Savea wary of Welsh backlash

Ardie Savea will make only his second test appearance in Cardiff when the All Blacks recommence hostilities with Wales this weekend.

Given the loose forward has played 67 tests since his debut against the Welshmen as a substitute in Auckland in 2016, it seems peculiar he hasn’t had played in one of the world’s great stadiums more often.

Savea’s previous outing for his country inside the vast arena was a memorable one; last year the All Blacks demolished an under-strength Welsh team 54-16 in front of almost 74,000 people, and in doing so prodded a sharp needle deep into the nerves of their northern critics.

Due to the match being played outside the World Rugby fixture window, which enabled NZ Rugby to reap around $2 million, Wales were unable to select three players contracted to clubs in England; that, in turn, provided an opportunity for pundits in Britain to sharpen their quills and ridicule the exercise as being little more than a grubby money-making exercise.

For the All Blacks, who like Wales were missing several players due to injury, it was irrelevant, and they celebrated Beauden Barrett’s 100th cap by running riot.

Wales are expected to be more competitive on this occasion, but few pundits are predicting a win over the New Zealanders for the first time since 1953.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to sift through history to find proof of an All Blacks player publicly stating the team was going to shred Wales. Savea wasn’t going to break tradition. ‘‘Playing here is bloody hard, and it’s tough.

‘‘The atmosphere, the Welsh side. What happened last year. We know they will be bottling that up and wanting to come smack us.

‘‘For us it’s about building that knot in the gut through the week, so that we come and are ready.’’