AB - backline for 2015

[ranger]

Bro, alot can change in four years time. And Savea has loads of potential, he was the U20's Player of the Year. And as much as I love watching Gillies, he also needs to up his game. I play against him in the Hawkes Bay Premier Club Competition and he is a phenomenon, I watch him play for Hawkes Bay and he is alot less effective than at Club level, trust me. He shows glimpses of his great skill, "glimpses" but not what he is capable of, which is the same as Savea except he is playing at a higher level. And Gillies may not make the ascension to Super Rugby just yet, where as Savea has. Not that Savea has shown as much of his talents either but in four years time alot can change so who knows.

But the thing is, Savea is struggling now because he isn't the biggest and fastest kid on the field anymore. He relied on power to go over kids and pace to burn them on the outside, he never had to create a plan b and now that he cant always rely on athletic gifts he needs one, which is why he struggles. Every level he goes up, the players get bigger, stronger, faster.

Gillies is all about trickery, sleight of hand and causing confusion in the defence. That kind of game is transferable because no matter how big and fast the defenders are, they can still get done by Gillies if they aren't paying attention. I honestly think that the reason he is only showing glimpses is because hes stuck out on the wing. At the ITM cup level the defensive pressure is intensified and in Eaton and Kirkpatrick they had one of the worst distributing halves combos in the competition. Horrell was great but they were playing runners at 13 instead of distributors. Gillies barely got any ball and when he did it was slow coming out from the halves and he was mostly only given it when Umaga-Marshall or Saseve at 13 couldn't see anything on for themselves. Gillies did well with the scraps he was given but the vast majority of his best work came from the counter-attack, which says something about the quality of the distribution inside him. If you think about it, Guildford looks average when he plays for the bay too, hes way better for the Crusaders and All Blacks.

I honestly think that Gillies just needs more touches of the ball like he gets in Havelock to shine out. I also don't think the wing is his best position, i would put him at 15, 13 or even 10 before wing.

 

[Melhor Time]

10 Aaron Cruden
11 Zac Guildford
12 Sonny Bill Williams ?????
13 Richard Kahui
14 Rene Ranger
15 Israel Dagg

 

[james5000]

But the thing is, Savea is struggling now because he isn't the biggest and fastest kid on the field anymore. He relied on power to go over kids and pace to burn them on the outside, he never had to create a plan b and now that he cant always rely on athletic gifts he needs one, which is why he struggles. Every level he goes up, the players get bigger, stronger, faster.

Gillies is all about trickery, sleight of hand and causing confusion in the defence. That kind of game is transferable because no matter how big and fast the defenders are, they can still get done by Gillies if they aren't paying attention. I honestly think that the reason he is only showing glimpses is because hes stuck out on the wing. At the ITM cup level the defensive pressure is intensified and in Eaton and Kirkpatrick they had one of the worst distributing halves combos in the competition. Horrell was great but they were playing runners at 13 instead of distributors. Gillies barely got any ball and when he did it was slow coming out from the halves and he was mostly only given it when Umaga-Marshall or Saseve at 13 couldn't see anything on for themselves. Gillies did well with the scraps he was given but the vast majority of his best work came from the counter-attack, which says something about the quality of the distribution inside him. If you think about it, Guildford looks average when he plays for the bay too, hes way better for the Crusaders and All Blacks.

I honestly think that Gillies just needs more touches of the ball like he gets in Havelock to shine out. I also don't think the wing is his best position, i would put him at 15, 13 or even 10 before wing.

It may be the case that competition has gotten tougher for Savea and he has not looked as good at the higher levels. You can't honestly say he doesn't have potential though. He just needs some confidence, he may need to develop in a few other area's as well, but he is still very young and has time on his side. It would be ridiculous if coaches just gave up on him because they think like you.

I have read a few of your comments lately and it seems you think that every player that has made it at a higher level is just naturally talented and basically don't need to be coached (or you might say just coached to their natural ability). This is far from the case, many gifted athletes haven't done ****, and some average athlete's have become world beaters.

Honestly a great work ethic and an ability to take in information can get you a long way. It's not all about natural ability!!!
Not every 10 knew how to read a game from day 1, some had to work very hard and developed these skills over time.

Its a bonus to have natural ability, but its what you do with it that matters. Savea could become a complete player, it's just a matter of how hard he's willing to work.

*Guilford is the man when he plays for Hawkes Bay, him and Dagg are a class above when they're playing for them.

I'd say the opposite tbh he looks better for them than at the Crusaders or in the AB's. So he should though its a different level.