Colin Slade vs the Hurricanes

[donmcdazzle]

On this match alone i would drop Barrett and bring Slade back into the AB's Barrett is good but imo needs more development. Slade has been amazing in this match. He has clearly been directing alot of whats going on in this particular match. You can see him talking to the other big name players in the team. Everything has been outstanding from kicking, defence and attack. He was clearly down on confidence before but the last few games you could see it coming back.

I know alot of others on here will not agree though.

haha drop Aaron Smith and Barrett and bring Slade in! God help us if you were picking the ABs.

 

[austingtir]

haha drop Aaron Smith and Barrett and bring Slade in! God help us if you were picking the ABs.

Smith and Barrett were both terrible i have no doubt joseph pulled smith as he was ****** off with what was going on.

Barrett is way overrated imo. If he's our best third choice flyhalf bring back Donald imo. His defence is a joke just like Smiths.

I've never understood this. Messam is almost an exact physical replica of Jerry Collins. Was he too small too?

He's not an exact replica of how collins played though. Collins was yards ahead of him. If you honestly think Messam will still be first choice 6 by the next WC you have rocks in your head.

 

[donmcdazzle]

He's not an exact replica of how collins played though. Collins was yards ahead of him. If you honestly think Messam will still be first choice 6 by the next WC you have rocks in your head.

Most of what you say player wise indicates you have rocks in your head. Smith was great in the French series, yet you still bash him. Barrett has had a good season, miles better than Slade's. Barrett is already better than Donald ever was too, even with his sloppy defence.

i don't think anyone thinks Messam will be first choice 6 in two years, he is barely first choice now. Luatua and Shields should be the men in two years time.

 

[austingtir]

Most of what you say player wise indicates you have rocks in your head. Smith was great in the French series, yet you still bash him. Barrett has had a good season, miles better than Slade's. Barrett is already better than Donald ever was too, even with his sloppy defence.

i don't think anyone thinks Messam will be first choice 6 in two years, he is barely first choice now. Luatua and Shields should be the men in two years time.

How was smith great in the french test series? He was o.k but certainly in no way was he great. Even in that test series he was terrible on defence when the AB's at times had a huge advantage imagine what he's going to be like against a half decent team like SA if they put there boots on properly this year? Barrett has had a good season but IMO Slade has far more potential than him if he stays injury free for long periods of time. Slade when he's right can do everything. Barrett is shocking on defence like not just bad but really bad... his positioning is not good his tackling is not good. He needs to fix that to have any chance of a long term back up.

 

[William18]

Barrett does need to improve his defence. However, he is basically a better player than Slade is every other aspect. His tactical kicking is superb and he looks far better when he takes the ball to the line. Barrett's problem is that the Hurricanes forward pack is completely useless and gives no good ball off the set piece. Barrett's game does not fit the Hurricanes style of play and that is why he sometimes doesn't look as good as he could be.

 

[austingtir]

Barrett does need to improve his defence. However, he is basically a better player than Slade is every other aspect. His tactical kicking is superb and he looks far better when he takes the ball to the line. Barrett's problem is that the Hurricanes forward pack is completely useless and gives no good ball off the set piece. Barrett's game does not fit the Hurricanes style of play and that is why he sometimes doesn't look as good as he could be.

See i cant agree with this. Daniel Carter perhaps the best 10 ever if he ever played like Barrett did last night big questions would be asked of him. To me Barrett is just not a realistic long term option atm.

Slade totally outplayed Barrett in every department last night. Both teams were rubbish in patches so i cant agree the blame lies with the forward pack.

I just think we have nothing to loose and everything to gain by dropping barrett for the rugby championship and taking Slade instead. If i was Hansen id be telling Barrett straight up that his defence is not good enough for AB selection. You bet your bottom dollar it would improve after that!

Slade before his injurys was really a better player than Cruden was going into the WC lets not forget that. Dont take that the wrong way ATM Cruden is the best in NZ.

 

[nickdnz]

There is no way in a million years Slade is a better player than Barrett...

That was probably his best game in three years. I don't even think Barrett played badly at all - neither did Aaron Smith.

I just can't understand what games you watch - because I never seem to come to the same or similar conclusions as you.

 

[William18]

See i cant agree with this. Daniel Carter perhaps the best 10 ever if he ever played like Barrett did last night big questions would be asked of him. To me Barrett is just not a realistic long term option atm.

Slade totally outplayed Barrett in every department last night. Both teams were rubbish in patches so i cant agree the blame lies with the forward pack.

I just think we have nothing to loose and everything to gain by dropping barrett for the rugby championship and taking Slade instead. If i was Hansen id be telling Barrett straight up that his defence is not good enough for AB selection. You bet your bottom dollar it would improve after that!

Slade before his injurys was really a better player than Cruden was going into the WC lets not forget that. Dont take that the wrong way ATM Cruden is the best in NZ.

Barrett is basically a brilliant tactical kicker. His kicking for the corner is sublime (better than first-five in NZ at that one aspect). The problem is he kicks the ball a lot but then our line out isn't good enough to put pressure on the other team's ball. We just don't have the forward pack at the Hurricanes to get the most out of Barrett's ability. Carter is easily the best first-five because he along with Cruden can do well regardless of the service inside of them. Barrett is only a good player with a bad forward pack but would be a brilliant with a great forward pack.

You think dropping Barrett would make his defence improve? What, you think he is lazy and doesn't work on it? That is not what I have heard about the character of Beauden Barrett. I'm sure Barrett is working very hard to improve defensively. Surely though Barrett's defence is more likely to improve if he is involved in the All Black's squad? How will his defence improve in the ITM Cup?

Sure Slade was better going into 2011. This isn't 2011. Cruden was 22 at that time. Right now Cruden is a far better player. Cruden also was far better than Slade when both got their opportunities in the world cup.

I think the problem I have with your opinions is they seem preconceived to me. You want to pick Colin Slade for the All Blacks when he has been terrible in almost every game this season. Then you pick one game where Slade was better than Barrett and say that this means Slade>Barrett. Slade played well last night, good on him but one good performance does not mean you should be in the All Blacks.

 

[austingtir]

Barrett is basically a brilliant tactical kicker. His kicking for the corner is sublime (better than first-five in NZ at that one aspect). The problem is he kicks the ball a lot but then our line out isn't good enough to put pressure on the other team's ball. We just don't have the forward pack at the Hurricanes to get the most out of Barrett's ability. Carter is easily the best first-five because he along with Cruden can do well regardless of the service inside of them. Barrett is only a good player with a bad forward pack but would be a brilliant with a great forward pack.

You think dropping Barrett would make his defence improve? What, you think he is lazy and doesn't work on it? That is not what I have heard about the character of Beauden Barrett. I'm sure Barrett is working very hard to improve defensively. Surely though Barrett's defence is more likely to improve if he is involved in the All Black's squad? How will his defence improve in the ITM Cup?

Sure Slade was better going into 2011. This isn't 2011. Cruden was 22 at that time. Right now Cruden is a far better player. Cruden also was far better than Slade when both got their opportunities in the world cup.

I think the problem I have with your opinions is they seem preconceived to me. You want to pick Colin Slade for the All Blacks when he has been terrible in almost every game this season. Then you pick one game where Slade was better than Barrett and say that this means Slade>Barrett. Slade played well last night, good on him but one good performance does not mean you should be in the All Blacks.

Your still not convincing me. If the crusaders had played against the highlanders last night and slade had played like that people would be like WTF!? But because its Barrett and the Hurricanes everybody has every excuse in the book for him!

I actually think you lot that have the preconceived ideas about Smith and Barrett!

They are just lucky the AB's are a very good unit ATM and other teams are to inept to expose the players that arent really the best we could be putting out there.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

There is no way in a million years Slade is a better player than Barrett...

That was probably his best game in three years. I don't even think Barrett played badly at all - neither did Aaron Smith.

I just can't understand what games you watch - because I never seem to come to the same or similar conclusions as you.

agreed, I thought barrett looked good, not game breaking like slade was but as has been said that was his best game in a long time. There is something to be said for Barrett had some real fire power out wide (as we saw in the second half) so the best thing for him to do was to distribute kick for territory.

 

[William18]

Your still not convincing me. If the crusaders had played against the highlanders last night and slade had played like that people would be like WTF!? But because its Barrett and the Hurricanes everybody has every excuse in the book for him!

I actually think you lot that have the preconceived ideas about Smith and Barrett!

They are just lucky the AB's are a very good unit ATM and other teams are to inept to expose the players that arent really the best we could be putting out there.

I do not have preconceived ideas about Aaron Smith. I was actually against the All Blacks selectors starting him in the French tests. Unsurprisingly the selectors knew far more than me. They picked Smith and by and large he played well. I have been strongly critical of Aaron Smith many times for poor decision making. I have criticised Smith when he has had a bad game. Have you ever praised him for a good one?

 

[Larksea]

good to see slade playing well, been a long time i think we all know how good he can be we just have not seen it for three years or so. He must be basically playing for his carrier right now. He's taken a long time to find his feet and time is starting to run out. He really needs to produce again this weekend to ensure that coaches are interested in him for next season.

Not at all surprised to see the highlanders win a game without Nonu involved.

I still think Barrett has amazing potential and should stay in the All Black squad. I don't know how a Barrett vs. Donald debate started. Donald wasn't perfect but he was always a better player than most of the NZ public gave him credit for. Between the two of them there are two things that are without question. #1 Barrett has attacking qualities that can't be denied, fantastic vision for the game that's right up there with the best around and he's better than Donald was in that area. #2 Donald is/was basically a whole other level above - in another league in terms of defense, he's the only 10 we have had going back a long time that is as good as Carter in that area. And if you don't think that's important then watch the World Cup final again. Like it or not we probably would not have won that game without Donald or Carter defending that channel. With McCaw stuck at the bottom of most of the rucks Donald made more tackles than any other All Black for the amount of time he was on the field and at least 2 of his tackles resulted in critical turnovers.

It's great we have so much depth at 10 right now

carter
cruden
barrett
slade

basically the best 10 in history and 3 other top shelf players right on his heals.

one thing that's missing off that list is a blues 10, I think if Anscombe wasn't dumped from the blues I think he would be on that list as well

Chances are Barrett may find his way to the blues next season. Nokes and Kerr have not been consistent enough this season and JK will be on the hunt big time. He totally lost the plot dropping anscombe and that bridge is burned.

 

[Larksea]

interesting to see Ben Smith play a minor role in a highlanders game really for the first time this season. See he had a lot of strapping on one leg and really just stuck to core roles. obviously carrying an injury.

 

[donmcdazzle]

good to see slade playing well, been a long time i think we all know how good he can be we just have not seen it for three years or so. He must be basically playing for his carrier right now. He's taken a long time to find his feet and time is starting to run out. He really needs to produce again this weekend to ensure that coaches are interested in him for next season.

Not at all surprised to see the highlanders win a game without Nonu involved.

I still think Barrett has amazing potential and should stay in the All Black squad. I don't know how a Barrett vs. Donald debate started. Donald wasn't perfect but he was always a better player than most of the NZ public gave him credit for. Between the two of them there are two things that are without question. #1 Barrett has attacking qualities that can't be denied, fantastic vision for the game that's right up there with the best around and he's better than Donald was in that area. #2 Donald is/was basically a whole other level above - in another league in terms of defense, he's the only 10 we have had going back a long time that is as good as Carter in that area. And if you don't think that's important then watch the World Cup final again. Like it or not we probably would not have won that game without Donald or Carter defending that channel. With McCaw stuck at the bottom of most of the rucks Donald made more tackles than any other All Black for the amount of time he was on the field and at least 2 of his tackles resulted in critical turnovers.

It's great we have so much depth at 10 right now

carter
cruden
barrett
slade

basically the best 10 in history and 3 other top shelf players right on his heals.

one thing that's missing off that list is a blues 10, I think if Anscombe wasn't dumped from the blues I think he would be on that list as well

Chances are Barrett may find his way to the blues next season. Nokes and Kerr have not been consistent enough this season and JK will be on the hunt big time. He totally lost the plot dropping anscombe and that bridge is burned.

NO Larksea no no no!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

interesting to see Ben Smith play a minor role in a highlanders game really for the first time this season. See he had a lot of strapping on one leg and really just stuck to core roles. obviously carrying an injury.

Think it was a case of not having to try and win it on his own because slade was creating it all, he could sit back and act as sweeper, with the season gone i would have hoped they wouldn't risk him if he was injured