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Big ups to the All Blacks selectors for axing Julian Savea from the team to face Wales in the second Test.
The ‘Big Bus’ has been driven out of the entire matchday 23 in response to an insipid display in the first Test, following an anything-but-super season for the Hurricanes.
The All Black press release confirmed that Ben Smith has “replaced” Savea on the right wing, with Israel Dagg coming into fullback to revive his international career after being left out of the successful All Black World Cup defence last year.
It was obvious Savea was a world away from his blockbusting best last Saturday, not least the coach, who took the drastic action to hook him in the second minute of the second half.
The selectors have clearly lost patience with the big winger who, for the second year in a row, has shown up clearly out of shape and out of sorts from the All Blacks’ ‘off season’.
Last year he was so out of whack when reporting for the truncated Rugby Championship that he was dropped by Steve Hansen and not allowed back until completing an intensive boot camp.
He went on to play a starring role at the World Cup triumph, but that was then and this is now.
Last Saturday at Eden Park the strike weapon was a blunt instrument, able to beat just one defender and net only 22 metres in his five runs with the ball.
And you can put his try down to the pin-point accuracy of Aaron Cruden’s ‘kick pass’ that enabled him to claim the ball over the line largely uncontested.
But it was in defence that the All Black no.11 was utterly shown up, making just one tackle and missing three, mostly on his opposite George North, who had an barnstorming game with four clean breaks and six defenders beaten from his 121 metres carried.
It’s a real shame that the giant Welsh wing has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour with injury.
Savea has ruled himself out.
But despite his obvious lack of fitness and form, it still comes as something of a shock that Hansen and his selectors have dropped Savea.
They are a typically loyal bunch and a revert to type would have seen them work Savea into form from within camp.
It’s pleasing to see them making the tough and the right call.
Now ‘Shag’ needs to go one better and give James Lowe a go on the wing.
The 23-year-old has been brilliant all year for the Chiefs, including an eye-popping display in his team’s thumping of the Welsh on Tuesday night in the unfamiliar position of fullback.
Lowe did it all in the stunning win: burning up the FMG Stadium Waikato turf with some scintillating, trademark swervy busts upfield and clever offloads. Most notable was his big break in the first part of the second half, when his team were starved of possession, which led to him scoring the try that ultimately put the sword through the Welsh Dragon.
His raking left boot carved off big hunks of territory all night and his big-hearted defence saved at least one certain try.
He’s been doing this all year, despite his Super season being interrupted by a shoulder injury. Surely he’s loomed into the All Black frame.
When that tasty prospect was put to him after the game, Lowe said, “Hopefully one day, I’ve just got to keep plying my trade hopefully bigger honours will
come.”
Should the All Blacks win the second Test on Saturday, those higher honours should come in the third.
Dagg has been in compelling form and deserves a shot, but he can’t hold a candle to Smith at fullback – nobody can – and it irks that the world’s best custodian has to be shunted out of position all because the bloke that should be there doesn’t deserve to be there.
The All Blacks shouldn’t have to make do with non-specialists in makeshift arrangements, no matter how good or versatile they are.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.