Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="ranger" data-source="post: 454748" data-attributes="member: 40555">No he hasn&#039;t! Whenever he has really been under pressure to direct a team he has crumbled. He put in such shocking performances at 10 a few seasons ago that he was pushed out of the squad and only returned on the wing.. The wing is not where controlling players play. Cowan had an off game, but he has consistently been a top performer for the All Blacks, and had a leading role in the Highlanders resurgence. He marshalled the Highlanders pack around the park better than any other 9 was able to do. Hes a proven performer and if you gave me the option of Cowan or Slade in my squad i would pick Cowan every time.How is Weepu a weakness at 10Graham Henry himself said that Slade made it over the line ahead of Cruden because of his versatility. He said Carter will start every game and Slade was a better bench option. Cruden=10, Slade=10/14/11/15/12. Notice he didn&#039;t say because Slade was a good firstfive.Coaches can improve players but they can&#039;t change how they play and what their strengths are. Its not like a videogame where you can throw a coach on a guy and his &#039;overall&#039; rating ticks up. Weepu&#039;s natural instincts make him a better playmaker. Thats just how he plays, you can&#039;t coach instincts like that into a guy</blockquote>

[QUOTE="ranger, post: 454748, member: 40555"] No he hasn't! Whenever he has really been under pressure to direct a team he has crumbled. He put in such shocking performances at 10 a few seasons ago that he was pushed out of the squad and only returned on the wing.. The wing is not where controlling players play. Cowan had an off game, but he has consistently been a top performer for the All Blacks, and had a leading role in the Highlanders resurgence. He marshalled the Highlanders pack around the park better than any other 9 was able to do. Hes a proven performer and if you gave me the option of Cowan or Slade in my squad i would pick Cowan every time. How is Weepu a weakness at 10 Graham Henry himself said that Slade made it over the line ahead of Cruden because of his versatility. He said Carter will start every game and Slade was a better bench option. Cruden=10, Slade=10/14/11/15/12. Notice he didn't say because Slade was a good firstfive. Coaches can improve players but they can't change how they play and what their strengths are. Its not like a videogame where you can throw a coach on a guy and his 'overall' rating ticks up. Weepu's natural instincts make him a better playmaker. Thats just how he plays, you can't coach instincts like that into a guy [/QUOTE]

Verification