Ardie Savea is returning to the scene of his ‘I’ve made it’ moment, nine years after it took place. Much has changed in the time since, with a rivalry blooming into one of the most anticipated in the rugby world.

Ireland first beat New Zealand at Soldier Field, Chicago, in 2016, a venue the nations will share once more when they kick off their respective Autumn Nations Cup campaigns Stateside this Saturday.

It’s a Test remembered for the historic result, but for All Blacks superstar Savea, the match was a coming-of-age moment.

“It was the first time we’ve been in Chicago,” he told reporters in Auckland before flying out to Chicago. “I remember that week, the Chicago Cubs had just won the baseball league, and the city was celebrating. So, as a person, you’re now indulged in the atmosphere and all that.

“As a Kiwi, you come from a little island, and going over there, you’re in the bright lights. What I remember as a young fella was just thinking, ‘Holy, I’ve made it.’

“But then, you transfer to the game, and I think I ended up on the wing, we had two backs injuries, and let in a try off a scrum, five metres out. I remember it vividly.

“For us, what happened, we can easily learn from it moving forward; the situations, scenarios, and what can happen. That’s the pressure that Ireland put us under.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

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The matchup has produced some of the most memorable rugby moments in recent years, including 2022’s famous Irish series win in New Zealand and the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

Savea remembers the latter fixture with reverence as well, recalling the buildup, doubters from home and abroad, prior contests, and how it played out, and labelling it one of the best occasions of his career.

“That was probably one of my favourite games I’ve played in,” he said. “Not just the game itself, but the whole context around it; the 2022 series when we lost at home, and there was just a massive buildup to that quarter-final. A lot of people wrote us off, some of our country wrote us off.

“After what we had been through as a team, that game meant a lot. To be able to finish like that in the 85th, 86th minute was massive. On the flip side, that just shows what a quality side Ireland are.”

In 2024’s fixture between the two proud nations, the All Blacks ended Ireland’s 19-match winning streak at their Dublin fortress, Aviva Stadium.

This time around, some doubts surround which way the Irish are trending, while others question the All Blacks’ consistency. Whatever narrative eventuates, Savea is clear on what to expect from the men in green.

“They’re just hard, direct, no handbrakes. They know how they want to play; create quick ball and play. Their game’s on winning collisions, so if we lose collisions, you’re in for a long day.

“They’ve got a world-class forward pack that allows them to do that, so it’s a big onus on us as a pack to front up and win those collisions, and that allows our backs to do what they do.”

In terms of where the rivalry stands in 2025, the All Blacks vice-captain says Ireland are one of his team’s biggest opponents.

“They’re right up there. They’ve been world No. 1 for a while, and they know their game so well, know how they want to play, and when they get it right, they’re a very dangerous side. We’ve been on the wrong end of a few of those.

“As an All Black, it’s a great challenge for us to go over there and not only match them, but come out on top.”