Canes vs Kings
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="566727" data-time="1458724833">
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<p>Im starting to be a concerned about Julian to be honest , </p>
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<p>Not writing him off , because i know how good his best is , </p>
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<p>I know he had a great quarter final last year , but apart from that he was a little underwhelming overall last year by his standards , </p>
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<p>And backs that up by starting this season looking a little fat and slow again </p>
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<p>He doesn't look anywhere as explosive as he did in 2012-2014. I'm hoping this is in relation to the fitness aspect and not a Rokocoko type situation where he has peaked and while still useful, never the same player again.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="566877" data-time="1458784799">
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<p>Sorry Crucial, there must be better ways to "peak" than by just getting fat in the off season.</p>
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<p>Eh? I'm the one that started giving him shit for being fat.</p>
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<p>The photos were to show the contrast.</p> -
<p>The media opinion pieces are now weighing in. This topic has jumped the shark.</p>
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<p>From the Herald</p>
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<p>Four months off rugby was not enough for Julian Savea.</p>
<p>The All Black left wing has struggled through the start of Super rugby and been left out of the Hurricanes side to play the Kings this weekend.</p>
<p>His absence was a chance, coach Chris Boyd said, to give others a go.</p>
<p>Sure is but even if Jason Woodward or Matt Proctor from the bench, produce man of the match performances you'd be confident Savea would return to the side after the Canes bye the following week.</p>
<p>It's more a warning for Savea to get himself and his game in order before the Canes host the Jaguares on April 9.</p>
<p>Everything about this situation smells of woolly thinking.</p>
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<p>Boyd noted that Savea had let his fitness work fall away after a huge workload in 2015 through Super rugby and the World Cup and had not been at his best in the opening month of this year's Super rugby series.</p>
<p>"We have a high expectation of Julian every time he takes the field. It's the same as all the prominent players, the expectation's high," Boyd said.</p>
<p>So why did Boyd select Savea to start the tournament when he "probably wasn't as disciplined as he could've been around keeping up some of his work."</p>
<p>Fellow World Cuppers Dane Coles, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett all turned up fit and ready to play.</p>
<p>If Savea was in rough shape as the fitness trainers would be able to gauge, Boyd should have given the wing the message then that he was not going to play until he reached acceptable conditioning levels.</p>
<p>Choosing Savea on reputation was not the answer as Boyd has discovered.</p>
<p>Persisting with a public defence of the wing's sluggish attitude is equally flawed.</p>
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<p>and Stuff</p>
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<p>OPINION: We're about to find out what being a Hurricane means to Julian Savea.</p>
<p>At first glance, your suspicion would be that it sits a distant second to his status as an All Black. After all, this is the second season running in which it's become apparent that the hulking wing hasn't trained as hard as he could have.</p>
<p>That raises questions about the regard Savea holds Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd in. Put in another way, you doubt he'd dare be unfit for long on Steve Hansen's watch.</p>
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<p>Now Boyd's acted. With a star as bright as Savea can be - and knowing that nothing will recapture that glow as quickly as playing - the temptation must've been to do nothing.</p>
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<p>That would've been the easy option. Continue to make flattering comments about Savea - maybe even roll out that old chestnut about class being permanent - and then hope the form returns.</p>
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<p>In omitting Savea from the 23 to meet the Southern Kings on Friday (don't call it a dropping whatever you do), Boyd has certainly brought the situation into focus. He needed to as well.</p>
<p>If players think they can turn up to play for the Hurricanes in ordinary shape and play poorly, some inevitably will. Boyd's making it plain that, no matter how good you can be on your day, you're not too special to sit in the stands.</p>
<p>Savea's response will be fascinating. The Hurricanes have basically put him on a two-week training programme, designed return his body to its best.</p>
<p>Julian Savea at the 2015 World Cup.<br>
Julian Savea at the 2015 World Cup.</p>
<p>The wing's first public act was to do a few "extras" at the team's Wednesday training session. Only he'll know if it was a coincidence that he chose to run his sprints in direct view of the news cameras that were there.</p>
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<p>Boyd was exceptionally kind to Savea, in what he said during that session. Instead of throwing him under the bus, the coach talked about the pressures All Blacks face, particularly in the final year of a World Cup-cycle, and even went as far as suggesting that having to combine Super and international rugby might be a bit unfair.</p>
<p>Never mind the other players in the Hurricanes squad who were World Cup-winning All Blacks last year and rocked up for pre-season training in excellent shape.</p>
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<p>That's not the last time a point of that nature will be raised. The international season is long and taxing and who's to say that in 20 or 50 years time that the All Blacks might not be a stand alone franchise, whose players don't have to bother with Super Rugby.</p>
<p>For now, though, Savea is a Hurricane. The next few weeks will tell us whether he cares about being one.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="566672" data-time="1458689353"><p>
Julian Savea is officially 'rested'. I hope for Canes fans that he truly isn't resting but is instead working to get rid of those extra chins.<br><br>
The man is fast becoming Weepu all over again.</p></blockquote>
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Yeah they probably have a tab with the same bakery. Though at least Savea is still capable of running. One of Weepus major strengths was his ability to run the ball. But towards the end he was waddling to every ruck and would have had a heart attack if he tried to pick and go. Such a shame. -
<p>If the black jersey wasnt motivation enough, jeez you'd think having his brother in the same team there'd be extra motivation to be fitter, faster stronger etc....maybe he needs to go on 7s duty for a month?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="566885" data-time="1458787689">
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<p>Otere Black is going to be ripe for the picking for the new Crusaders coach next season.</p>
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<p>The way Mo'unga is going, I think he might be warming the bench if he went to the Crusaders. If he really wants game time, I suggest the Blues. :)</p> -
<p>It's a tough one with Savea. While he wasn't at his peak in 2015 I don't think he was as bad as some people made out (wanting him dropped before the RWC etc.)</p>
<p>The way the AB's used him last year was very different from previous years. He was doing a lot of in close running to make the gain line, and doing a good job of it. Didn't help the percepition that he wasn't playing well that NMS was tearing it up on the right wing.</p>
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<p>Not surprised that he came back a bit over weight this year being post RWC and getting married. Just hope he can get into shape and back to his best quickly.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="566883" data-time="1458786174">
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<p>Eh? I'm the one that started giving him shit for being fat.</p>
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<p>The photos were to show the contrast.</p>
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<p>Ok sorry, I thought you were saying something like "would you prefer for him to be in form for the Canes or All Blacks".</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="566878" data-time="1458785152">
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<p>He doesn't look anywhere as explosive as he did in 2012-2014. I'm hoping this is in relation to the fitness aspect and not a Rokocoko type situation where he has peaked and while still useful, never the same player again.</p>
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<p>My gut feeling is starting to tell me that maybe his best is behind him when it comes to being the fast blockbusting finishing winger , more than happy to be proven wrong , because I dont want to it to be true . </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="566928" data-time="1458802529"><p>
My gut feeling is starting to tell me that maybe his best is behind him when it comes to being the fast blockbusting finishing winger , more than happy to be proven wrong , because I dont want to it to be true .</p></blockquote>We always get wingers that score tries at an incredible rate, to the point that if they played as many tests as Habana they'd be 50 odd tries clear of the next best. But then they turn 26, their form takes a slump and the next talented up and comer takes over. I was really hoping Savea would end up with 100 tests and as many tries, but that is difficult to maintain I guess. What's frustrating is he isn't helping himself with his fitness. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="566928" data-time="1458802529">
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<p>My gut feeling is starting to tell me that maybe his best is behind him when it comes to being the fast blockbusting finishing winger , more than happy to be proven wrong , because I dont want to it to be true . </p>
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<p>While I know what you are saying, That game against France was only two tests ago. So it isn't that far in the past that he was doing what he has always been good at. Too early to write him off IMO.</p> -
<p>Who cares about Savea? We produce a lot of talented wingers. As people have said, if he is over weight just show him the door. There will always be a young talnted guy like Naholo coming through. Only Hurricanes fans should really be concerned. Savea at his best is still an asset for the AB's but we can find any Savea.</p>
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<p>Most worrying is how poor Savea has been under the high ball this season.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="566988" data-time="1458812064">
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<p>While I know what you are saying, That game against France was only two tests ago. So it isn't that far in the past that he was doing what he has always been good at. Too early to write him off IMO.</p>
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<p>Although I agree that it is too early to write him off, that game was against FRANCE. The same country that ended fifth in the 6 Nations only a week ago.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="567008" data-time="1458815659">
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<p>Although I agree that it is too early to write him off, that game was against FRANCE. The same country that ended fifth in the 6 Nations only a week ago.</p>
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<p>Everyone knows the frogs don't take the 6N seriously anymore. The RWC version of France vs NZ is a totally different animal (albeit weaker than the 2011 version)</p> -
<p>Yes that game against France, a RWC Knock out game on foreign soil, where many were tipping that they would knock us out again. It was a fucking huge game. Arguably the biggest game since the 2011 Final. Maybe even the biggest game of Savea's career up to that point.</p>
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Yeah I thought he fronted big time for that game , maybe he is going through a similar phase to Joe Rok did in the latter part of his test career where he struggles to be the same player he was when he was younger week after week .<br><br>
It's a bit like the fast bowler who can't be the tear away aggressive speed machine for ever and modifies his game to still be A valuable player . . <br><br>
Maybe that is where Julian is at , dunno ? -
<p>He's been highs and lows for a few years now. Really seems to struggle maintaining his fitness and weight outside of the AB environment. I would never begrudge these guys a decent off season and a chance to unwind but some do it much better than others. Wonder if things might change if we do get a global season and the pressure to be 'on' for 9-10 months of the year changes.</p>
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<p>In any case it sucks for the Canes to have such a quality player come back and half ass his way through the first part of the season. Treat them like adults but ffs If I were the Canes trainer or coach I'd have him on a fitbit and be keeping an eye on things over the break! You don't put on that kind of beef from just one sitting of chop suey!!</p> -
<p>Canes team tonight having the opposite handling skills that Blues had last week. Outstanding skills</p>
