All Blacks’ star Ardie Savea dedicated his side’s epic Rugby World Cup quarter-final victory over Ireland to the Lord, praising God in his post-match interview.
Savea was named Man of the Match as underdogs New Zealand defeated the world No.1s 28-24, sending Ireland out of the tournament for a fourth consecutive time at the quarter-final stage.
“All glory to the man above”, Savea told his interviewer.
“(There was) a lot riding on this week. And it was one of those test matches that was a battle, and I’m just extremely proud of my boys to go out there and play against a real class squad. We gave the fans what they wanted.”
Savea also took the chance to praise his side’s opponents, who had been on a 17-match winning streak and had won a best-of-three match series in New Zealand the previous year.
“A big testament to the Irish team. They’ve set the standard this whole year, and I just want to send love today, man. But yeah, just so proud of our boys.”
Savea then took to Instagram post-game to continue his praise of God.
“ALL GLORY TO YOU! THANK YOU, JESUS,” wrote Savea, with All Blacks teammate Neo Laulala replying: “JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY!!!”
Four years previously, Savea was seen praying on the pitch post-match, as he knelt beside opponent and fellow believer Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa, after their pool game in Japan at the 2019 tournament.
At the start of France 2023, South African captain Siya Kolisi quoted 2 Corinthians 12:9 on his Instagram page:
“But he said to me ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Meanwhile, after his side’s historic victory over Australia in the pool stage, Fijian center Josua Tuisova told an interviewer: “First of all, I give back the glory and the honor to the Lord God Almighty for giving us the strength and the power.” He also thanked “family at home for their prayers and support.”
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