Tri Nations 2010

Disagree entirely. The chip kicks... yeah... but there was some other dodgy tactical kicking as well. Here are the stats:

5 kick, 5 pass, 6 run. metres gained: 10
Tackles made: 5. Tackles missed: 0
(Nonu made 14 tackles so you are right on that)
Cruden also had 2 offloads.

I'm not saying he was world class, just that he showed definite signs of promise. I don't think he's even the 5th best #10 in NZ but let's not throw shit at him.

And remember this: HE WON THE GAME VS THE WALLABIES IN SYDNEY. Remember, #10s are the players who get the wins.

Dude, with those stats you confirm what I'm saying. I mean common, gained 10 meters from 6 runs? And 5 kicks and passes for a 1st 5 is very poor. It's like he wasn't even there.

If he only got 16 touches, what was he supposed to do? He passed or kicked 2/3rds of his touches.
Obviously the game plan was to not give him too much work.
He didn't throw an interception, didn't miss a major tackle,didn't miss touch with a crucial kick. He wasn't great, but he was good enough.

Basically it's like with Donald... Donald always played a good, solid game for the ABs but the media have their tongues so deep up Dan Carter's asshole they constantly said he was shit.

We definitely missed Dan Carter for kickoffs. Cruden should get a few more chances and will hopefully improve.

Richie McCaw won that game for us I reckon, overall we were average in most positions

If Giteau had brought his kicking boots it may have been a different story!

We miss Grant Fox and Gary Whetton even more imo

but he WAS shit. notice how since he and Lukey Mac left, we have had a great season?

Cruden was average at best and guilty of trying too hard. If a situation requires a kick you kick it you don't have to run the ball from everywhere when you're on the back foot. Im not sure if Vito hate much impact either the team lifted considerably once Kaino came on the field. McCaws effort was super human, its unbelievable how often hes the johhny on the spot.

That's because he's never johnny on the spot, there's no luck involved with McCaw just intelligent positioning and a super human work rate that makes sure he's always where he needs to be.

I think you lost any rugby credibility you may of had with this statement.

Donald is fucking shit useless- pretty good Super player but once he put on the black jumper he was pants.


Cruden was hopeless, fluffed almost every kick re-start (an area where the AB's usually dominate and base plays from).

He IS too small. He needs more time in ITM and Super rugby to improve his tactical , distance and place kicks.

Back it up then. I want evidence of him being "shit useless."

He only ran the ball 6 times, and kicked 5. So he wasn't running from everywhere.

Donald? Gtfo vadz!

Also, and I could be wrong here, I recall Cruden actually making a couple of raking clearances down centre field that found the turf and did us fairly well in the field position stakes. Definitely not as bad as the haters are saying, IMO.

Plus that Aussie offense was on fire for the first 60 minutes. Haven't seen them play with that much pace in ages.



gc.

In all honesty Cruden got a shit ball from Weepu. So I no wonder he had little time to do anything with the ball. Again, I believe the best halfback we have in the country is Alby Mathewson. The best pass and speed around rucks/mauls.

Oh fuck's sake have you even been watching this year?

PIRI HAS BEEN DOMINATING ALL OPPOSITION



gc.

Jesus fucking Christ! WTF Piri is the best halfback in the country by some distance... On form, ability, raw talent, strength, and he kicks goals. This is a fact, arguing against this point makes you wrong, and means you probably haven't actually seen him play this year. His form has been outstanding! What's next? McCaw hasn't been winning enough ball in the ruck? Flynn should be starting over Mealamu?

Calm down sunshines. hahaha... I'm talking about the last game, not the whole season. Weepu was taking few steps before passing, thus allowing the opposition to close Cruden's option down.

Piri Weepu is the #1 halfback in the country right now for sure, but it's true that he wasn't delivering quick ball on Saturday. This must have been a deliberate strategy (ie. to always draw in at least one defender) or because he didn't trust Cruden with the ball! Haha.

No you didn't, you said Alby Matthewson is better than Weepu. Glad to see you're trying to back track on that though.

Well technically Mathewson hasn't had enough game time in AB's to say that Weepu is better. But I still think that Mathewson is better, so no backtracking.

Thought Slade played quite well for the time he got... no nerves what so ever

I always rated Slade over Cruden. He reminds of Mehrtens actually. heh .

You are insane.



gc.

Does Carter get a lot more money than the others? He should
I only watched the game last night but the inference is that him and McCaw should be cloned , they seem to really make the difference.

Smf, you think I'm insane by having my own opinion? That's just insane.

Seriously tho, I judge on skill set. Weepu by far is not a quality halfback. He's approach is different (compared to traditional halfback role). It works for AB's sure. But I think Carter is that good that he makes Weepu look good. It takes someone like Cruden, who is a little hesitant, to expose him. I've said this before, Carter would benefit from someone with a good delivery skills as his halfback partner. Regardless who that might be. I picked Mathewson because he has the best pass in the game. Off the deck too. None of this pick up, make few steps then pass bs. Imagine what Carter would be like with few more spare seconds and space, from receiving a quicker pass. WE have the best backline in the world imo, and the key is to get the ball to that backline. But again, I'm insane, so what would I know.

no shortage of evidence mate

just watch ANY game from the 2009 season .... and get ready to CRINGE

it was suicidal putting him on goal-kicking duties

Dan Carter is highest paid for sure (due to endorsements)

And yet the All Black coaches disagree... Who do you think is more qualified to make that call?

Why bother




Which one is it? Skill set or best pass?

Youre not insane, just been spending too much time with vadz and his wild theories Mathewson isnt even in the frame is he? (must admit Im not really sure)

Reminds me of all the Justin Marshall haters, who as one of our best ever AB',s had to endire ridiculous amonts of critism through his career over his pass

Your observational skills are ace Jono. I'm not a selector for ABs, you're absolutely right. However I'm entitled to my opinion. And I've never suggested that I'm more qualified than anyone. Stop being a retard.

Maestro, he was in the frame at some stage this year.

Yes you are entitled to an opinion, but that doesn't make you any less wrong.

I'm starting to think that every incumbent AB halfback is automatically draws criticism these days, if one scored a hat trick of tries in the World Cup final they'd be criticised for not passing it to the backs quick enough and being greedy. While everyone cries out for the guy with the limited skillset but nice looking pass at NPC/Super 14 level to be selected over the incumbent in a winning side who can do it all.

To take that argument to its logical extension, any decision by any person in a position of authority is correct.

It's just ridiculous.

Piri has been so far superior to all other halfbacks in the last 3 months that to talk about anyone else is genuinely laughable. Even if Mathewson did give better service, Piri is a fucking MACHINE who does everything else at a level that Mathewson can only dream of.

This just reminds me of Vads trying to talk up Lavea and other fucktards over the blatantly superior players ALREADY selected by the AB brain's trust, and lauded by pretty much everyone.



gc.

holy shit - that was awesome

even if it look them x1000 takes to do

lol @ thinking that isn't pretty much all post-production

Tbf I think it's a lot easier (for highly skilled pros) than it looks when under no pressure - kind of like average basketballers scoring ridiculous amounts of consecutive 3 pointers from long range/tough angles outside of games.

and it's even easier to just do it all in post....

I know it's fake, cause Weepu's pass off the deck is shit.

I'm no expert, but the flight of the balls also doesn't seem right...

Seems like a gay version of Fantasy Football Files

Actually that's another example of pros doing seemingly amazing things with ease when the pressure is off. Like the kicker nailing both goalposts and the crossbar from 50 odd yards.

to say that sports people can do amazing things in non pressure situations that they can't do in pressure situations doesn't always hold. In certain sports with certain actions, lack of pressure (or rather, having time to focus attention on the performance of an action) can actually be a negative and can make performance worse

Well there's a youtube out there of various quarterbacks throwing balls into bins from a long distance and while moving. makes it seem easy

however at Patriots pre-season practice thsi year, Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer tried that a LOT and made maybe 1 out of every 50 throws. And Tom Brady is one of the most accurate passers of all time, and Brian Hoyer is a pretty ok backup

So De Vlliers keeps his job. It's a bad thing, cause when Boks will exit after pool games you lot (dirty cheating saffas ) will be blaming him for that.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/4173692/De-Villiers-survives-axe

Frans??? LOL

Given the results, his continuing "feud" with star fullback Frans Steyn

lolz, I never blamed the ref. Weak comeback.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10676637
Dan Carter has been accused of asking for "crazy money" by Toulon rugby club owner Mourad Boudjellal

heh, I won't suprised if some EU club will offer him that much. Easily one of the best players in the world.

easily? use to be perhaps.

Still easily. You could name any All Black and say that they're one of the best players in the world. Despite our horrendous mental insufficiencies when it comes to WC time, we still set the rugby bench mark... no matter what you filthy Saffas want to think!



gc.

You're an idiot if you think Dan Carter is anything but one of the best players in the world. He's had an exceptional year, definitely his best in a few seasons..

0 - WC trophies to his name! We all know thats how you measure a mans real worth!

Amen. He's had his chances and bottled them

lolz :>

bahahaha... awesome gb!