The rugby world is buzzing with shockwaves after a prominent Springboks legend voiced his strong disapproval of All Blacks star Ardie Savea's alleged involvement in the controversial sacking of coach Scott Robertson!
Former Springboks prop Steven Kitshoff has expressed his deep disappointment, describing himself as "sour" over what he perceived as Ardie Savea's significant role in the removal of Scott Robertson as the head coach of the All Blacks. Robertson, a celebrated figure with the Crusaders, was reportedly let go following reports of a player revolt, with Savea, the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, seemingly at the forefront of this discontent.
Whispers in the rugby community, fueled by reports from the New Zealand Herald, suggested that Savea might have even considered his future with the All Blacks if changes weren't implemented, especially after what was described as an "underwhelming" performance in the 2024 and 2025 seasons under Robertson's guidance. However, David Kirk, the chair of New Zealand Rugby, has since stepped in to deny any such "uprising," and Savea himself has remained publicly silent on the matter.
But here's where it gets controversial... Kitshoff, despite the official denials, feels let down by what he's read. He firmly believes that if the accusations against Savea hold any truth, the star player would never have been selected under the strict coaching philosophy of Rassie Erasmus. "In the Springboks environment, Rassie would go, ‘if that guy is acting out, I won’t select him anymore’, even if he’s the best player. We’re not picking the best players, we’re picking the right players," Kitshoff stated on the GameTime podcast.
He continued, "Ardie’s move like that is not the right move. Are you saying you’re the best and it’s either me or him? I’m ranting but it’s just something I read and I was a bit sour about it." Kitshoff acknowledged that he might have misinterpreted the situation or that the full context wasn't conveyed. Yet, the narrative as he understood it struck a nerve. "As a player you get selected to do a job," he emphasized.
And this is the part most people miss... Kitshoff drew a parallel to past situations, mentioning Jake White being "outvoted by the players" and the subsequent tough decisions that followed. He passionately argued that Savea should have "manned up" and taken ownership of the team's performance, vowing to be part of the solution. "I promise you he would have knuckled down this year and gone, ‘we’re going to change the trajectory of All Blacks rugby’," Kitshoff mused. "That’s where I’m like if Ardie could have just manned up and said: ‘I take full ownership to what happened to this team this year and I’m going to do my bit to change the course of side’. I would have been like, ‘Ardie, that is the way to do it’… and that's what I didn't like."
Interestingly, despite the alleged friction, Robertson had still appointed Savea as the captain when the regular captain, Scott Barrett, was unavailable. Kitshoff pointed this out as a sign of trust, questioning why Savea would be made captain if there were significant issues between him and the coach. "Scott’s the captain, there’s nothing that came out from him because he worked with Razor through all their Super Rugby wins and was the captain," Kitshoff noted. "When Scott wasn’t available, Ardie was captain. Surely if there’s qualms between them you wouldn’t make him captain."
Kitshoff also defended Robertson's appointment, highlighting that coaches are chosen based on their proven merit and extensive experience, not by chance. He stressed that a coach like Robertson would have a deep understanding of the squad and management, having likely worked with many of them before. "A coach is selected because of merit, he is not just put there because he’s won a lucky draw contest and all of a sudden he’s coach of the ABs," he explained. "He gets selected because of his credentials, he should know about 80 per cent of the squad, either that have worked with him before, or worked with the management. He knows the squad, he knows the people, he knows the team around him, they wouldn’t just put a clown in there for the sake of it."
He concluded with a strong statement about player loyalty: "I don’t know if it’s one player, but one player is public about it and goes, ‘it’s either him or me. If you don’t get rid of him, I’m going to play my rugby at Leinster or in Japan’. That is not caring about your country and putting your country first.”
What do you think? Is Steven Kitshoff right to criticize Ardie Savea's alleged actions? Should players prioritize team harmony and loyalty over personal grievances? Or is it a player's right to voice concerns if they believe a coach isn't the right fit? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your perspective!
