Aisle be Back: The Ardieocalypse

Ardie Savea playing against the Crusaders for the Hurricanes in 2023.

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• By Kevin McCarthy 

I think we can survive  the Ardieocalypse. In fact, we already did.

Which is no mean feat, considering he was World Player of the Year, and still at his peak internationally.

There is no one like him as an individual player, or leader, or role model.  Truly one of the greats of Hurricanes rugby. The 2023 season where it often felt he was carrying the team on his tireless shoulders, is the shining example. Who else but Ardie to be the one being denied the last-second try in the quarterfinal loss.

But then came the 2024 sabbatical, and the Hurricanes squad finally matured enough to compensate handsomely for the disappearance of the skipper.  The burgeoning loose forward stocks, with Peter Lakai doing a fair impersonation, was one of the strengths of the team.

Whether an Ardie would have made the difference last year in the end is fruitless to speculate.

You can imagine however that the Hurricanes, behind the mandatory well-wishing, will be unhappy to lose him. Stars bring in fans.

But of course, dollars don’t seem to be driving the move to Moana Pasifika. Nor a lust for titles since the side will not feature in a championship race for years to come. Instead, the move is motivated by Ardie being true to what he’s always said, that he wants to give back to his Samoan heritage.

A few years ago, he floated – or maybe his agent did – that he’d look at league. Horrific thought and of course did not come to pass. So, moving to Moana is much more palatable.

The Hurricanes now don’t have to contemplate juggling a loaded loose forward lineup and know that they can prosper without Ardie.

Moana on the other hand have scored a huge coup in terms of an icon they can build their squad around. Ardie won’t win them many more games, but he will draw eyeballs and sponsorship.

As one of the smartest guys around, Ardie Savea  will know his clock is running down player wise over the next few seasons. Even that immense engine will slow.

He’s definitely earned the right to spend that time as he wants.

And we all just got a second favourite team to support.

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If an Olympics team is knocked out before the Olympics begins, did it actually happen?

Yes, of course, it just did for the All Black Sevens, with the men’s exiting at the quarterfinals stage – two days before the opening ceremony.

There are reasons for this – not the least being that their venue will host the heart of the event, track and field.

The team was clearly distraught at being knocked out. That is Sevens for you, though.

How odd for them to now sit through the opening before finally the placing matches and the final are played out.