The trouble with Ardie Savea and his protective goggles

*e.g. Sio Kite this year…

Other posters have noted the comparison with Tuivasa-Sheck in NZ and they are right. JS is further along the curve than he but there are still glaring weaknesses which are not his problem, but that of the experience he has so far accumulated in the game, and in the spot he has been asked to play after spending a whole season at 15 for the Tahs.

Isn’t it obvious to you?

The two cleanouts show he lacks impact in contact. They are one on ones and the first player has to make more impact than that. Both Fiji defenders win the ball too easily for comfort.

To suggest Joe doesn’t know who should be cleaning out at those rucks is close to rugby heresy! It is one of his key focal points.

Defence is a mix of the individual and the collective. The pattern is passive and the nominated 13 is not making any decisions within it.

Imagine Garry Ringrose in the same situations, do you think he’d be going along for the ride and ball-watching?

You really need to get off the RA payroll and lift the coins from your eyes fella😁

I wouldn’t say they “ended up” playing in the centres though. Folau played 1 test at 13, and Tuqiri only 5 tests at 13 (and only because Mortlock was injured on the ‘05 end of season tour to Europe, and Giteau was so inexperienced, they didn’t want two rookie centres) - he then went back to wing for the next 3 years.

I still think as a generality (and specifically with JAS), wing is the best spot for the first 2-3 seasons, then fullback once used to the sport. Maybe outside centre later on once they’ve mastered it. I felt JAS was just so unique against England it really worked last year as a one-off.

Anyway, I think Joe Schmidt probably has a bit more of an idea than me, so I will move on!

Marky Mark has shown his worth in league so he was a big loss - a Schmidt type wing!

I am not convinced Kerevi has even been considered despite looking back close to his best in Japan. That seems to be the theme with all overseas players right now.

Ikitau and Suaalii payed v Scotland last November and Finn/Sione had the answers. I am just not convinced any man can just turn up and play 13 at this level with so little background in the spot.

Looking through the examples:

Example 1 - long place by JAS, all support overruns the ruck. Pilfer also achieved by a player resting his arms on JAS - so should be a penalty for of his feet anyway. No failure by JAS there failing to secure the ball. By his team mates, yes.

Example 2 - a knock on punched out by the first defender who’s tackle he initially beat, from behind. An error by JAS absolutely. But every player makes the odd handling error.

Example 3 - JAS just beaten to the ruck because defender shoots to make a good tackle He passes and immediately follows. Potentially should have been a penalty to Aus because the tackler had not released and swung around into JAS’s path preventing him securing the ball, and had not released when the jackal went for the pilfer. Tackler prevented a clean release by Potter and if there was any failure, it was the ball carrier who got into a horrible position.

I am struggling how you try and blame 1 on JAS and not support, but then blame JAS when the tackler fails to make a good placement.

Example 4 - JAS flies into this ruck out of nowhere, seemingly runs past the 12 to get there. Also did you miss McReight and Williams just jogging and letting JAS run past them? Anyway he busts a get to get there but was beaten to the contest. Any failure here is on the supporting players, McReight and Williams and JAS showed great instinct to charge in to try and secure.

Example 5 - JAS is following the lead of players inside him. How this is his fault I don’t know what you are thinking

Example 6 - Gleeson misses a tackle so JAS has to drift in off his man to take the ball carrier, leaving a larger overlap when he offloads. Failure by Gleeson not JAS

Examples 7 and 8 - Wallabies defensive line isn’t aggressive. But noting to do with JAS. Fisher has actually said he is not coaching a fast line speed. To try and blame JAS is again selective.

Seems like an agenda in this rather than the genuine, quality analysis I’ve come to expect from the author.

He may increase marketing value as the Hamster said but he also has ot be ready to play Test rugby at 13, and that is asking a helluva lot.

I don't think they should have bought him, but they did.

I also follow League closely, and I’d say the main motivations were revenge and hubris.

It didn't hurt League in particular, despite him being one of the top 5 highest paid players.

It probably hurt Rugby Union more via the exit of Nawaqanitawase, Carter Gordon and Petaia,…but it has already happened!

I note the outlined deficiencies in both attack and defence. I also think that he's a very fast learner and very adaptable with very little notice.

I think the main motivation is our weakness in the centres,…Ikitau excepted.

My view is that we’d be absolutely steamrolled by the Lions in the centres with anyone else available. I mean Piasami, Stewart, or even Kerevi in defence.

I think it’s a gamble, but one we had to take. He’ll wrestle down big guys, miss some and so on. He'll also flip some delicious passes, take some unexpected passes, beat guys with pace and/or grunt and swerve. He can cover tackle too.

Sua'ali'i is used to changing positions between games and within games, and IMO reads the overall game well. He’s no average League player at all.

Expect to see him at 12 as much as 13, occasionally at first receiver and occasionally out wide.

It’s worth the gamble!