Ihaia West vs Simon Hickey - A contrast in styles

[steblin]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11264187

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10100221/Time-for-Ihaia-West-to-stake-claim-at-Blues

A couple of really interesting articles around Wests first start for the Blues tomorrow. Sounds like JK is quite enamored and Sumo is certainly a big fan, but it got me thinking - what kind of first five would you prefer? (Blues and non-Blues fans)

Simon Hickey has been steady, dependable, looks like he could become a very good all round 10 who could marshal a team round the park.

West has that flair and excitement factor, but as shown last week, sometimes he'll throw a no look pass that could quite easily go the other way.

So if the Blues had to choose only one to develop, would you go with the cerebral 10 or the maverick 10? For me, I will give up one or two boneheaded plays for one piece of sheer magic that gets me jumping around in excitement. Really looking to see West get a run of games similar to Hickey, see what they both have before the first five position undergoes a cull in the off season. But even if their performances were neck and neck, I'd probably still try and develop West.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

keeping to your premise i would go with the steady hand....good flare will rarely win a game on its own but bad flare can definitely loose one

in saying that...why only develop one? surely this is the best situation the blues have been in in a while, two young guys they can build a squad around and then play horses for courses

i was hoping we'd pick up west after seeing what he did to otago last year, i really like is comment this week (whether its hype or not we'll never know) where he said he really want to be a one team man and commit etc