@chimoaus said in The Cane vs Savea Debate:
I think Pocock and Hooper showed you cant just put two great players out and expect it to work. I feel for Ardie because clearly, he is good enough but Akira, Sotutu and Cane is simply better balanced. And Ardie would benefit the team more coming on with 30 to go with those three starting IMO.
The bench should be used and thought of in a strategic way, there is nothing wrong IMO of having a different type of player who is simply better suited to tired defences, and I think Ardie is that type. BB was electric off the bench early in his career and was a great weapon for us. Not sure we have that right balance with the bench just yet.
Not to go too off topic but I think RM is that type of player as well. Thrives when the defenses are tired and the game is opening up a bit, but is a possum in the headlights against an aggressive team in the first 40 - 60 minutes. Injecting him and Ardie fresh with 20 to go would be a bit of a nightmare for teams to defend against. I agree with you completely we are not utilising our bench as a weapon the way we used to.