All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea believes the North v South match should become a permanent fixture on the calendar again, suggesting it should run like rugby league's State of Origin series.
An injury-time try to Will Jordan saw South snatch a 38-35 win over North in their behind-closed-doors match at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
The concept used to be an annual fixture, but the game hadn't been played since 2012, and that was to raise funds for the Otago Rugby Union.
But after a thrilling contest, Savea feels it should be a three-match series every year.
When asked if it should be played again, Savea said: "100 percent".
"I wish it was a three-game series," he added. "Hopefully whoever is in charge can make this game happen every year and turn it into like a State of Origin series.
"I'm pretty gutted about the loss, it would have been good to play again next week and redeem ourselves.
"North, South, make it a fixture. It should be awesome."
Savea's comments were interesting considering during the Super Rugby Aoetraoa season, there was lots of talk about the intensity of the continual fixtures and adding three more games like that could take its toll even more on players.
At this stage, there are no plans to bring the fixture back, but that could change depending on what the Super Rugby season looks like next year.
Newshub understands Super Rugby Aotearoa will return next year, with the inclusion of a Pacific side also in the works.
A decision is expected sometime this month.
Savea's North teammate Akira Ioane also endorsed the return of the format.
"We'd love to get one up on the South," he said.
"The whole week we were talking about trying to make it like [the] State of Origin three-game series, especially this year with COVID slowing everything down.
"Hopefully next year there's a North v South fixture and I can play in it again if I'm lucky enough. It was pretty special."
Both Savea and Ioane are expected to be named in the All Blacks squad on Sunday.
While no fixtures have been confirmed, talks are still ongoing about a possible Rugby Championship, or a four-test Bledisloe Cup series against Australia.
