Cruden out for six weeks

[TRF Mr Fish]

Broken thumb apparently.

Things are about to get very interesting.

 

[Patchey]

Anscombe at 10 for the Chiefs then?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Probably. The other option would be Ihaiha West, who played for the Chiefs during the pre season. Cruden has started every match for the Chiefs since 2012, I think he's played all but fifteen minutes since then.

 

[Patchey]

I forgot the Chiefs has picked West up late. Enjoyed watching him during the ITM. GA is a much safer bet though.

 

[ABs2011]

Wow, big loss for he Chiefs. Looks like the # seed is now out of reach, and possibly the NZ conference. Cruden is such a good player, it's gonna be tough without him. It has been such a rough start to the season with injuries for the Chiefs my sense is that they will need to pretty much go injury free for some time now if they want to seriously contend for the ***le this year!

 

[dasNdanger]

Ouch, that's gotta hurt the Chiefs.

What does this mean for the spring tests? Is Carter still out for that? (What's up with Carter, BTW - is it injury or something else?). So, who moves into the position for the ABs? Barrett?



das

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Ouch, that's gotta hurt the Chiefs.

What does this mean for the spring tests? Is Carter still out for that? (What's up with Carter, BTW - is it injury or something else?). So, who moves into the position for the ABs? Barrett?



das

Carter's on a sabbatical, he'll be back after the June tests. Cruden could possibly not play at all prior to the tests, which could mean that Barrett and Taylor are the first fives in the squad.

 

[dasNdanger]

Carter's on a sabbatical, he'll be back after the June tests. Cruden could possibly not play at all prior to the tests, which could mean that Barrett and Taylor are the first fives in the squad.

What do Barrett's kicking stats look like so far this season compared to Cruden's? I usually rely on the commentators to tell me that stuff, and I don't always pay attention.


das

 

[admartian]

What do Barrett's kicking stats look like so far this season compared to Cruden's? I usually rely on the commentators to tell me that stuff, and I don't always pay attention.


das

Seems like he's around ~70%.

I don't rate Barrett's kicking yet, so no AC in the ABs is a blow. He'll have to do though.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

What do Barrett's kicking stats look like so far this season compared to Cruden's? I usually rely on the commentators to tell me that stuff, and I don't always pay attention.


das

None of our tens have been kicking particularly well so far this season. Barrett is top of the three current All Blacks, at 76% (32/42). Behind him sits Cruden on 74% (23/31) and Taylor on 71% (20/28).

Hickey has been the best this season, and Sopoaga has been pretty good too given how poorly he's kicked in the past.

 

[nzlizard]

So maybe Barrett for 1st five and Hickey for a bolter for the June tests?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

So maybe Barrett for 1st five and Hickey for a bolter for the June tests?

Na, I think it will probably be Barrett and Cruden, potentially Taylor will be in there too depending on Cruden's fitness. The June tests are still a good 8 weeks away, so providing Cruden's not on the more extreme end of the prognosis, he should be available for the second test at the latest. His injury also means that, although he won't be playing, he's still very capable of training etc., so although he won't be match fit, he'll still be fine physically.

 

[nickdnz]

Anscombe is hardly a poor replacement - although Cruden is invaluable to the Chiefs. I'd be very suprised if we didn't see Anscombe start. Ihia West may find a bench spot, particularly with Robbie Robinson out. Otherwise they'd have to go with...maybe Tim Nanai-Williams or Andrew Horrell as cover for 1st 5/8th?

 

[TheSaffycen]

Could Anscombe play for the All-Blacks in the June test ? I remember him playing a lot of 15 but isn't his first position 10 ?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Anscombe is hardly a poor replacement - although Cruden is invaluable to the Chiefs. I'd be very suprised if we didn't see Anscombe start. Ihia West may find a bench spot, particularly with Robbie Robinson out. Otherwise they'd have to go with...maybe Tim Nanai-Williams or Andrew Horrell as cover for 1st 5/8th?

I think Anscombe will slot straight in at first five, though it's a bit worrying that the last time he played there was for Auckland in 2012... The make up of the bench will likely depend on whether or not the likes of Fruean and Ngatai are back from injury. Maybe to play it safe West will be on the bench next week, but if Anscombe fairs well enough they may well feel that between him and Horrell they have 10 covered adequately in game, which will see West dropped from the bench in place of one of the recovered players.

It's been confirmed that Tikoirotuma is also out for two to six weeks, which isn't great. Bundee Aki is due back this week however.

Likely we'll see a backline of TKB/Pulu, Anscombe, Marshall, Aki, Horrell, Nanai-Williams, Muliaina with TKB/Pulu, West and Lienert-Brown/any other returning player on the bench.

Whatever happens, it's going to be very testing.

Could Anscombe play for the All-Blacks in the June test ? I remember him playing a lot of 15 but isn't his first position 10 ?

We won't see Anscombe in the All Blacks any time soon unless he ups his game considerably. He's not a bad player in any respects, but the 10/15 spots in the squad are pretty well covered (Barrett and Taylor at 10, Dagg, Smith and Piutau at 15) even if Cruden and Carter are unavailable.

 

[nzlizard]

Yeah Anscombe is a great super player but not AB level, too many people ahead of him.

Was reading the injury report and some teams are just decimated by injury, seems to be really bad this year compared to previous years.

Gonna be testing times like Mr Fish says, good thing we have a run of home games coming up so it takes a bit of pressure off, anymore back injuries and we may not be looking so flash.

 

[austingtir]

So maybe Barrett for 1st five and Hickey for a bolter for the June tests?

Barrett and Slade.... you heard it here first. Honestly Hickey is no chance. Taylor is a chance but only if Hansen has rocks in his head.


Chances are high Barrett could get injured as well before then... so thats something to think about.....

 

[dasNdanger]

Na, I think it will probably be Barrett and Cruden, potentially Taylor will be in there too depending on Cruden's fitness. The June tests are still a good 8 weeks away, so providing Cruden's not on the more extreme end of the prognosis, he should be available for the second test at the latest. His injury also means that, although he won't be playing, he's still very capable of training etc., so although he won't be match fit, he'll still be fine physically.

I don't see Cruden making the tests. Even if his thumb is healed, he would be coming into the tests after a 6-8 week rest, so not sure he'd be at the top of his game. That depends, of course, on what sort of training he does during those weeks off - he certainly can still run and kick, just no ball handling (I assume). Still, not sure I'd want a guy just coming off the DL for first five for the tests for fear his game won't be as tight as it should.


das

 

[William18]

Barrett and Slade.... you heard it here first. Honestly Hickey is no chance. Taylor is a chance but only if Hansen has rocks in his head.


Chances are high Barrett could get injured as well before then... so thats something to think about.....

Maybe Hansen wants someone who has actually played well for the All Blacks in the past? Sopoaga has been far better than Slade, Taylor and Hickey this season regardless.

 

[tenpm]

I don't see Cruden making the tests. Even if his thumb is healed, he would be coming into the tests after a 6-8 week rest, so not sure he'd be at the top of his game. That depends, of course, on what sort of training he does during those weeks off - he certainly can still run and kick, just no ball handling (I assume). Still, not sure I'd want a guy just coming off the DL for first five for the tests for fear his game won't be as tight as it should.


das

International coaches often take chances with usual starters fresh from injury (so long as they are fully fit), and the All Blacks selectors are known for putting a lot of faith in their players. I wouldn't rule him out.

But if Cruden's out, they'll probably have Barrett starting with Taylor on the bench and Slade as back up. Anscombe has been good to the Chiefs as a fullback, but he didn't quite convince me as the Blues' and Auckland's first-five. If he had stayed injury-free and had some game-time at 10 he might have improved, but as it is, I will be very, very surprised if he gets called up. The Chiefs will be feeling the loss of Cruden.