Jack Reacher
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Ben Smiths 'do' is not that awesome either, they both look like their mums do it
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Help Support The Rugby Forum :
The Beauden Barrett Appreciation Society.
- Thread starter Packman
- Start date
Ben Smiths 'do' is not that awesome either, they both look like their mums do it
The Jones Boy
First XV
I have been watching your posts Chikwa and it occurs to me you have a good understanding of the game and the players, tipping my hat in your direction Sir.
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Ignore
No point.
No point.
Last edited:
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yip, ive been saying it for the last couple years and still say it. I believe Barrett will eventually overtake Cruden and even Carter.
He's only 22, overall his progress and ability has tracked well ahead of Cruden, where Cruden was at the same age. Thats saying a lot because Cruden is a pretty special player.
Barrett is 16 tests for 16 wins, basically made the most of every single chance he has had for the All Blacks.
IMO he is the spear head of a pretty epic group of 21-22 year old guys in the All Blacks.
Bauden Barrett
Brodie Retalick
Luatua
Sam Cane
TJ Perenara
Pautau
francis saili
They have all had their gametime managed, Retalick has had to do a lot more than expected because of Romano's injurys but hes been superb at just 22 hes easily one of the top 5 locks in the world, we will see these guys a lot more next year.
He's only 22, overall his progress and ability has tracked well ahead of Cruden, where Cruden was at the same age. Thats saying a lot because Cruden is a pretty special player.
Barrett is 16 tests for 16 wins, basically made the most of every single chance he has had for the All Blacks.
IMO he is the spear head of a pretty epic group of 21-22 year old guys in the All Blacks.
Bauden Barrett
Brodie Retalick
Luatua
Sam Cane
TJ Perenara
Pautau
francis saili
They have all had their gametime managed, Retalick has had to do a lot more than expected because of Romano's injurys but hes been superb at just 22 hes easily one of the top 5 locks in the world, we will see these guys a lot more next year.
Kapa O Pango
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Quade Cooper 'inform'
Chikwa
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I m not yet convinced of saili.I keep saying it but I think robbie fruen is much better.It seems only the chiefs and I believe in his phenomenal talent .
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Did you miss the fact he has had two open heart operations in the last couple of years or something? His heart can't pump enough blood around his system, hence he fades in and out of games as he is knackered half the time. Nobody is doubting his ability or potential, but having a heart that has required two surgeries is a pretty serious thing holding him back.
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Fruen has a pigs valve in his heart, had a new one put in recently as his old one faded and its obviously the reason he has struggled to get through 80min over the last couple of years.
Apparently the new one is larger, much better suited to his heart and needs and should hopefully help improve his cardio/v02max & recovery. Really good news for Fruen.
That aside my main issue with fruen is not his cardio, it's when hes on defense and looks like hes running around chasing ghosts. In terms of his defense the gap between the likes of Conrad, Kahui, Ben Smith, SBW or Crotty down to Fruen is catastrophically vast. Its the reason why hes so far down the pecking order for the All Blacks hes not even an option. AB selectors will bring in players from other positions before considering Fruen at 13.
For Fruen to come next this year and suddenly look assured on defense, read plays correctly and make good decisions on defense at a high rate would be the biggest turnaround in form in the NZ game for a long time. It would be bigger than the mind blowing 2011 to 2012 turnaround Julian Savea had.
He may be able to get away with his poor defense at times in super rugby but his fragility in that area so far basically rules him out of All Black selection completely.
Saili is only 22 and already well ahead of Fruen, the amount of improvement he showed over this season was really obvious. Piutau is also a future option in mid field and should get game time there for the blues next year.
Was kinda interesting to see that Crotty was preferred as the bench option in the last few tests. He obviously made a good impression while part of the squad and that was capped off with that last try, his part in arguably one of the greatest trys in rugby history.
And IMO charlie Ngatai is really maturing as a player, I honestly think this year he has definitely come into selection calculations, Ngatai should start 2014 as the chiefs first choice 13. Probably his lack of long term experience compared to Crotty the only factor separating him from selection this year - But hes only 23. I now think its only a matter of Time for Ngatai, I think hes already overtaken the likes of TNW, Aki & Fruen. His part in the last 1/2 of the season including finals for the chiefs should have him well up the pecking order.
Apparently the new one is larger, much better suited to his heart and needs and should hopefully help improve his cardio/v02max & recovery. Really good news for Fruen.
That aside my main issue with fruen is not his cardio, it's when hes on defense and looks like hes running around chasing ghosts. In terms of his defense the gap between the likes of Conrad, Kahui, Ben Smith, SBW or Crotty down to Fruen is catastrophically vast. Its the reason why hes so far down the pecking order for the All Blacks hes not even an option. AB selectors will bring in players from other positions before considering Fruen at 13.
For Fruen to come next this year and suddenly look assured on defense, read plays correctly and make good decisions on defense at a high rate would be the biggest turnaround in form in the NZ game for a long time. It would be bigger than the mind blowing 2011 to 2012 turnaround Julian Savea had.
He may be able to get away with his poor defense at times in super rugby but his fragility in that area so far basically rules him out of All Black selection completely.
Saili is only 22 and already well ahead of Fruen, the amount of improvement he showed over this season was really obvious. Piutau is also a future option in mid field and should get game time there for the blues next year.
Was kinda interesting to see that Crotty was preferred as the bench option in the last few tests. He obviously made a good impression while part of the squad and that was capped off with that last try, his part in arguably one of the greatest trys in rugby history.
And IMO charlie Ngatai is really maturing as a player, I honestly think this year he has definitely come into selection calculations, Ngatai should start 2014 as the chiefs first choice 13. Probably his lack of long term experience compared to Crotty the only factor separating him from selection this year - But hes only 23. I now think its only a matter of Time for Ngatai, I think hes already overtaken the likes of TNW, Aki & Fruen. His part in the last 1/2 of the season including finals for the chiefs should have him well up the pecking order.
alexrugby
Academy Player
only Springboks vs All Blacks match on rugby championship, Oct 5 Ellis Park is enough to appreciate this guy's skill and capabilities
He's damn talented
He's damn talented
