Springbok legend Steven Kitshoff slams Ardie Savea over alleged All Blacks revolt

If Ardie Savea had been a Springbok, he would have been on his bike and out of the Bok camp in an instant had he challenged coach Rassie Erasmus.

This is the forthright opinion of former Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff, who has commented on Savea’s alleged revolt against Scott Robertson, which is said in New Zealand to have played a major role in the sacking of the All Blacks coach in early January.

Kitshoff, who was forced to retire last year because of a neck injury, told the GameTime podcast that rebellious behaviour would be quickly shut down in a Springbok culture where no player can be bigger than the team.

“In the Springbok 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 said.

“Ardie’s move like that is not the right move. Are you saying you’re the best and it’s either him or me? I’m ranting, but it’s just something I read, and I was a bit sour about it.”

However, Kitshoff acknowledged that all the facts surrounding the All Blacks drama have not been made public.

“I might have read it wrong, or the article may not have given the full picture, but it’s a bit tough for me. As a player, you get selected to do a job.”

Like many rugby observers outside of New Zealand, Kitshoff can’t help but think that NZ Rugby acted hastily in firing Robertson less than two years from the World Cup in Australia.

“I promise you he would have knuckled down this year and gone, ‘we’re going to change the trajectory of All Blacks rugby’.

“That’s where I’m like if Ardie could have just manned up and said: ‘I take full ownership of what happened to this team this year and I’m going to do my bit to change the course of the side’.

“I would have been like, ‘Ardie, that is the way to do it’ … and that’s what I didn’t like.”