<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (William18 @ Sep 25 2009, 07:27 PM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (danger @ Sep 25 2009, 07:14 PM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (William18 @ Sep 25 2009, 05:19 PM)
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Fa'atonu Fili is definately my favourite player and I think he should be starting over Kirkpatrick. I just love the fact that he can kick drop goals, he even won us a shield challenge with a drop goal. He was not really given a fair go, he only got one game at first five and i think we would be going much better if we had him there permanently.
I don't support putting any players on the EOYT without playing Super 14 . Players without experience should not be rushed into the All Blacks. This means it is too easy for them and they do not have to work hard for it.
I have also been thinking with the first five situation what the Hurrricanes side will look like next year. There are a lot of options for first five: Matt Berquist, Willie Ripia, Fa'atonu Fili, Aaron Cruden and Daniel Kirkpatrick. I am sure Cruden will be first snapped up just for the potential that he offers and he could still be there for the Hurricanes in 10 years time. Berquist will probably head down to the Highlanders and then I am guessing that the incumbents from the last season would be retained. That would be harsh on Fili but I'm sure someone else would be snapped up. Does anyone know when the squads are chosen?
As for last night, it was good to get that win. The bonus point is bound to be crucial too. I think we have still to play Tasman, North Harbour, Manawatu and Northland. Traditionally we should beat all of those teams, I am sure one of them will get it up on us. We are in a good posistion going into the end for the season to make another final and lose. Hopefully, next year we lose the Thursday night time slot. The average crowd for Thursday games is about 4,800 which is 3,000 less then the rest of the competition games. Ideally, all or most of the games would be played on the weekend afternoons. I bet afternoon games draw the biggest crowds on average.[/b]
Fili is a class act.
Why not choose on ANZC form. I believe its called for this year with Aaron Cruden.
Donald is a bust, hes had his chances and is not up to the mark. 2011 is right around the corner, we dont have time to wait for Cruden to prove himself in the Super 14, we need to throw him in now to see if hes any good, then if he performs give him next year to get used to a black jersey.
The way i see it is that Cruden has been playing behind an average pack, with a fairly average backline, and hes making them look awesome, thats enough of a test for me. He can play under pressure, with his pack going backwards and his backs not really helping him out. thats what we need.
Why waste time waiting for him to play super 14. I dont think its any better of an indicator, Donalds chiefs came 2nd, and hes dire. We always used to pick our players based on NPC form before and from memory the all blacks were still pretty good back then.
With the 1st fives im picking Ripia to start (even though i dont rate him at all) with Cruden on the bench, the big question is who the backup will be, im pretty sure it will be Jayden Hayward, Hes a 1st 5 thats been shifted to 2nd, and can also play fullback. They already have 2 1st fives that dont play anywhere else plus Weepu who can cover, doesnt make sense to have a third player that only plays at the pivot.
A dark horse is Jack Cameron from Taranaki, Hes arguably been their best player this year, he plays anywhere in the backline admirably and wouldnt mind training hard with little minutes. Hes what they need at the Hurricanes, a little less show, and a little more substance to compliment Conrad.
The big problem with Thursday games in Wellington is they have their students night on a Wednesday. I know that in Manawatu the Thursday games are packed with ****** students looking for something to do before students night in town.
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I believe if you just toss players in there you are weakening the All Black jersey. You should not pick players to see if they perform, you should have absolutely faith that they will. If Cruden performs in next year's super 14, he will have 2010 and then the whole of 2011 All Black's environment, I would say that that is plenty of time. Besides, I can't see Henry taking any risks over this end of season tour. The media are going to be really going for him if we don't win every game by about 30 points, I don't think he will be in the experimenting mood. Then again, we are playing the Barbarians and the Wallabies which are just two exhibition games. I would not mind so much if Cruden was given a go in just those games although I would not do that myself.
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Thats the thing though, you HAVE to pick players to see if they perform, the super 14 is not a good enough test. As ive already stated Stephen Donald more than proved himself in the Super 14 and he sucks at test level. The super 14 is not that great. Aaron Cruden has proven himself by pulling an entire 2nd rate team to a franchise high victory rate by himself. Hes proven he has the talent, and we need a backup 1st 5.
The end of 2010 and start of 2011 is not enough time. Dan Carter needed more than 2 years, bear in mind that Cruden would barely get any game time during the Trinations, he is to be groomed as the backup first five not the starting one, and we cant afford to bench carter for the Trinations games. If we dont pick Cruden now and get him up to speed with the ABs, then he wont have time to make it to 2011 and then if Carter breaks an ankle in the first game, we're stuck with Stephen Donald. Is that what you want?
