AB's v Samoa
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The anti-Savea talk is so tedious. We get it every AB season. Meanwhile his strike rate continues at about a try a game. We see how he goes against Samoa.
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@Billy-Tell said in AB's v Samoa:
The anti-Savea talk is so tedious. We get it every AB season. Meanwhile his strike rate continues at about a try a game. We see how he goes against Samoa.
He really hasn't had too many genuine challengers for his jersey recently until now. Naholo constantly gets injured. I don't think Julian Savea is the same athlete that he was in 2012-14. Reminds me a little bit of how Rokocoko changed during his career. Having said that Rieko will really need an exceptional performance for the Maori (including high accuracy such as high ball takes etc) to get close to the 11 jersey just yet.
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@TeWaio said in AB's v Samoa:
Prediction: Rieko will be the starting 11 by the 2019 RWC, with >20 test tries by then , and J Savea won't make that squad.
The times, they are a-changing.
I wonder what odds you'd get on Rieko being the top RWC try scorer this far out?
History suggests you are correct. Jules is 26 now turning 27 in a couple of months, which is about the age a lot of AB wingers careers start to tail off and they are replaced by the next up-and-comer.
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@KiwiMurph I think Rok adapted his game a bit better than Savea seems to be doing that enabled him to prolong his career with slightly less scrutiny.
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@taniwharugby said in AB's v Samoa:
@KiwiMurph I think Rok adapted his game a bit better than Savea seems to be doing that enabled him to prolong his career with slightly less scrutiny.
Rok got ripped apart on the fern when he lost that attacking spark he had. It's pretty brutal being an AB outside back unless you're capable of switching to the midfield.
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@Crucial said in AB's v Samoa:
When was the team named?
Thursday morning NZ time. When else would/could it be named....
Haven't been a fan of Ardie at no8 this season, but I'm not expecting much resistance from this Manu side. It will be interesting to see how they use him in attack.
I'm hoping Aaron Smith can regain some form.
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@Billy-Tell said in AB's v Samoa:
The anti-Savea talk is so tedious. We get it every AB season. Meanwhile his strike rate continues at about a try a game. We see how he goes against Samoa.
Give it a rest. I'm a Canes fan and a Savea fan, but he's been as ordinary as hell this season. Is it a farking crime to want someone else in who is in better form?
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB's v Samoa:
Haven't been a fan of Ardie at no8 this season, but I'm not expecting much resistance from this Manu side. It will be interesting to see how they use him in attack.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of Ardie at 8 as well. He lacks physicality against the bigger packs. Sure he's got good leg drive with ball in hand, but you don't see him making dominant tackles that you want from your loosies.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in AB's v Samoa:
@Billy-Tell said in AB's v Samoa:
The anti-Savea talk is so tedious. We get it every AB season. Meanwhile his strike rate continues at about a try a game. We see how he goes against Samoa.
Give it a rest. I'm a Canes fan and a Savea fan, but he's been as ordinary as hell this season. Is it a farking crime to want someone else in who is in better form?
It was a generic comment and not aimed at you personally.
If Savea is crap for NZ and Naholo, Ioane or later NMS play better, then I'll be happy to see the change.
He's just become a favourite player for a wee slag IMO, despite still regularly crossing the chalk for the ABs.
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@Billy-Tell said in AB's v Samoa:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in AB's v Samoa:
@Billy-Tell said in AB's v Samoa:
The anti-Savea talk is so tedious. We get it every AB season. Meanwhile his strike rate continues at about a try a game. We see how he goes against Samoa.
Give it a rest. I'm a Canes fan and a Savea fan, but he's been as ordinary as hell this season. Is it a farking crime to want someone else in who is in better form?
It was a generic comment and not aimed at you personally.
If Savea is crap for NZ and Naholo, Ioane or later NMS play better, then I'll be happy to see the change.
He's just become a favourite player for a wee slag IMO, despite still regularly crossing the chalk for the ABs.
I think its largely due to him having quiet super rugby seasons lately, by the time selection comes around people start to question him ,
The strange part with him , it feels like his career is coming to an end soon ,his better days are behind him, yet he is only 26
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@Billy-Tell said in AB's v Samoa:
He's just become a favourite player for a wee slag IMO, despite still regularly crossing the chalk for the ABs.
A couple of ventures into obesity in a high performance team generally doesn't ingratiate yourself to the fan base.
Dagg crossed more last season and there is equal criticism of him and most would be less than optimistic of his prospects of making it to the next RWC.
Falling off at 26/7 is what has happened to all our raw 'physical gifts' type players. Cullen, Wilson, Lomu, Joe Roks, Sivivatu all didn't make it past that point.
If NMS or Naholo could stay fit Savea would likely be in the headlights already.
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despite the calls for him to play 13, its looking like they are grooming reiko as an 11 for now , still a bit raw, but plenty of natural talent
will be interesting to see how this develops
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I am far from ready to trust Naholo to a long term spot. Flaky and injury prone. Mad wheels though.
I reckon Jules is gonna rip it up.
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I'm not really a Naholo fan, but what I will say about him is that he wins games for his teams in a way almost no other player does. I guess then the question becomes, can he also lose his teams games? Personally I don't think he does but he definitely has some inconsistencies.
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@mariner4life said in AB's v Samoa:
I am far from ready to trust Naholo to a long term spot. Flaky and injury prone. Mad wheels though.
I reckon Jules is gonna rip it up.
i suspect thats why they tend to lean towards julian over naholo , they trust his decision making a bit more
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB's v Samoa:
@mariner4life said in AB's v Samoa:
I am far from ready to trust Naholo to a long term spot. Flaky and injury prone. Mad wheels though.
I reckon Jules is gonna rip it up.
i suspect thats why they tend to lean towards julian over naholo , they trust his decision making a bit more
Yeah, and he's less prone to taking players out in the air which is a bonus.
Jules was largely very good in the RC last year, led most of the stats for metres gained, tacklers beaten etc, and he ripped the Aussies a new one at Eden Park when they were really pushing us 50 minutes into the game. I can see why the selectors have a lot of faith in him.
That said, I can see Rieko overtaking him in the next year or so - that kid has incredible talent.
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB's v Samoa:
despite the calls for him to play 13, its looking like they are grooming reiko as an 11 for now , still a bit raw, but plenty of natural talent
will be interesting to see how this develops
Bet the coaches are hoping they have a Kahui equivalent on their hands.
The next advancement of the game in NZ to get an advantage at RWCs is having versatile players in the squad that and just jacks of all trades but masters of a number of spots.
Rieko, JB, Ardie, hopefully Akira will mature into a 6/8. Fifita and Barrett as lock/6's. maybe even DMac as a 9/10. ALB and Crotty equally effective at 12 or 13All have the potential to be top class in more than one position.
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Here's some very basic Julian Savea stats from ESPN Scrum:
http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/117357.html?class=1;template=results;type=player45 tries in 52 tests (49 starts)
17 tries in 20 away starts (3 subs), 20 tries in 22 home starts, 8 tries in 7 neutral starts (mostly RWC 2015)2012: 12 tries from 9 starts
2013: 7 tries from 11 starts
2014: 11 tries from 11 starts (plus 2 tests as sub)
2015: 8 tries from 8 starts
2016: 7 tries from 10 starts (plus 1 test as sub)2015 RWC: 8 tries from 6 starts (3 tries vs. France in QF, 3 vs. Namibia, 2 vs. Georgia)
Rugby Championship: 13 tries in 20 starts (plus 1 sub) including 9 tries in 9 starts against the Pumas (includes 1 start vs. Pumas in RWC)
Bledisloe Cup: 6 tries in 11 starts (plus 1 sub) - I think one of the starts was the RWC final (not a BC game)
vs Boks: 1 try in 7 starts (1 start vs. BOKs in RWC)It's pretty obvious that the try scoring ratio is, overall, outstanding and consistently high, with a glitch against the Boks (noting Jonah Lomu never scored against the Boks).
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Speaking of Akira, it seems Umaga and Cooper have decided that no.6 is the position for him at the moment. This makes sense to me as he doesn't have to think as much and can just focus on strong ball-carrying and making dominant tackles. There is no doubt Ioane is a physical beast but some of his decision-making with the ball has been questionable.
