2014 Super Rugby: Chiefs v Crusaders (Round 10)

[TRF Mr Fish]

While I agree I don't think it should really be a surprise. I mean who is Jordan Payne? The only info I have on him comes from a recent article I read: (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ordan-Payne-revels-in-Super-chance-for-Chiefs). This article states that he is a midfield back that had played almost no rugby on the wing. It also states that not only have he played no ITM Cup rugby, but he has only played a single game of senior club rugby - the highest level of rugby he has played is under-21 club rugby (Even I have play at that level!). I can't for the life of me work out why he is now starting on the wing for the Chiefs!

Taylor's is a good rugby player, his problem is that he is very much a utility. He never seems to get more than a couple of games in one position, so it is really hard to know exactly where he is best suited. He is a good defender, and does the basics well, but I don't think he is very well suited to first-five as he struggles to really get his backline going. To me he is a traditional second-five in the mould of Aaron Mauger, but there is no demand for these sort of players in the NZ game at the moment. Taylor's biggest strengths are his goal-kicking and composure - he looked incredibly comfortable on his test debut against the Wallabies last season. He played far better in that match than Colin Slade has in any of his 11 matches in black. For me it would be a 50:50 call between Slade and Taylor for the AB's if Cruden is unavailable - Slade is in better form (and is actually playing 10), but Taylor has looked far more comfortable at test level so far.

Re: Payne. Like you've said, he's basically a complete unknown, but obviously Rennie and co have seen something that they like in him, or he wouldn't be in the team, let alone starting on out of position! I think it is a bit strange they opted to use Payne on the wing instead of Lienert-Brown, given they're both midfielders etc. Regardless, I quite like the fact that they're both Waikato men - maybe we might actually have a couple of good players in the ITM Cup this year!

As for Taylor, I'd just like to say that of all the first fives we've had in the last ten years, I think his debut was the best of any of them. McAlister was the last player to have a strong debut at 10 for the All Blacks - Cruden was pretty woeful to begin with, Slade was a bit of a non-event, Donald was probably the best of the lot but obviously didn't push on. Taylor actually looked like a test player right from the get go.

 

[ABs2011]

Re: Payne. Like you've said, he's basically a complete unknown, but obviously Rennie and co have seen something that they like in him, or he wouldn't be in the team, let alone starting on out of position! I think it is a bit strange they opted to use Payne on the wing instead of Lienert-Brown, given they're both midfielders etc. Regardless, I quite like the fact that they're both Waikato men - maybe we might actually have a couple of good players in the ITM Cup this year!

As for Taylor, I'd just like to say that of all the first fives we've had in the last ten years, I think his debut was the best of any of them. McAlister was the last player to have a strong debut at 10 for the All Blacks - Cruden was pretty woeful to begin with, Slade was a bit of a non-event, Donald was probably the best of the lot but obviously didn't push on. Taylor actually looked like a test player right from the get go.

This seems like a Wayne Smith thing to a point right? Centres on the wing - Kahui, SBW, and no doubt there are a few more....

 

[William18]

I disagree, seemed like a real lack of consistency to me, don't get me wrong the Crusaders played good and the Chiefs had there chances but stats all point to the Chiefs and as in the 1st game of the year the Crusaders get the run of the ref.

I didn't see it like that at all. I feel the Chiefs should have had two yellow cards one for Fitzgerald for the tackle on Read and the other for a swinging arm on Ellis. There were also many penalties given to the Chiefs which were just wrong. The McNichol penalty for not releasing and the penalty Retallick won when he just put his hands on the ground and flopped over the ball.

 

[Darwin]

I didn't see it like that at all. I feel the Chiefs should have had two yellow cards one for Fitzgerald for the tackle on Read and the other for a swinging arm on Ellis. There were also many penalties given to the Chiefs which were just wrong. The McNichol penalty for not releasing and the penalty Retallick won when he just put his hands on the ground and flopped over the ball.

I tend to agree with you. I also thought he Chiefs forwards spend most of the match diving off their feet at the breakdown. You and I did have the advantage of watching the the match without a large black, red, and orange eye-patch on though (I save my blue and gold eye patch for Highlanders/Otago games ).

 

[dasNdanger]

I'm trying to figure out how the Saders managed to pull this one off. I need to really watch the game (I mostly listened to it while doing other things - I've been busy lately), but I'm glad with the result, just not sure if it's because of a good Crusaders performance, or good luck.


das