All Blacks star Ardie Savea has put the frustration of defeat behind him, as he and his teammates prepare for a series-deciding match-up against Ireland at Wellington on Saturday.
The powerhouse loose forward had the worst seat in the house to watch his side's historic defeat to the Irish at Dunedin, inadvertently consigned to the sidelines to make way for a specialist prop, after Angus Ta'avao's first-half red card.
While Savea tried to rejoin the game, his presence was quickly detected by the officiating crew, with referee Jaco Peyper breaking the bad news that he would have to leave permanently, with the All Blacks reduced to 14 men.
But there's a glint in his eye, when he talks about the pressure of avenging the 23-12 result - Ireland's first victory against the All Blacks in New Zealand - in his hometown this week.
"I love it," he insisted. "I love being written off, especially... we don't want to lose, but after a performance like that, we know what we've got to do.
"We learned from it, and now it's about being excited and embracing the challenge. What a week to do it - in Wellington, the best city in New Zealand... or the world, in fact."
Savea, 28, admits he barely watched the rest of the Dunedin test, as he tried to come to terms with his premature exit.
"I was confused like everyone else," he said. "I wasn't sure what was going on, I was just frustrated.
"To be honest, I was just glaring into [space]... I wasn't even watching the game, selfishly on my behalf. I thought about who I was and just prayed a bit on the sideline, and decided what I could now to help the team."
Savea insists his plight hasn't provided any more motivation for this week's encounter - as if any more was needed.
"I prep the same every week," he said. "I'm gutted I couldn't be out there, but I've got to make the team first - you never now what happens - and if I'm selected, all I can do is my best and let God do the rest."
The social media outcry over the shambolic loss - particularly the calls for embattled coach Ian Foster's head - has brought the All Blacks camp closer together. Since taking the reins in 2020, Foster has accumulated a record of 16 wins, six losses and a draw - a winning rate of 69.5 percent, the second-worst among All Blacks coaches (behind Laurie Mains' 67.65) in the World Cup era.
"I try and stay away from that stuff, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't scroll through [Instagram] and see stuff," said Savea. "That's the reality of our job and what we do in the jersey.
"It does hurt, because we're family here, but with everything that's happened, we've got each other's backs. People perceive what they see, but they don't know what goes on inside.
"I back my coach, I back my skip and back my players 100 percent, side by side."
Another number that doesn't augur well for the All Blacks - or Savea personally - is their poor recent record in the world's best city, where they have won once (against France) in the last five outings, with draws against Australia and South Africa, and losses to the Springboks and British & Irish Lions.
"I don't even know that stat," admitted Savea. "That's pretty interesting.
"I don't know what it is, but we've got a lot to play for, so hopefully we can make that stat better this weekend."
Join us at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the third All Blacks v Ireland test
