Ardie Savea’s daughter has named her favourite All Black and surprisingly it’s not her dad.
The moment was captured and shared by the All Blacks instagram account.
The feel-good moment saw Savea’s daughter shouting at Ruben Love, who was spending time with the Wellington crowd after the All Blacks defeated Italy on Saturday.
Savea and his daughter then did a lap around the ground, before her wish came true and she met Love for a photograph.
Savea and Love- Wellington roots
The All Blacks’ 47–17 victory over Italy in Wellington carried profound personal and provincial significance for local heroes Ardie Savea and Ruben Love. Playing at Sky Stadium, the home of their Super Rugby franchise, the Hurricanes, the fixture marked a symbolic passing of the torch in front of a passionate hometown crowd.
For Ardie Savea, proudly commanding the side as captain in Wellington cemented his status as the emotional heartbeat of New Zealand rugby. His leadership on home soil was defined by serving his community and actively empowering the next generation of local talent.
The true direct beneficiary of that empowerment was Ruben Love. The match represented a massive career milestone for the rising star, who earned his monumental first Test start at flyhalf, stepping into the prestigious number 10 jersey. Fresh off a dominant Super Rugby Pacific campaign, playing in his home city provided Love with a familiar, supportive environment for his high-stakes transition to international playmaker.
With Savea publicly backing Love’s special potential and guiding him through the pressure, the match showcased a distinct Wellington synergy. Ultimately, this homecoming test proved that the future of the All Blacks’ tactical direction and leadership remains firmly anchored in the capital.
The path for Ruben Love’s All Black fame
Ruben Love’s ascent to international rugby stardom is a masterclass in handling high expectations. Long before he was donning the black jersey, Love was a rare dual-sport prodigy, becoming the first player ever selected for both the New Zealand Under-18 Māori rugby and cricket teams. Ultimately choosing the oval ball over the willow, he carried a heavy family legacy: his father, Matene Love, and ancestral uncles were all proud Māori All Blacks.
In 2021, Love made history as the first player born this century to represent the Hurricanes.
Notice the natural joy and instinctive confidence in his play; that tactical freedom has become his trademark. Blessed with blistering pace and supreme spatial awareness, he methodically climbed the national pathway via the New Zealand Under-20s, Māori All Blacks, and the All Blacks XV.
His test breakthrough came late in 2024 against Japan, announcing his arrival with a spectacular two-try cameo off the bench. However, his true defining statement arrived during the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign. Love orchestrated a masterclass in the grand final against the Chiefs, shattering the individual scoring record with 25 points to lift the trophy. This clinical championship run proved he wasn’t just a versatile backline asset, but the legitimate, long-term orchestrator of the All Blacks’ attacking future.
