking to reporters after the match, Savea did not attempt to hide his relief at the outcome.
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"I'll be pretty biased tonight; I'm happy with the decision. I was nervous, but they made the decision, they made the call, and it worked in our favour," he said.
Head coach Dave Rennie, while acknowledging the sensitivity of the moment, maintained that the officials made the correct call and that the decision was fair.
The result puts New Zealand 1-0 up in the two-Test series against South Africa, with one more match remaining before the sides meet again in Cape Town next Saturday. The All Blacks also face the Lions in a tour fixture on Tuesday before the series decider.
Series continues with Cape Town rematch
The Springboks will be looking to level the series at DHL Newlands, where the rematch is scheduled for next Saturday. South Africa's coaching staff are expected to review both the performance and the officiating decisions from Ellis Park as they prepare their response.
The shoulder tackle controversy is likely to remain a talking point in the build-up to the second Test, with the legitimacy of Carley's decision continuing to divide opinion following the final whistle.
Rassie Erasmus' warning adds context to ranking shock
Briefly News previously reported that Rassie Erasmus had admitted the Springboks were feeling the pressure before the Ellis Park showdown with the All Blacks.
Erasmus said ahead of the Test that he was nervous, while describing New Zealand's approach as fast and intense. He also warned that the All Blacks wanted to move the ball quickly and challenge South Africa around the breakdown.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
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