July 22, 2024 • 7 mins
Experts believe there are plenty of additional benefits to Ardie Savea's move to Moana Pasifika.
Rugby commentator Ken Laban joined Piney to discuss the impact of this development.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Ardie Savier will move from the Hurricanes to Mowana Pacifica
from next season. Artie Sava comes to the live.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Everybody's in a committee meeting except the captain takes it
on himself, takes the tap. An individual show of brilliance
and leadership.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
That is the voice so of long time a rugby
commentator Ken Laban, who has watched Ardie Savia probably more
than anybody else, through schools rugby, through NPC Super Rugby
and onto the All Blacks. Ken, you're pretty well connected
in rugby circles. Did you know that this move was
in the pipeline?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I did think that when Julian signed last year to
go from the Hurricanes tom Mina Pasafrica, that he wouldn't
be the only Savia that the Mona Pasfiga organization would
have in the back of their mind in my time,
Well An your time as well, Pineyer, I can't think
of a biggest signing in the history of Super rugby
(01:14):
than this one. From a rugby union perspective, we're talking
about if you were to have a conversation about the
top loose forwards in the world. Artie's in every conversation.
He's at the top of his game. He's been a
stand up, walk up start for the All Blacks for
over five years. He's the current vice captain of the
team and he's a highly regarded and respected figure in
(01:38):
the game. I guess from a basketball perspective, Lebron James
moving from Cleveland to Miami to the Heat was a
big move. Tom Brady moving from the New England Patriots
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now in rugby Union, in
my view, this is this is on the same level
(02:00):
of status and profile. This is a player at the
absolute top of his game. I think it's a fantastic
signing for Super Rugby. Not to mention, of course, the
impact is going to have on the Miner pacifica organization
and as far as far as Tanna among us concerned,
and obviously his fingerprints are all over this. It's a
(02:21):
sensational move from him. You will remember that he was
the key figure and Sunny Bill Williams coming from rugby
league to rugby union, winning two World Cups along the way.
So and also Tanner was a key figure in the
conversion of Recor Yolani from the wing to the midfield.
So he has a history of innovative, innovative moves and
(02:45):
this one absolutely the whole world is talking about Mine
Pacifica in the last forty eight the last forty eight hours. Jason,
you and I know Tanner well enough. Artie will not
be the only player he's talking to. They won two
games last year, they won four games this year. They
were one game out of the playoffs, and he will
be determined to get that, to get the team to
(03:07):
be as seriously competitive as possible over the next couple
of years. So I think it's a great move for
the game. It's appointment obviously for the Hurricanes and those
of us that have followed the Hurricanes since year dot
and what the Savier family has meant to wanting to
rugby and to the Hurricanes. But I think in the
wider context of the game, it's a sensational signing in.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Making his decision. What do you think would have been
front of mind for Ardie Savia family culture.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
They would have been the two They would have been
the two big ones, and it's all Siberia in mind.
Like Ricor Joanne when he was when he re signed
with New Zealand Rugby hest he resigned for a lesser
amount of money he could have got overseas because he
wanted to finish his legacy in New Zealand with the
Blues and with the All Blacks. This is very similar
(03:56):
to Artie Savier. In recent years he's become closer and
closer to his culture, to salmon and upbringing to be
part of the Pacific. Even when he was at Rongatai
College he was an absolute key part of the Polynesian
movement and his family were huge supporters of the two
than up to program at its peak, and he was
(04:17):
a key personality and all of that. So obviously he
could have got more money gone to France with Japan
if he wanted to. But the fact that he's opted
to stay uses brand, as they say, and uses image
to grow to grow Rugby in the pacifically part of
the minor pacificer franchise, as a real reflection of the
human being that he is. I think it's a great move.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
He has so much influence, as you know Ken in
our rugby ecosystem. In fact, I don't think there's anybody
else with greater influence in our rugby ecosystem as a
current player than Nadi Savilla. Do you think others will
follow his lead?
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Well, I'm hearing that Nanni, lol, Mappy and I know
that ton of whatever's number and we're all hearing Va Fafita,
who's a player who unfortunately left New Zealand way too
soon by a terrific blind side flanker and Locke and
back ra he would add some real punch to the
other side of that was forward combination if it's true,
(05:14):
and I would think that what he's got access to
anybody he wants in the world, So you know, he's
making his move in the off season. I think it's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
How much will it affect the Hurricanes?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Uh, Well, Peter Lackeye has been in is in waiting.
I wouldn't have been surprised if that might have been
a factor, given her considerate and the kind side of
a Ardi that he's making making way for young Peter
like I do for secretly. Of course, there is a
(05:48):
quality as well in world class who's fort who has
been part of the All Black program in recent years
as well, So I wouldn't think that that it would
impact Hurricanes as much as it will impact minor pass figure.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And you talked about the wrong tide college days and mind,
so it's always a wonderful thing, King, But can you
remember the first time you saw Ardie Savia playing a
game of rugby and what you thought then?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
He was a second five and the wrong psychologistressive thing
before We often ever laughed about that when I first commentator,
when I first when I first commentated him, he was
the second five. But when I first came across him,
it was at a junior rugby leadership clinic when he
was eleven years old, coming through the coming through the
(06:34):
primary school ranks. Of course, you know he's one school,
one province, you know, up until the signing out of
the weekend, only one Super rugby franchise. So you know,
we've all grown, we've all grown with him. He's developed
from a kid to the to the outstanding leader that
he that he is now. But you know, everywhere you go,
(06:56):
you know, here locally and around the world, there's only
kind things that people say about Artie start the person
that he is and the player that he is, and
how he's used his profile, you know, to make the
world a better place. And you know, going to Minor
pats figure when he could easily have got more money
going somewhere else. I think it's a real move of
his humility and sincerity and trying to do the best
(07:18):
for the game.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Great to get your insight, Ken, Thanks for joining us tonight,
mate my pleasure mate. Thanks Ken, Ken Laban there with
his thoughts. He's pretty well versed, pretty well connected, and
if he's talking about Nanni la Mappi coming to Minor
Pacifica and via FAFTA as well, then you'd have to
think those discussions are fairly well advanced.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news Talks
they'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Ardie Savier will move from the Hurricanes to Mowana Pacifica
from next season. Artie Sava comes to the live.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Everybody's in a committee meeting except the captain takes it
on himself, takes the tap. An individual show of brilliance
and leadership.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
That is the voice so of long time a rugby
commentator Ken Laban, who has watched Ardie Savia probably more
than anybody else, through schools rugby, through NPC Super Rugby
and onto the All Blacks. Ken, you're pretty well connected
in rugby circles. Did you know that this move was
in the pipeline?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I did think that when Julian signed last year to
go from the Hurricanes tom Mina Pasafrica, that he wouldn't
be the only Savia that the Mona Pasfiga organization would
have in the back of their mind in my time,
Well An your time as well, Pineyer, I can't think
of a biggest signing in the history of Super rugby
(01:14):
than this one. From a rugby union perspective, we're talking
about if you were to have a conversation about the
top loose forwards in the world. Artie's in every conversation.
He's at the top of his game. He's been a
stand up, walk up start for the All Blacks for
over five years. He's the current vice captain of the
team and he's a highly regarded and respected figure in
(01:38):
the game. I guess from a basketball perspective, Lebron James
moving from Cleveland to Miami to the Heat was a
big move. Tom Brady moving from the New England Patriots
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now in rugby Union, in
my view, this is this is on the same level
(02:00):
of status and profile. This is a player at the
absolute top of his game. I think it's a fantastic
signing for Super Rugby. Not to mention, of course, the
impact is going to have on the Miner pacifica organization
and as far as far as Tanna among us concerned,
and obviously his fingerprints are all over this. It's a
(02:21):
sensational move from him. You will remember that he was
the key figure and Sunny Bill Williams coming from rugby
league to rugby union, winning two World Cups along the way.
So and also Tanner was a key figure in the
conversion of Recor Yolani from the wing to the midfield.
So he has a history of innovative, innovative moves and
(02:45):
this one absolutely the whole world is talking about Mine
Pacifica in the last forty eight the last forty eight hours. Jason,
you and I know Tanner well enough. Artie will not
be the only player he's talking to. They won two
games last year, they won four games this year. They
were one game out of the playoffs, and he will
be determined to get that, to get the team to
(03:07):
be as seriously competitive as possible over the next couple
of years. So I think it's a great move for
the game. It's appointment obviously for the Hurricanes and those
of us that have followed the Hurricanes since year dot
and what the Savier family has meant to wanting to
rugby and to the Hurricanes. But I think in the
wider context of the game, it's a sensational signing in.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Making his decision. What do you think would have been
front of mind for Ardie Savia family culture.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
They would have been the two They would have been
the two big ones, and it's all Siberia in mind.
Like Ricor Joanne when he was when he re signed
with New Zealand Rugby hest he resigned for a lesser
amount of money he could have got overseas because he
wanted to finish his legacy in New Zealand with the
Blues and with the All Blacks. This is very similar
(03:56):
to Artie Savier. In recent years he's become closer and
closer to his culture, to salmon and upbringing to be
part of the Pacific. Even when he was at Rongatai
College he was an absolute key part of the Polynesian
movement and his family were huge supporters of the two
than up to program at its peak, and he was
(04:17):
a key personality and all of that. So obviously he
could have got more money gone to France with Japan
if he wanted to. But the fact that he's opted
to stay uses brand, as they say, and uses image
to grow to grow Rugby in the pacifically part of
the minor pacificer franchise, as a real reflection of the
human being that he is. I think it's a great move.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
He has so much influence, as you know Ken in
our rugby ecosystem. In fact, I don't think there's anybody
else with greater influence in our rugby ecosystem as a
current player than Nadi Savilla. Do you think others will
follow his lead?
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Well, I'm hearing that Nanni, lol, Mappy and I know
that ton of whatever's number and we're all hearing Va Fafita,
who's a player who unfortunately left New Zealand way too
soon by a terrific blind side flanker and Locke and
back ra he would add some real punch to the
other side of that was forward combination if it's true,
(05:14):
and I would think that what he's got access to
anybody he wants in the world, So you know, he's
making his move in the off season. I think it's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
How much will it affect the Hurricanes?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Uh, Well, Peter Lackeye has been in is in waiting.
I wouldn't have been surprised if that might have been
a factor, given her considerate and the kind side of
a Ardi that he's making making way for young Peter
like I do for secretly. Of course, there is a
(05:48):
quality as well in world class who's fort who has
been part of the All Black program in recent years
as well, So I wouldn't think that that it would
impact Hurricanes as much as it will impact minor pass figure.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And you talked about the wrong tide college days and mind,
so it's always a wonderful thing, King, But can you
remember the first time you saw Ardie Savia playing a
game of rugby and what you thought then?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
He was a second five and the wrong psychologistressive thing
before We often ever laughed about that when I first commentator,
when I first when I first commentated him, he was
the second five. But when I first came across him,
it was at a junior rugby leadership clinic when he
was eleven years old, coming through the coming through the
(06:34):
primary school ranks. Of course, you know he's one school,
one province, you know, up until the signing out of
the weekend, only one Super rugby franchise. So you know,
we've all grown, we've all grown with him. He's developed
from a kid to the to the outstanding leader that
he that he is now. But you know, everywhere you go,
(06:56):
you know, here locally and around the world, there's only
kind things that people say about Artie start the person
that he is and the player that he is, and
how he's used his profile, you know, to make the
world a better place. And you know, going to Minor
pats figure when he could easily have got more money
going somewhere else. I think it's a real move of
his humility and sincerity and trying to do the best
(07:18):
for the game.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Great to get your insight, Ken, Thanks for joining us tonight,
mate my pleasure mate. Thanks Ken, Ken Laban there with
his thoughts. He's pretty well versed, pretty well connected, and
if he's talking about Nanni la Mappi coming to Minor
Pacifica and via FAFTA as well, then you'd have to
think those discussions are fairly well advanced.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news Talks
they'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.