rugby: June 2013

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Love Affair

Isn't it time to end it?  Is the spark still there?  Knowing when to end the relationship and actually being able to do it?  Before it ends up in pieces on the floor with all sides hating each other?  No one seriously thinks the never ending love affair, the romantic handhold between the ABs and the Nonu/Smith pairing will be cut but isn't it time?

How many other players would get the respite that Nonu has over his career?  In form, out of form, in form, out of form.  Having to carry a specialist 2nd5 on the bench in case Nonu is having one of his dream days.  The rest of the team having to give 10% extra because a gone missing Nonu will resurface at some stage in the game with some childlike play resulting from the frustration of not being involved in the game at all.  A player that's petulance threatened to scuttle the whole Hurricanes' franchise.  A player that's subsequent departure to the Blues had the critics speaking of a possible Super Championship contender but whose error-ridden play aided them to be anything but.  A midfielder whose insolence lead him quickly on down to the south where, with other big names, the Highlanders were arguably one of the pre-season's favourites but now can't even hold his spot.  Doesn't an in form player deserve a shot?  Is there any point in hanging around if one player can be so short of form and well below the current standard set by rivals yet still be guaranteed his jersey?

Conrad Smith has been a great servant to the All Blacks.  He isn't a rock in midfield, one can think of the odd occasion where he faltered in defense up against big hard-running centres costing the All Blacks games.  Stirling Mortlock comes to mind.  But he is a supreme commander at organising the outside defenses, and a great distributor for New Zealand's classy finishers.  Yet this season he has been made to look very schoolboyish in defence versus fellow NZ contenders for the 13 jersey.  It may be the only thing that keeps him there beyond the current season is the amount of new blood coming in.

 Deserved a spot at least in the wider training group

(I#d like to interrupt this article with some breaking news.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2INd9Cjf1U )



Bring in Ryan Crotty.  He isn't the most damaging 2nd5 in town but he is one smart cookie, capable of orchestrating his own breaks and more than able in D.  I doubt there is a more in form #12 in Super Rugby.  Throw him in outside Carter and you have a great combination ready-made.  To keep with one damaging runner in midfield NZ currently has a swag of blockbusting midfielders to pick from.  Unfortunately big Robbie Freuan has fallen by the wayside after a very strong damaging run through the first half of the championship.  Francis Saili made the initial training squad and has proved a real handful for opposition teams at inside centre but doesn't presently have the ball security required at this level.  In round 16 Highlanders vs Blues in Dunedin....after a woeful 1st half and possession was needed to get back into the game, Saili was the main culprit handing the ball back to the team from the South epitomising the Blues' real problem of years gone by.  JK deserves another knighthood.  Nothing more frustrating as a coach.  But Rene.....Rene Ranger has stood up.  The influx of exciting new youngsters at the Blues gave him an automatic senior role.  Instantly,...gone were the lapses in concentration, the issues with ball retention, defence and general 80 minute involvement.  Not the biggest centre doing the rounds but his performances belie the stats.  A real bulldozer with ball in hand and a devastating tackler.

Just a utility?...our loss

However, one feels Ranger will be consigned to a utility role.  Our loss.  Crotty wasn't even selected in a wider training group.  To my eyes Ben Smith has long been groomed as the successor to Conrad.  Just as adept at feeding his outsides, a great organiser, capable defender but with speed to burn. Something Conrad doesn't have.  Ben can open up a game on his own, an attacking edge Conrad never possessed.  But with Dagg's dip in form he could be about to nail down the fullback spot.  But then again, Dagg almost seems another untouchable when it comes to form affecting your AB jersey.

So....the handholding will continue...regrettably.