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Rugby Union
International Test Matches
[2014 EOYT] Wales vs New Zealand
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 690154" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>As donmcdazzle points out you are just making that figure up. Over the last few seasons Cruden's kicking has been almost identical to Barrett's. Barrett does have longer range as you say, but overall there is very little between them in terms of goal-kicking ability. I did an analysis of them at Super Rugby level recently (can't find it at the moment) and they both had identical goal-kicking percentages (72/73% I think). I just quickly looked through their stats at test level over the last few seasons and again they have had an identical kicking percentage since the last RWC (72% - Cruden 97/135, Barrett 31/43). Cruden has had two bad games from the kicking tee in recent weeks (probably not helped by his injury and the fact he kept getting shots from the sideline!), but that doesn't suddenly made him a rubbish kicker - he kicked at 78% during the Rugby Championship this season (Barrett kicked at 70%). Whether kicking at 72-73% is good enough for test level is an interesting debate (personally I think it is borderline), but if Cruden is ruled out due to inconsistent goal-kicking Barrett will be too.</p><p></p><p>I don't 'love' Cruden anymore than I 'love' Barrett, but I think people severely under-rate how well Cruden controls a backline. Last time I checked the Chiefs have won 2 Super Rugby ***les in the row with him at the helm, and I understand the All Blacks have never lost a match that he has started! We won the World Cup last time he started in a Rugby World Cup final - I have no doubt we would have won more comfortably if (a) he had been kicking goals and (b) he hadn't got injured. The AB's were in control before he went off the field - if Weepu hadn't missed 3 easy shots early in the match we would have had a good lead on the scoreboard too.....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 690154, member: 24910"] As donmcdazzle points out you are just making that figure up. Over the last few seasons Cruden's kicking has been almost identical to Barrett's. Barrett does have longer range as you say, but overall there is very little between them in terms of goal-kicking ability. I did an analysis of them at Super Rugby level recently (can't find it at the moment) and they both had identical goal-kicking percentages (72/73% I think). I just quickly looked through their stats at test level over the last few seasons and again they have had an identical kicking percentage since the last RWC (72% - Cruden 97/135, Barrett 31/43). Cruden has had two bad games from the kicking tee in recent weeks (probably not helped by his injury and the fact he kept getting shots from the sideline!), but that doesn't suddenly made him a rubbish kicker - he kicked at 78% during the Rugby Championship this season (Barrett kicked at 70%). Whether kicking at 72-73% is good enough for test level is an interesting debate (personally I think it is borderline), but if Cruden is ruled out due to inconsistent goal-kicking Barrett will be too. I don't 'love' Cruden anymore than I 'love' Barrett, but I think people severely under-rate how well Cruden controls a backline. Last time I checked the Chiefs have won 2 Super Rugby ***les in the row with him at the helm, and I understand the All Blacks have never lost a match that he has started! We won the World Cup last time he started in a Rugby World Cup final - I have no doubt we would have won more comfortably if (a) he had been kicking goals and (b) he hadn't got injured. The AB's were in control before he went off the field - if Weepu hadn't missed 3 easy shots early in the match we would have had a good lead on the scoreboard too..... [/QUOTE]
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[2014 EOYT] Wales vs New Zealand
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