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The Cane vs Savea Debate

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  • StargazerS Stargazer

    @Machpants Without going into the Cane vs Savea discussion, the stats from Rugbypass are usually not very good. Opta/SANZAAR stats (not sure whether SANZAAR stats come from Opta) are the best, closely followed by ESPN. Fox Sports stats are somewhere in-between Opta/ESPN and Rugbypass.

    M Offline
    M Offline
    Machpants
    wrote on last edited by Machpants
    #73

    @Stargazer and none of those watch the match and note dominant tackles, so the point is moot. Cane was, outside of defensive work rate due to leading a pile of arse team, anon in SRA. Ardie, after a quiet start, was impressive in offense and defence. I agree with those stats.

    Doesn't mean he's better when they are both on form, or better in test matches. But cane had not looked good this year, whereas Ardie has in patches, along with being one of our best players for ages (as voted by his fellow ABs). So I'll believe rugby pass stats, and I also think foster was stupid naming cane as Captain so early when he is not our best in that position. It's like hooper too me.

    Cane will do the job, Ardie will do it better.

    So GFY Harriet

    nzzpN 1 Reply Last reply
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    • M Machpants

      @Stargazer and none of those watch the match and note dominant tackles, so the point is moot. Cane was, outside of defensive work rate due to leading a pile of arse team, anon in SRA. Ardie, after a quiet start, was impressive in offense and defence. I agree with those stats.

      Doesn't mean he's better when they are both on form, or better in test matches. But cane had not looked good this year, whereas Ardie has in patches, along with being one of our best players for ages (as voted by his fellow ABs). So I'll believe rugby pass stats, and I also think foster was stupid naming cane as Captain so early when he is not our best in that position. It's like hooper too me.

      Cane will do the job, Ardie will do it better.

      So GFY Harriet

      nzzpN Offline
      nzzpN Offline
      nzzp
      wrote on last edited by
      #74

      @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

      So GFY Harriet

      It's Catherine Everett .

      I'm firmly in teh Cane camp. Our style is that we don't need the turnover merchant, but a physically dominant and effective player. Cane rocks that for me. Savea is great in his own way, but just not as physically dominant.

      Simply put, Cane kills people in the tackle, and in Test rugby, that's what you need. That's also needed from 6+8, but Savea is one of those players who just doesn't fit unfortunately ...a bit short and a bit small to be long term dominant at Test level.

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • M Offline
        M Offline
        Machpants
        wrote on last edited by
        #75

        Harriet is Sam's other half, posting as @antipodean

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • sharkS shark

          @mofitzy_ So you're saying it's the openside flankers' role to provide all that physicality?

          J Offline
          J Offline
          junior
          wrote on last edited by
          #76

          @shark said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

          @mofitzy_ So you're saying it's the openside flankers' role to provide all that physicality?

          Yes. It's in fact the job of everyone in the pack to show some physicality. And it doesn't only mean smashing people with ball in hand or in the tackle (although that's obviously a significant part of it), it also means cleaning out opposition players and winning the ruck quickly and cleanly (and conversely not being cleaned out quickly and cleanly when defending). It's a cliche that rugby is a game of inches, but it's true and Cane is one of our best at winning those all important inches. Being a 7 is not all side steps or ball steals - if it was we wouldn't have been so critical of Pocock.

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • M Machpants

            @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

            @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

            And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

            Nonsense.

            Whelp, that's what the stats said.

            Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

            He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

            J Offline
            J Offline
            junior
            wrote on last edited by
            #77

            @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

            @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

            @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

            And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

            Nonsense.

            Whelp, that's what the stats said.

            Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

            He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

            How many dominant tackles does that equate to over the course of a match, then? Because I can make 50% dominant tackles, bu if i only make two tackles per match then it really means fuck all

            M 1 Reply Last reply
            1
            • J junior

              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

              @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

              And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

              Nonsense.

              Whelp, that's what the stats said.

              Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

              He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

              How many dominant tackles does that equate to over the course of a match, then? Because I can make 50% dominant tackles, bu if i only make two tackles per match then it really means fuck all

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Machpants
              wrote on last edited by
              #78

              @junior said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

              @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

              And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

              Nonsense.

              Whelp, that's what the stats said.

              Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

              He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

              How many dominant tackles does that equate to over the course of a match, then? Because I can make 50% dominant tackles, bu if i only make two tackles per match then it really means fuck all

              It doesn't mean 'fuck all' but it is a good point. Ardie wasn't the main tackler for the canes, like cane is for chiefs. Playing in 8 is part of the reason, and the loose trio balance. But the fact that when he tackles Ardie is dominant 1 out of 3 times, compared to canes 1 out of 5, is not meaningless. However, Ardie's massive attacking upside is very important compared to cane's minor defensive upside and tits for hands

              sharkS 1 Reply Last reply
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              • sharkS shark

                @gt12 Savea was playing 8, and Cane 7. So it's even less apples for apples. Which is then followed up with making a point based solely on an assumption (the stuff about the last 30 mins).

                gt12G Offline
                gt12G Offline
                gt12
                wrote on last edited by
                #79

                @shark said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                @gt12 Savea was playing 8, and Cane 7. So it's even less apples for apples. Which is then followed up with making a point based solely on an assumption (the stuff about the last 30 mins).

                Excellent point, that’s a great reason why Savea shouldn’t be playing 7 for the ABs.

                sharkS 1 Reply Last reply
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                • CrucialC Offline
                  CrucialC Offline
                  Crucial
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #80

                  All this discussion about 'dominant tackling' has made me realise that my initial top of the head comment about Cane possibly contains the key.

                  I said that Cane was the more dominant tackler 'in the loose' and by that I mean tackles other than the front on close to breakdown ones.
                  For me Cane gets himself into stronger positions to make harder hits when covering while Ardie gets there and tackles but it is slightly more side on and doesn't stop the carrier in their tracks as much.
                  That makes a huge difference as even slight momentum after being tackled can allow overall momentum to regenerate. If runners have to check their runs it slows down the impetus.
                  Not saying that Ardie is poor in this regard just that Cane is a little better.
                  That semifinal where England were able to just roll forward and make ground at will was embarrassing in this regard.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • gt12G gt12

                    @shark said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                    @gt12 Savea was playing 8, and Cane 7. So it's even less apples for apples. Which is then followed up with making a point based solely on an assumption (the stuff about the last 30 mins).

                    Excellent point, that’s a great reason why Savea shouldn’t be playing 7 for the ABs.

                    sharkS Offline
                    sharkS Offline
                    shark
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #81

                    @gt12 said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                    @shark said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                    @gt12 Savea was playing 8, and Cane 7. So it's even less apples for apples. Which is then followed up with making a point based solely on an assumption (the stuff about the last 30 mins).

                    Excellent point, that’s a great reason why Savea shouldn’t be playing 7 for the ABs.

                    Nonsense.

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • M Machpants

                      @junior said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

                      Nonsense.

                      Whelp, that's what the stats said.

                      Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

                      He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

                      How many dominant tackles does that equate to over the course of a match, then? Because I can make 50% dominant tackles, bu if i only make two tackles per match then it really means fuck all

                      It doesn't mean 'fuck all' but it is a good point. Ardie wasn't the main tackler for the canes, like cane is for chiefs. Playing in 8 is part of the reason, and the loose trio balance. But the fact that when he tackles Ardie is dominant 1 out of 3 times, compared to canes 1 out of 5, is not meaningless. However, Ardie's massive attacking upside is very important compared to cane's minor defensive upside and tits for hands

                      sharkS Offline
                      sharkS Offline
                      shark
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #82

                      @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      @junior said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                      And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

                      Nonsense.

                      Whelp, that's what the stats said.

                      Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

                      He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

                      How many dominant tackles does that equate to over the course of a match, then? Because I can make 50% dominant tackles, bu if i only make two tackles per match then it really means fuck all

                      It doesn't mean 'fuck all' but it is a good point. Ardie wasn't the main tackler for the canes, like cane is for chiefs. Playing in 8 is part of the reason, and the loose trio balance. But the fact that when he tackles Ardie is dominant 1 out of 3 times, compared to canes 1 out of 5, is not meaningless. However, Ardie's massive attacking upside is very important compared to cane's minor defensive upside and tits for hands

                      What he said.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • sharkS Offline
                        sharkS Offline
                        shark
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #83

                        It's always worked well for the All Blacks when we've looked to alter our team structure and move away from our strengths because of another team's strength. We're going to have to import some Afrikaans.

                        HoorooH NepiaN 2 Replies Last reply
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                        • sharkS shark

                          It's always worked well for the All Blacks when we've looked to alter our team structure and move away from our strengths because of another team's strength. We're going to have to import some Afrikaans.

                          HoorooH Offline
                          HoorooH Offline
                          Hooroo
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #84

                          @shark said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                          We're going to have to import some Afrikaans.

                          Level 3 restrictions have been lifted in Auckland so the North Shore is now available for access

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • antipodeanA antipodean

                            @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                            @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                            @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                            And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

                            Nonsense.

                            Whelp, that's what the stats said.

                            Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

                            He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

                            Whose stats are those, Helen fucking Kellers? Not even Ardie's mum thinks he makes dominant tackles a third of the time.

                            MartyM Offline
                            MartyM Offline
                            Marty
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #85

                            @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                            @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                            @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                            @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                            And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

                            Nonsense.

                            Whelp, that's what the stats said.

                            Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

                            He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

                            Whose stats are those, Helen fucking Kellers? Not even Ardie's mum thinks he makes dominant tackles a third of the time.

                            Last time this got discussed, it was mentioned by someone in the AB coaching panel that Cane (and perhaps some of these others) operates really effectively in the close channels - they liked the fact that Cane was making dominant tackles on props and locks. I wonder what those SRA stats would look like if they were stratified on that basis.

                            antipodeanA 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • MartyM Marty

                              @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

                              Nonsense.

                              Whelp, that's what the stats said.

                              Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

                              He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

                              Whose stats are those, Helen fucking Kellers? Not even Ardie's mum thinks he makes dominant tackles a third of the time.

                              Last time this got discussed, it was mentioned by someone in the AB coaching panel that Cane (and perhaps some of these others) operates really effectively in the close channels - they liked the fact that Cane was making dominant tackles on props and locks. I wonder what those SRA stats would look like if they were stratified on that basis.

                              antipodeanA Offline
                              antipodeanA Offline
                              antipodean
                              wrote on last edited by antipodean
                              #86

                              @Marty said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              @Machpants said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                              And Ardie is in no way passive. His hits are more often dominant than cane in SRA

                              Nonsense.

                              Whelp, that's what the stats said.

                              Cane's Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.

                              He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du'Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).

                              Whose stats are those, Helen fucking Kellers? Not even Ardie's mum thinks he makes dominant tackles a third of the time.

                              Last time this got discussed, it was mentioned by someone in the AB coaching panel that Cane (and perhaps some of these others) operates really effectively in the close channels - they liked the fact that Cane was making dominant tackles on props and locks. I wonder what those SRA stats would look like if they were stratified on that basis.

                              Good point. I'm sure Cane would love the opportunity to pad his stats against DMac running sideways.

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • sharkS shark

                                It's always worked well for the All Blacks when we've looked to alter our team structure and move away from our strengths because of another team's strength. We're going to have to import some Afrikaans.

                                NepiaN Online
                                NepiaN Online
                                Nepia
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #87

                                @shark said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                                It's always worked well for the All Blacks when we've looked to alter our team structure and move away from our strengths because of another team's strength. We're going to have to import some Afrikaans.

                                Odd for you to bring this up in this thread considering the benching of Cane last year was this exact scenario and England’s early run might have been stopped if we had his dominant tackling.

                                sharkS 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • antipodeanA antipodean

                                  @taniwharugby said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                                  @antipodean said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                                  This argument that if we have a hard hitting 6 then we can afford to carry someone who is passive in the loose forwards is ridiculous.

                                  not sure thats what people are saying?

                                  We have seen the discussions here many times before where there is making tackles and dominant tackles, both have thier place, your 7 if he is playing for t/os isnt gonna go hunting for the big hits

                                  So you end up with a flanker like Cockwomble. If your support and cleanout is on the job, his entire game is nullified and you're making yards.

                                  There are far too many people who watch SR and think that translates to Tests.

                                  A Online
                                  A Online
                                  African Monkey
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #88

                                  @antipodean Absolutely. SR and test footy are far different beasts altogether. People treat it as if it's the same level of rugby when it is anything but. Parts like set piece, the high ball and the collision are big focus points at international level unlike SR where teams like to use the ball off set phase and play away from the set piece as well as give the ball a lot of air, hence why guys like Ardie Savea and Mo'unga tend to thrive in the looser style of play and carve up their rivals, yet don't have as much success at test level where the space is harder to come by, and the physical side of the game becomes more important.

                                  I think a lot of people are struggling to get to grips with the fact that we're not as dominant as we used to be and that doing well in SR doesn't mean a hell of a lot once you get to the higher level anymore.

                                  BonesB Rancid SchnitzelR 2 Replies Last reply
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                                  • A African Monkey

                                    @antipodean Absolutely. SR and test footy are far different beasts altogether. People treat it as if it's the same level of rugby when it is anything but. Parts like set piece, the high ball and the collision are big focus points at international level unlike SR where teams like to use the ball off set phase and play away from the set piece as well as give the ball a lot of air, hence why guys like Ardie Savea and Mo'unga tend to thrive in the looser style of play and carve up their rivals, yet don't have as much success at test level where the space is harder to come by, and the physical side of the game becomes more important.

                                    I think a lot of people are struggling to get to grips with the fact that we're not as dominant as we used to be and that doing well in SR doesn't mean a hell of a lot once you get to the higher level anymore.

                                    BonesB Offline
                                    BonesB Offline
                                    Bones
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #89

                                    @African-Monkey Savea and Mounga aren't successful at test level?

                                    A 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • BonesB Bones

                                      @African-Monkey Savea and Mounga aren't successful at test level?

                                      A Online
                                      A Online
                                      African Monkey
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #90

                                      @Bones Mo'unga no, not yet. Think he's a better bench option at this stage personally. He's been fairly average at test level I believe. Certainly hasn't reached anywhere near the heights of SR I think that's fair to say or am I being a hater for saying that? Savea, yeah he's had some good moments at Test Level after a slow start where he got overtaken by Matt Todd at around 2017-2018 but compared to SR level where he and Mo'unga both tear sides up on their own, he hasn't reached those heights at test level yet. Not saying Ardie has been poor at all btw because he has been very good at times, I just feel he'd be better off coming off the bench against more tired opponents when the game has broken up a bit more which would also give us impact later on in games either in tandem with Cane, or as a straight swap. Starting is a different story however, and Cane is the far better starter at Test level.

                                      Funnily enough, their best performances were when they both came off the bench at Loftus in 2018.

                                      BonesB StargazerS 2 Replies Last reply
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                                      • A African Monkey

                                        @Bones Mo'unga no, not yet. Think he's a better bench option at this stage personally. He's been fairly average at test level I believe. Certainly hasn't reached anywhere near the heights of SR I think that's fair to say or am I being a hater for saying that? Savea, yeah he's had some good moments at Test Level after a slow start where he got overtaken by Matt Todd at around 2017-2018 but compared to SR level where he and Mo'unga both tear sides up on their own, he hasn't reached those heights at test level yet. Not saying Ardie has been poor at all btw because he has been very good at times, I just feel he'd be better off coming off the bench against more tired opponents when the game has broken up a bit more which would also give us impact later on in games either in tandem with Cane, or as a straight swap. Starting is a different story however, and Cane is the far better starter at Test level.

                                        Funnily enough, their best performances were when they both came off the bench at Loftus in 2018.

                                        BonesB Offline
                                        BonesB Offline
                                        Bones
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #91

                                        @African-Monkey hah, I just feel like Mounga has hardly had a chance to prove much, then I see he's had 18 tests - it certainly doesn't "feel" like it.

                                        I kind of see what you're saying - but couldn't you say that about pretty much most AB's? You don't see many players dominate week after week at test level - they might dominate the odd game but not as often as they would in super rugby.

                                        StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • A African Monkey

                                          @Bones Mo'unga no, not yet. Think he's a better bench option at this stage personally. He's been fairly average at test level I believe. Certainly hasn't reached anywhere near the heights of SR I think that's fair to say or am I being a hater for saying that? Savea, yeah he's had some good moments at Test Level after a slow start where he got overtaken by Matt Todd at around 2017-2018 but compared to SR level where he and Mo'unga both tear sides up on their own, he hasn't reached those heights at test level yet. Not saying Ardie has been poor at all btw because he has been very good at times, I just feel he'd be better off coming off the bench against more tired opponents when the game has broken up a bit more which would also give us impact later on in games either in tandem with Cane, or as a straight swap. Starting is a different story however, and Cane is the far better starter at Test level.

                                          Funnily enough, their best performances were when they both came off the bench at Loftus in 2018.

                                          StargazerS Offline
                                          StargazerS Offline
                                          Stargazer
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #92

                                          @African-Monkey said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:

                                          @Bones Mo'unga no, not yet. Think he's a better bench option at this stage personally. He's been fairly average at test level I believe. Certainly hasn't reached anywhere near the heights of SR I think that's fair to say or am I being a hater for saying that? Savea, yeah he's had some good moments at Test Level after a slow start where he got overtaken by Matt Todd at around 2017-2018 but compared to SR level where he and Mo'unga both tear sides up on their own, he hasn't reached those heights at test level yet. Not saying Ardie has been poor at all btw because he has been very good at times, I just feel he'd be better off coming off the bench against more tired opponents when the game has broken up a bit more which would also give us impact later on in games either in tandem with Cane, or as a straight swap. Starting is a different story however, and Cane is the far better starter at Test level.

                                          Funnily enough, their best performances were when they both came off the bench at Loftus in 2018.

                                          Yes, let's postpone Mo'unga starting even more! That was the whole problem. The coaches stuck to their pet-project of BB at 10 with Dmac 15 way too long. It didn't work and as a result, Mo'unga didn't have enough experience as a test starter in 2019. If there's one thing they need to do - with BB heading to Japan and getting old for a back come RWC2023 time - is give Mo'unga as many starts as possible. Mo'unga wasn't average at test level; if anything, he was inexperienced as a starter. That's what needs to change. Especially, because there is no other 10 at the moment who is showing any sign of test quality, even not Josh Ioane.

                                          A boobooB 2 Replies Last reply
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