So Graham Henry dropped Piri Weepu.
Good on him I reckon. I don’t agree with the decision but it does send a super strong signal to me that Graham Henry will not avoid making tough calls as he endeavours to deliver us the holy grail. (aka the rugby world cup)
In 2003 John Mitchell saw no role for Christian Cullen on the ‘journey’ and that was a massive call - one that was based more on personalities than skill and form – and that was Mitchell’s mistake.
The dropping of Henry has nothing to do with Piri the person; it’s to do with a perceived lack of form, so at least the decision has some rational basis.
Again, I do not agree with his dropping, but I respect the fact he’s made the call and will live or die by it – well done Graham.
2 comments ↓
Yep - I agree. It was quite a brave decision by Henry and what about the media uproar it has generated?! Mind you, that is probably more to do with the fact that there is not much to scandal to write about now that we’re in the lull between a Tri Nations series and a World Cup. But like you, I do feel sorry for Weepu. Your heart has to break for someone that had his family proudly booked to go to France. That would really hurt. (Not to mention, a humiliation on national and in some parts of the world, international level). But still, one injury and he is back in the team. Judging by the way the ABs have been falling like flies all years, it is probably a probable more than a possible.
I figure that if a first five gets injured, then that could also be a case to take Piri over. As we know he made a decent fist of first five for the Hurricanes this year.
I must say that he has made himself look really good after being dropped. He turned up for Wellington a few days later (scored a few tries as well) and hardly seemed to have a bad word about Henry and co - he’s been sure not to burn any bridges, publicly at least, so well done Piri!
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