Whoever They Pick, France Turn Up to Play – Ardie Savea

All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea is expecting France to be a typically competitive unit in Saturday's opening Lipovitan-D series Test in Dunedin.

Savea said while France had left some players at home, every team that plays the All Blacks turns up to play the game.

"It's an exciting opportunity for them and their mindset to come here and try and beat us."

He said it didn't matter who the All Blacks played; the jersey demanded they go out and uphold their standards.

Savea said after Moana Pasifika's Super Rugby season, he didn't realise how tired he was.

"There was a bit of fatigue, but the heart was full, and when the heart and spirit are full, it takes over your body when you're doing the things you love. So, it was nice to take a breath and relax.

"It's nice to come back in here and get stuck into it. It's easy for me to do that, I need to be at my best."

Savea said he had no preference for what position he played.

"I don't have a say, I just play where Razor [coach Scott Robertson] wants me, or where I fit in best for the team.

"That's where I play, and if that's 12 [second five-eighths] or 13 [centre], then I do my best.

"The loosies roles are quite interchangeable now on the field. There's no specific role, but I just enjoy playing with the guys. It's not about you individually, it's how you collectively work as a trio."

Building that cohesion as a combination was key to understanding what the other would do through instinct.

"I played with Dupes [Du'Plessis Kirifi] for a while at the Hurricanes, and he and Christian Lio-Willie have played awesomely, and they're here for a reason. That's because they have played outstandingly during Super Rugby.

"All Blacks is a different level so it's for us to get around each other and best prepare for this level. All we can do is our job within the week. It is about connecting and how fast we can know our job."

Assistant coach Jason Holland said there has been a faster transition from Super Rugby to Test preparation for players this year.

"A lot of our language and the way we want to play is ingrained in the boys. So, we have been keeping it simple, making sure the boys are clear and can express themselves effectively.

"As coaches, we're keen to put our mark on a team, but you've got to do that in layers as you go through 10 days ahead of the first Test.

"We want to play a fast style of footy, with loosies on the edges, wings playing all over the field, whatever is hardest to defend. We want those guys to be able to pop up in different positions."

That was especially the case for loose forwards, midfielders, and outside backs.

"Our style won't change massively. The fundamentals will be the same as last year."

Holland said, having watched French players in their Top 14 competition, they were quality performers and had a typical French approach.

"They love to play a style of footy where they play off the cuff, and if you turn the ball over, they're going to hurt you and that doesn't change whoever they put on the park."

Second five-eighths Jordie Barrett had walked off his plane from Ireland believing he was ready to get into action.

"He's in great nick. He's done a great job and how they've managed him, he's come back energised and ready to go."

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