'No regrets': All Black star on Hurricanes exit
03/01/2025 06:27 AM
REACTION: All Blacks star Ardie Savea says he doesn't regret signing for Moana Pasifika despite the Super Rugby side opening their season with three successive defeats.
The Moana captain was an inspirational figure as his side went down fighting 31-29 to the Otago Highlanders in Auckland on Saturday, having fought back from a 21-point half-time deficit.
However, the former world player of the year was frustrated after a performance that mirrored encouraging losses in Australia to the Western Force and Queensland Reds.
"At the end of the day we've got to win games," Savea told journalists.
"As much as there were great moments for our team, we still lost.
"We were down by 21 and we got back in the game, but we've got to stop putting ourselves in those positions."
Savea said it was his goal to inspire a new generation of Pasifika rugby players.
"We celebrate culture every day, every second in this team," he said.
"That's been really beautiful for me, being New Zealand-born, to be alongside Pasifika and Pacific brothers.
"Someone asked me if I miss the Hurricanes, I said 'What would I miss? I'm here with my people.'
"We've still got a lot of work to do on the rugby front. We're 0-3, that's not something I'm proud of."
A smiling Savea said he will have "a target on my head" when Moana host the Hurricanes next week.
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