All Blacks vs Wales Test #2

Bones

He was average. Harris scored a try, he's a gazillion miles better.

kiwiinmelb

The writing was on the wall when they moved Naholo over to the left , 
 
And not so much that Savea would be dropped , but more so that these two may be competing for the same spot soon

Hooroo

So glad they ponied up and dropped Savea.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="588423" data-time="1466019792">
So glad they ponied up and dropped Savea.</blockquote>
 
Me too, it's not a World Cup year. They can't spend all season getting him fit. 
Interested to see how he responds for the remainder of the super season

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="588425" data-time="1466020027">
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Me too, it's not a World Cup year. They can't spend all season getting him fit. 
Interested to see how he responds for the remainder of the super season
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Yeah, me too. I just think it's a bit sad that this is the thing he needs to ignite him rather than just being so damn proud to be an All Black that he doesn't train his bum off!!

Virgil

You know you are over flowing with options when you can drop a guy who has scored 39 tries from only 42 tests.

canefan

The defensive balance of the back 3 is similar to earlier ones when we played Dagg and Jane. I'm interested to see if Dagg steps it up on attack

rotated

Absolutely had to sacrifice Savea. Impossible to continue to preach "better than last year" and "take it to another level" when you have the antithesis of what they are trying to do on the left wing.
 
The door is certainly open for him to reclaim his spot but I'd say with about 80% certainty he won't get the 11 jersey back permanently. Too competitive, too many new players coming through.

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="588451" data-time="1466025333">
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Absolutely had to sacrifice Savea. Impossible to continue to preach "better than last year" and "take it to another level" when you have the antithesis of what they are trying to do on the left wing.
 
The door is certainly open for him to reclaim his spot but I'd say with about 80% certainty he won't get the 11 jersey back permanently. Too competitive, too many new players coming through.
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I think if he is fit he will get the jersey, so in saying that I agree with you in that he will never get it back permanently becasue he is too lazy (In my view)

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="588452" data-time="1466025468">
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I think if he is fit he will get the jersey, so in saying that I agree with you in that he will never get it back permanently becasue he is too lazy (In my view)
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reading between the lines, he has other stuff going on in his life aside from Rugby. Hansen is a great believer that off field stability/quality = good performance on the field. He may well be back later.
 
What Savea offers (on form) is the ability to smash set defensive lines. I don't see this in other players - he can just run through 2-3 tackles, suck in cover and create space. However, when fat and uninterested he's a liability.

Bones

Yeah 2014 Savea was fantastic and on track to become a legendary winger, he was killing it in every facet of play it was expected and IMO was an excellent winger on defence too, he shut down quite a few dangerous opportunities when it was down to him which wasn't really something people noted him for while he was running all over/around people. Really disappointing he's dropped the ball.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="588452" data-time="1466025468">
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I think if he is fit he will get the jersey, so in saying that I agree with you in that he will never get it back permanently becasue he is too lazy (In my view)
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I read that first part at first as "if he can fit in the jersey"! Which could be an issue going forward also. NMS has one wing spot when fit, and Naholo is getting a crack now to make a statement. The backlog at 15 provides many less than ideal, but viable options in the back three. Next season we probably turn out another world beater.
 
Lazy or not - 4-6 years seems to be the limit for those ultra-skilled outside backs so he is in the ballpark of being over anyway. In the pro era they lose a step either through injury, age or kidney issues and then it's all over very, very quickly. Of our truly classy wings/fullbacks only Howlett really had a graceful exit. Rok, Sivi, Jonah (obviously unique situation), Wilson, Cullen all were passed by the newer model - when 18 months earlier it would have been inconceivable.

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="588465" data-time="1466026426">
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reading between the lines, he has other stuff going on in his life aside from Rugby. Hansen is a great believer that off field stability/quality = good performance on the field. He may well be back later.
 
What Savea offers (on form) is the ability to smash set defensive lines. I don't see this in other players - he can just run through 2-3 tackles, suck in cover and create space. However, when fat and uninterested he's a liability. 
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Which lines should we be reading between? I haven't seen any media that suggests there is something wrong.
 
To be fair though, i don't read alot about that sort of thing either

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Virgil" data-cid="588427" data-time="1466020826">
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You know you are over flowing with options when you can drop a guy who has scored 39 tries from only 42 tests.
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Or, that you have at least one other good option. :)

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="588467" data-time="1466026600">
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Of our truly classy wings/fullbacks only Howlett really had a graceful exit. 
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Dougie the Car Dancer? :)
 
He was sitting in the stands when we crashed out in 2007, as well. Shades of Mils - in fact, Mils was injured and perhaps not yet overtaken by Dagg.

kiwiinmelb

Good kick up the butt for savea , 
If dagg plays well , naholo pays well, NMS comes back well , not only is his spot in the run on team in doubt , his place in the squad is in doubt . 
It's all up to him now .

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="588470" data-time="1466026722">
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Which lines should we be reading between? I haven't seen any media that suggests there is something wrong.
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"Jules didn't have one of his great games," coach Steve Hansen said. "There is a lot happening with Jules and we are working away quietly. We all know he has not had a great season and he is trying extremely hard here since he came in and has been great."We think taking him out of the pressure of having to play and continuing to keep him working on areas we want him to work on will mean he will benefit from that."
When I read it, I thought they were talking about off-field stuff. May be fitness, may be other things, but either way he's not in good form.

KiwiMurph

I thought the same thing nzzp. 
 
I'm glad they've dropped him - after that performance and his season it is the right move. As mentioned above Savea better be careful as he now gives Naholo a crack at the 11 jersey, who is known for his speed but as we saw on the weekend also has plenty of power in his game too to play that role.

ACT Crusader

I can't believe Hansen brought in Whitelock and Dagg as the two replacements. 
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="588504" data-time="1466030397">
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I can't believe Hansen brought in Whitelock and Dagg as the two replacements. 
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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I know :)
 
At least he's resting Cody Taylor though for that far more important game in Fiji in a few weeks

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales Test #2