It appears that Julian Savea's recent wretched run of injuries has continued with the big Oriental Rongotai winger a doubt for this Sunday's All Blacks test against Ireland due to a tweaked knee in training.
Julian Savea's tour has been dogged by illness ruling him out of the game against France - he was already rested for the Japan game - and his test last weekend against England where he scored a brace appears to be his last for the calendar year with the coaches not likely to risk the big winger's health and long term future for the season finale given that they do have some depth in the wingers.
It means that Charles Piutau's incredible finish to the season in black is set to get an unexpected encore with Piutau likely to take Savea's place alongside Cory Jane and Israel Dagg in the outside back positions.
Savea 2013 hasn't quite lived up to the previous edition but it is not a reflection of his poor form - even if Savea did have some off-field issues earlier in the year that definitely hampered his form. Rather, the form of Ben Smith and later in the season, Charles Piutau have somewhat cast a shadow on the big winger. Yet Savea, as he showed against England, remains a key player for the ABs and should be for some time to come.
Hopefully 2014 will see Savea lift his game again - the ABs will be even stronger for it.
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