Hurricanes v Sharks - Savea Benched
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<p><strong>Hurricanes:</strong> James Marshall, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Willis Halaholo, Jason Woodward, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, Vaea Fifita, Ben May, Dane Coles (c), Loni Uhila. <strong>Reserves:</strong> Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves, Mike Kainga, Mark Abbott, Callum Gibbins, Jamison Gibson Park, Vince Aso, Julian Savea.</p>
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<p>40 Nil! That is all</p> -
<p>I actually think Savea is lucky to be in the 23. But agree with KiwiMurph, let's see how he responds. </p>
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Savea was one of my major concerns going into the finals, so I'm actually relieved he's been benched. He's so out of sorts he's become a liability. Nearly every ball thrown his way has resulted in a turnover lately.
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<p>guess we will see what Savea is made of over the next few weeks...he needs to step up big time form where he has been, we know what he can do, but it's been a good couple of seasons since we saw him near his best.</p>
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<p>Looking like it is a case of last man standing when it comes to the front row. Two of the three originally contracted hookers are again missing and we are still waiting to get a glimpse of prop Hisa Sasagi where we see Mike Kainga making the 23. Kainga seems to have been around the traps (Chiefs 2013, Crusaders and Hurricanes in 2014, NZ Maori also 2014, Bay of Plenty 2014, Taranaki 2016) without really "making it". Still we have it a bit better when it comes to players missing when compared to the Chiefs.</p>
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<p>All Chiefs fans like Woodward....</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="598457" data-time="1469063415">
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<p>All Chiefs fans like Woodward....</p>
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<p>And Highlanders fans!!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="598455" data-time="1469063339">
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<p>Is Woodward an option at Fullback/Wing/Centre now ? if he can handle all of them that's gotta be good for potential higher honours that many on here talked about a few years back.</p>
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<p>Higher honours? Really? Must've missed those discussions. I don't mind his game so much but I think he has issues defensively especially when he plays fullback (refer his Rebels days). At the moment he's not really first choice of any of those positions and he's being slotted in where injury or form requires. Hope he goes well on the weekend</p> -
<p>Big fan of Woodward due to him being from Upper Hutt but he hasn't really kicked on as we hoped he might.</p>
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<p>Good player though and funnily enough having seen him at 13 at club level, I do wonder if that's actually not his best position.</p> -
<p>he doesn't seem as pacey as he was before that season in Oz. Agree that he's looked good at centre. To be fair he showed some toe in last weeks game but he's been a bit up and down this season imo. But deserves a start based on his last game and Savea needs the wake up. For all his mistakes last week it did seem like there was more effort shown. But still a long way off his best. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="598479" data-time="1469070074">
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<p>Higher honours? Really? Must've missed those discussions. I don't mind his game so much but I think he has issues defensively especially when he plays fullback (refer his Rebels days). At the moment he's not really first choice of any of those positions and he's being slotted in where injury or form requires. Hope he goes well on the weekend</p>
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<p>I think potential AB may have been mentioned but then again that's thrown around pretty liberally at times.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="598562" data-time="1469089273">
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<p>Jesus that Canes team looks average. Maybe that's a good thing, in that they can't rely on one player to step up. </p>
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<p>It has basically been our team all season.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="598580" data-time="1469092902">
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<p>It has basically been our team all season.</p>
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<p>Yep, they've definitely done a lot better than I though they would. The front row has penalty try written all over it.</p>
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<p>Still seems that any team involved with Wellington rugby is pushing sh*t uphill in trying to win silver wear. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="598582" data-time="1469093065"><p>
Yeh, the Canes just have a really good 7, and a really good 10..</p></blockquote>
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I also hear the canes hooker could be alright.I think potential AB may have been mentioned but then again that's thrown around pretty liberally at times. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NZ Rugby Quizzes" data-cid="598524" data-time="1469082671">
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<p>Big fan of Woodward due to him being from Upper Hutt but he hasn't really kicked on as we hoped he might.</p>
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<p>Good player though and funnily enough having seen him at 13 at club level, I do wonder if that's actually not his best position.</p>
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<p>I can't remember where, but I saw him play at 2nd once and he looked better than any other time I saw him play - might have been due to injury. He certainly has the size and the skills, but seems to have been unlucky with injuries and silly mistakes (but in case you're reading Woodward, thanks for the one against the Chiefs). I thought he looked Ok at 13 last week.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="598585" data-time="1469093542">
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<p>Yep, they've definitely done a lot better than I though they would. The front row has penalty try written all over it.</p>
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<p>Still seems that any team involved with Wellington rugby is pushing sh*t uphill in trying to win silver wear. </p>
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<p>It would be ironic if we win our maiden championship with this team, one of the least endowed with stars I can remember</p>
