Sports Rugby-Union

Ardie Savea is excited with the new challenge of playing with Papalii and Ioane in the loose-forward

Ardie Savea is excited with the new challenge of playing with Papalii and Ioane in the loose-forward
[image: World Rugby]

All Blacks number 8 Ardie Savea is looking forward to teaming up with Akira Ioane and Dalton Papalii in the loose-forward in the Bledisloe Cup opener tonight at Eden Park.

He says he has not played with Papalii before but he is excited about the new challenge.

Savea says they might have some fun at times but when it's game time they cover for each other.

Insert: Savea on loose forwards

Since Kieran Read retired, both Savea and Hoskins Sotutu have been utilised in the Number 8 position.

The All Blacks have played the Wallabies 170 times with the Men in Black winning 117 games, lost 45 matches and drawn 8 times.

The last time the Wallabies won a match at Eden Park was in 1986 where they beat the All Blacks 22-9 and 2002 was the last year they won the Bledisloe Cup.

Sevu Reece and George Bower have been named in the starting line-up for the All Blacks while Rob Valetini will feature for the Wallabies.

The All Blacks will face the Wallabies in the Bledisloe opener at 7.05 tonight.

FNRL

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
Scoreboard
Full Time
Cowboys 12–82 Roosters
Full Time
Dragons 22–28 Dolphins
Full Time
Storm 22–36 Bulldogs
8:10AM
Ireland vs Argentina
11:40PM
Italy vs South Africa
2:10AM
Scotland vs New Zealand
Full Time
Ra 17–10 Northland
Full Time
Yasawa 43–15 Navosa
FULL TIME - U16 SOUTHERN ZONE
Suva Grammar 39–7 Labasa Coll.
FULL TIME - U16 SOUTHERN ZONE
Rt Simione M. 12–5 Dreketi Cent.
FULL TIME U18 SOUTHERN ZONE
Nasinu Sec 21–20 Holy Cross Coll.
Full Time
SNR Men Suva 28–26 SNR Men Ba
FULL TIME - UNDER 20
Malolo 32–24 Taveuni
Rewa vs Naitasiri
Full Time
Suva 34–30 Ba
11:00AM
Namosi vs Macuata
Nadi vs Kadavu