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Tri Nations 2009-2011
All Blacks Tri-nations squad 2011
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<blockquote data-quote="Larksea" data-source="post: 420258" data-attributes="member: 43875"><p>Sadly Kahui hasn't been fully fit and ready for the all blacks for long enough periods since so that point is moot. And for the rest of 2008 he was moved to wing to cover a masive problem that the All Blacks had at the back.</p><p></p><p>And it's hard to compare the two at super rugby given the fact Conrad smith plays outside the best 12 (Nonu) in the world and kahui plays outside the worst 12 in NZ super Rugby 2010 (Sweeney) and in 2009 he was outside Bruce who had a totally Dirt season after being very reliable in 2009 (believe it or not I dont think all players at the chiefs are good, I think some aren't even good enough to play super rugby).</p><p></p><p> I do belive a fully fit kahui is as good a player as an equally ready Smith and the fact that Kahui is bigger, faster and has a better kicking game makes be believe that given time, less injuries and the chance to prove himself he could potentially be a better player than Conrad Smith, he is after all 3-4 years younger than conrad as well.</p><p></p><p>I dont see a point in arguing these little issues the reality is it's an opinion and enither side may never be proved right or wrong either way. I know I express many points and options in my posts and I'm really not interested in arguing over one of more than a dozen of my observations till my fingers turn blue from typing. I'm more interested in reading what people own options are though there aren't many people that will post an overall view of the NZ player hierarchy and I bet if anyone did their would be Bias an every one of them. Even the experts at the top level have Bias. Laurie Mains is obviously bias to Otago players in his writeups and selections and Craig Doud is Obviously Bias towards harbour players.</p><p></p><p>I don't favour some Waikato players just because they are from that region, it may partly be because I watch the players progress and compare them to others at the same level in more detail and I know their strengths and weaknesses better than most. I'd guess a lot of the people who blast my arguments only watch a handful of waikato/chiefs games and when they do they miss alot because they are watching their pet players. It's those people that shot me down on this forum last year when I said Kahui should be in the All Blacks and I also said he would be in good form and his average showing in super rugby meant nothing. What was s suprise to almost everyone else was pretty obvious to me.</p><p></p><p>I've been pushing the case for players like Messam, Kahui, Leonard & Donald for years and other players that aren't from the chiefs. Even before they were all blacks and people have been giving me ****. Yet all along they are constantly being selected for the all blacks. You may think I'm wrong but interestingly the guys who get paid six figures or more to do it for real seem to agree with my observations more often than not. I don't believe I've pushed a chiefs player for selection that hasn't made it and I also haven't agreed with some Chiefs all black slections that have been made. Like Latimer for example, huge player for the chiefs but when he's been selected I would have sooner picked someone like George Whitelock.</p><p></p><p>If you want an argument against kahui I'll give you a valid one. One I would respect if it cane from anyone else.</p><p></p><p>kahui's weak point is his handelling skills, he often losses the ball in contact or fails with offload attempts. He caused a lot of problems for defences from 2006 - 2009 running with the ball in two hands in front of him then in 2010 defenders found that if they attacked his arms and the ball in contact he struggles and he has obviously been working to fix the issue and adjust his game and improve his ball retention in contact. Even recently spent extra time with gordon ***chens to work on it (when he got a tight hammy).</p><p></p><p>And please understand, I never said Conrad Smith is bad player, he is great and yes there have been times over the last few years he's been the best 13 in the world - he has been critical for the All Blacks since 2008. But dont try and tell me he doesn't have any weaknesses. Plus I think he does great even though he's fairly small and not as physical as most world class 13 but don't tell me that it's never been a factor, never been taken advantage of and has never been a selection issue. And dont try and tell me that Conrad Smith hasn't benefitted at all from playing almost his entire 1st class carrier (wellington, hurricanes and AB's) paired in midfield with Either Tana Umaga or Ma'a Nonu.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Larksea, post: 420258, member: 43875"] Sadly Kahui hasn't been fully fit and ready for the all blacks for long enough periods since so that point is moot. And for the rest of 2008 he was moved to wing to cover a masive problem that the All Blacks had at the back. And it's hard to compare the two at super rugby given the fact Conrad smith plays outside the best 12 (Nonu) in the world and kahui plays outside the worst 12 in NZ super Rugby 2010 (Sweeney) and in 2009 he was outside Bruce who had a totally Dirt season after being very reliable in 2009 (believe it or not I dont think all players at the chiefs are good, I think some aren't even good enough to play super rugby). I do belive a fully fit kahui is as good a player as an equally ready Smith and the fact that Kahui is bigger, faster and has a better kicking game makes be believe that given time, less injuries and the chance to prove himself he could potentially be a better player than Conrad Smith, he is after all 3-4 years younger than conrad as well. I dont see a point in arguing these little issues the reality is it's an opinion and enither side may never be proved right or wrong either way. I know I express many points and options in my posts and I'm really not interested in arguing over one of more than a dozen of my observations till my fingers turn blue from typing. I'm more interested in reading what people own options are though there aren't many people that will post an overall view of the NZ player hierarchy and I bet if anyone did their would be Bias an every one of them. Even the experts at the top level have Bias. Laurie Mains is obviously bias to Otago players in his writeups and selections and Craig Doud is Obviously Bias towards harbour players. I don't favour some Waikato players just because they are from that region, it may partly be because I watch the players progress and compare them to others at the same level in more detail and I know their strengths and weaknesses better than most. I'd guess a lot of the people who blast my arguments only watch a handful of waikato/chiefs games and when they do they miss alot because they are watching their pet players. It's those people that shot me down on this forum last year when I said Kahui should be in the All Blacks and I also said he would be in good form and his average showing in super rugby meant nothing. What was s suprise to almost everyone else was pretty obvious to me. I've been pushing the case for players like Messam, Kahui, Leonard & Donald for years and other players that aren't from the chiefs. Even before they were all blacks and people have been giving me ****. Yet all along they are constantly being selected for the all blacks. You may think I'm wrong but interestingly the guys who get paid six figures or more to do it for real seem to agree with my observations more often than not. I don't believe I've pushed a chiefs player for selection that hasn't made it and I also haven't agreed with some Chiefs all black slections that have been made. Like Latimer for example, huge player for the chiefs but when he's been selected I would have sooner picked someone like George Whitelock. If you want an argument against kahui I'll give you a valid one. One I would respect if it cane from anyone else. kahui's weak point is his handelling skills, he often losses the ball in contact or fails with offload attempts. He caused a lot of problems for defences from 2006 - 2009 running with the ball in two hands in front of him then in 2010 defenders found that if they attacked his arms and the ball in contact he struggles and he has obviously been working to fix the issue and adjust his game and improve his ball retention in contact. Even recently spent extra time with gordon ***chens to work on it (when he got a tight hammy). And please understand, I never said Conrad Smith is bad player, he is great and yes there have been times over the last few years he's been the best 13 in the world - he has been critical for the All Blacks since 2008. But dont try and tell me he doesn't have any weaknesses. Plus I think he does great even though he's fairly small and not as physical as most world class 13 but don't tell me that it's never been a factor, never been taken advantage of and has never been a selection issue. And dont try and tell me that Conrad Smith hasn't benefitted at all from playing almost his entire 1st class carrier (wellington, hurricanes and AB's) paired in midfield with Either Tana Umaga or Ma'a Nonu. [/QUOTE]
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