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Rugby World Cup 2015
[2015 RWC] Pool C: New Zealand vs. Tonga (09/10/2015)
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<blockquote data-quote="Larksea" data-source="post: 758735" data-attributes="member: 43875"><p>thats simply not true, after making a good start for the All Blacks Piutau missed a number of tests with an injury and then Ben Smith was preferred at 14.</p><p></p><p>Piutau's non selection is surely mostly to do with the way he handled his contract negotiations with the NZRU. that clearly ****** Hansen off, the selectors have come out and said it wasn't but thats bullcrap. Piutau had a rough super rugby season for the blues but post super rugby he did absolutely everything right. Including being the best overall player in our first three tests this season he played in. HE absolutely saved us in the South African test and was man of the match. Then he had some big performances for Auckland in ITM cup.</p><p></p><p>To not select him after that? Of course it was political.</p><p></p><p>Selecting Naholo over him was a straight up mistake even before seeing Naholo come back and struggle. Hindsight now just makes that mistake even worse. In particular because Naholo looks nowhere near as polished around the field, under high balls and defending compared to how Piutau plays. Ive always said that Piutau's game looks suited for playoff footy because he has such a polished skillset.</p><p></p><p>IMO our back three would be superb right now with Piutau at 11, Nehe at 14 and Ben Smith at 15.</p><p></p><p>Savea is well off the boil despite getting some trys. Hes been able to finish but hes had many opportunities in space where he would normally create havoc and hes being put down easily and often losing the ball in contact on on the ground as well.</p><p></p><p>I also think Moala would be a better option than Savea at 11 right now. Moala has a good skillset, he's a genuine top level defender and the all blacks are clearly going to use wingers around the ruck a lot and Moala would be awesome at that job no doubt about it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Larksea, post: 758735, member: 43875"] thats simply not true, after making a good start for the All Blacks Piutau missed a number of tests with an injury and then Ben Smith was preferred at 14. Piutau's non selection is surely mostly to do with the way he handled his contract negotiations with the NZRU. that clearly ****** Hansen off, the selectors have come out and said it wasn't but thats bullcrap. Piutau had a rough super rugby season for the blues but post super rugby he did absolutely everything right. Including being the best overall player in our first three tests this season he played in. HE absolutely saved us in the South African test and was man of the match. Then he had some big performances for Auckland in ITM cup. To not select him after that? Of course it was political. Selecting Naholo over him was a straight up mistake even before seeing Naholo come back and struggle. Hindsight now just makes that mistake even worse. In particular because Naholo looks nowhere near as polished around the field, under high balls and defending compared to how Piutau plays. Ive always said that Piutau's game looks suited for playoff footy because he has such a polished skillset. IMO our back three would be superb right now with Piutau at 11, Nehe at 14 and Ben Smith at 15. Savea is well off the boil despite getting some trys. Hes been able to finish but hes had many opportunities in space where he would normally create havoc and hes being put down easily and often losing the ball in contact on on the ground as well. I also think Moala would be a better option than Savea at 11 right now. Moala has a good skillset, he's a genuine top level defender and the all blacks are clearly going to use wingers around the ruck a lot and Moala would be awesome at that job no doubt about it. [/QUOTE]
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Rugby World Cup 2015
[2015 RWC] Pool C: New Zealand vs. Tonga (09/10/2015)
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