TOUGH WATCH: "heartbroken" Ardie Savea chokes up in the changing room after New Zealand's defeat

"Pretty heartbroken, mate..." 

Those were the first words out of Ardie Savea's mouth as he was interviewed by the All Blacks' social media team after Ireland's historic series victory over New Zealand.

Savea was a standout for New Zealand in a losing cause and was visually dejected after Saturday's match.

"...to be on the wrong side of history. It's hard to put into words. Real disappointed and, to all our fans out there, I just apologise." Savea added.

"You've got to give credit to the Irish. They came out firing again, and we just couldn't handle the first half. We came back a bit in the second half but it just wasn't our night, tonight. It's... it's hard hard, bro. I'm lost for words.

"We got riled up at half-time. We just weren't playing our game in the first half.

"We did that in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but there were little moments were we'd have the ball, knock it on, turn it over in our own half and they'd punish us again. We know we can't make those sort of mistakes against a quality Irish side."

Savea called on himself and his teammates to 'look hard within' as they begin preparations for the Rugby Championship.

"The most important thing is, we stick together. Whoever makes the team and brings us together, and us as leaders - management, senior players - we've got to step up. We've got to put some pride and mana [honour] back in the jersey." he added.

"There is going to be a lot of pressure, expectation and outside noise. I'm here for it. We've been anointed to be in this jersey, and it is up to us to be able to re-gather and regroup. But the main thing is, we've got to stay together. It's going to be tough looking at ourselves, after this series, but it's through the trenches that you grow and you become better."

 "It's going to be a hard pill to swallow tonight, and all week. We've got a week off, or two weeks, but we'll sit on it. We've got to be better."