The Moana Pasifika skipper will return to the region where he forged his rugby career this weekend. Photo: Photosport
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Kickoff: 7.05pm Saturday, 31 May
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Once a beloved son of the city, Ardie Savea is bracing for a hostile homecoming in Wellington.
The Moana Pasifika skipper returns to the region where he forged his rugby career, first for Rongotai College, before joining the Lions as an 18-year-old, and eventually representing the Hurricanes 131 times across ten years.
But despite the blood and sweat he's poured into the turf, Savea is not expecting a lot of love on his first return to the Caketin.
"It's to be expected. That's the sport. Even if they boo me, it's part of it. It's all good. I've got my family in there and I know the local club will be there, so the real ones are supporting, but I get it. It's all part of sport."
Savea said it's the perfect stage for the final match of the regular season, with both he and older brother Julian named in the starting lineup for the crucial clash.
"Who could have thought aye? The last game, a must-win game. And the Savea Brothers, and a few of the other boys that used to play the Canes are playing. So man, it's an awesome spectacle."
Savea's side head to the capital with their playoff fate firmly in their own hands. Photo: Photosport
However, the homecoming is not Savea's primary focus.
Moana will be looking to bounce back from last week's humiliating 85-7 drubbing at the hands of the Chiefs in Hamilton.
"It will be good playing in Wellington, but I just want to do my best for the team and for myself after the weekend, we want to respond and it just happens that we are in Wellington, so it's going to be massive."
Savea's side head south to the capital with their playoff fate firmly in their own hands, and while calculators may be required, Moana's equation will be made easier with a win over the Hurricanes.
"This is a quarter final for us. We win, we give ourselves a chance, we lose, that's season, so we hopefully can chuck everything at this game."
Coach Tana Umaga said it will be imperative that they control their emotions.
"How do we handle it? Where do we funnel all that energy because that's going to be key for us. I've got a lot of history, so there is still a lot of feeling around playing the Hurricanes. That's my hometown, that won't ever change. So we still have a lot of feeling and love for our former club, yet we are up here now. We have a lot of love for the movement that we're a part of now. We have a lot of belief and purpose in what we're trying to achieve here. So this weekend it's all about Moana Pasifika, and what we can do for them."
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