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European Champions & Challenge Cup
Sale v Munster
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<blockquote data-quote="Prestwick" data-source="post: 225086"><p><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RC @ Oct 19 2008, 11:09 PM) <a href="http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=354812" target="_blank"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div></p><p></p><p>Indeed, could you elaborate on that as it does raise some interesting questions such as how well are the stars of the Southern Hemisphere handling the rigors of Heineken Cup rugby? On the one hand you have had consistent performers such as Butch James and Doug Howlett while on the other hand you have had those who have either blown hot & cold such as Byron Kelleher and his inability to get Toulouse firing at crucial moments against London Irish and Munster last season as well as against Bath this season or are starting to appear as though they are missing the point of their soujern in the Northern Hemisphere.</p><p></p><p>McAlister is a case in point. I thought he was meant to be up here to broaden his education, learn how to handle responsibility and leadership as well as live in a world without Dan Carter for a few years. Add onto that playing with a fly-half who can quite easily shrivel up into a ball at the sight of a single moral sapping intercept or tackle you would think that the extra responsibility would enable him to expand his playing options. Frankly, I think Graham Henry is dead wrong when he says that there is no practical benefit for him to go up North. He simply isn't going to get these opportunities to learn and expand as a player in New Zealand. End of discussion.</p><p></p><p>The problem is that he's not really grasping that opportunity. Case in point Butch James who has flourished at Bath and seeing him in person with an arm in a sling earlier in February, even then he just looked buzzing and wanting to play against teams he's never played before, play with people he's never played with before and get the maximum benefit from the experience and will come back to South Africa as a much better player as a result. </p><p></p><p>McAlister on the other hand, whilst showing elements of form and ability which makes him such a hot prospect isn't expanding into the multi-dimensional superhero that Butch is starting to turn into at Bath. The one way to show Henry the error of his ways and pursuade him that 6/12 month sabbaticals or whatever are a good idea is to get as much as he can out of the experience. Clap trap about the NH making him a "well rounded person" and nothing else be damned!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Prestwick, post: 225086"] <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RC @ Oct 19 2008, 11:09 PM) [url='index.php?act=findpost&pid=354812']<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div> Indeed, could you elaborate on that as it does raise some interesting questions such as how well are the stars of the Southern Hemisphere handling the rigors of Heineken Cup rugby? On the one hand you have had consistent performers such as Butch James and Doug Howlett while on the other hand you have had those who have either blown hot & cold such as Byron Kelleher and his inability to get Toulouse firing at crucial moments against London Irish and Munster last season as well as against Bath this season or are starting to appear as though they are missing the point of their soujern in the Northern Hemisphere. McAlister is a case in point. I thought he was meant to be up here to broaden his education, learn how to handle responsibility and leadership as well as live in a world without Dan Carter for a few years. Add onto that playing with a fly-half who can quite easily shrivel up into a ball at the sight of a single moral sapping intercept or tackle you would think that the extra responsibility would enable him to expand his playing options. Frankly, I think Graham Henry is dead wrong when he says that there is no practical benefit for him to go up North. He simply isn't going to get these opportunities to learn and expand as a player in New Zealand. End of discussion. The problem is that he's not really grasping that opportunity. Case in point Butch James who has flourished at Bath and seeing him in person with an arm in a sling earlier in February, even then he just looked buzzing and wanting to play against teams he's never played before, play with people he's never played with before and get the maximum benefit from the experience and will come back to South Africa as a much better player as a result. McAlister on the other hand, whilst showing elements of form and ability which makes him such a hot prospect isn't expanding into the multi-dimensional superhero that Butch is starting to turn into at Bath. The one way to show Henry the error of his ways and pursuade him that 6/12 month sabbaticals or whatever are a good idea is to get as much as he can out of the experience. Clap trap about the NH making him a "well rounded person" and nothing else be damned! [/QUOTE]
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