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Super 15: Blues - Stormers in Auckland (20-05-2011)
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 402049" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>Personally I'm a huge fan of Mathewson, and would have him as the third halfback if I was picking the RWC squad (assuming Weepu comes back to full fitness/form). He is the best running halfback in the country, defends well (though he did miss de Jongh on the way to his try), and has a long accurate pass. The problem is that the AB's (and all NZ Super Rugby teams apart from the Blues) have gone away from a what I would call a traditional NZ second-five in recent years (e.g a second playmaker e.g. Luke MacAlister, Matt Giteau, Aaron Mauger, Walter Little) in favour of a more powerful running option (SBW, Treeby, Nonu, Sweeney, Umuga etc). Instead they have gone for a playmaker at 9, who needs to be able to offer another strong kicking option if under pressure. Though the law changes have lessened in the effectiveness of the box-kick, it can still be an effective tactic if executed correctly, particularly in wet conditions. For example the Highlanders win over the Canes last week was very much due to Cowan's accurate box kicks, which were both used to relieve pressure, and as an effective attacking option in the wet. Because of his lack of an accurate box-kick (or his unwillingness to use it?) I think Mathewson is probably only 4th ranked on the AB's selectors pecking order (behind Cowan, Weepu, and Ellis).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 402049, member: 24910"] Personally I'm a huge fan of Mathewson, and would have him as the third halfback if I was picking the RWC squad (assuming Weepu comes back to full fitness/form). He is the best running halfback in the country, defends well (though he did miss de Jongh on the way to his try), and has a long accurate pass. The problem is that the AB's (and all NZ Super Rugby teams apart from the Blues) have gone away from a what I would call a traditional NZ second-five in recent years (e.g a second playmaker e.g. Luke MacAlister, Matt Giteau, Aaron Mauger, Walter Little) in favour of a more powerful running option (SBW, Treeby, Nonu, Sweeney, Umuga etc). Instead they have gone for a playmaker at 9, who needs to be able to offer another strong kicking option if under pressure. Though the law changes have lessened in the effectiveness of the box-kick, it can still be an effective tactic if executed correctly, particularly in wet conditions. For example the Highlanders win over the Canes last week was very much due to Cowan's accurate box kicks, which were both used to relieve pressure, and as an effective attacking option in the wet. Because of his lack of an accurate box-kick (or his unwillingness to use it?) I think Mathewson is probably only 4th ranked on the AB's selectors pecking order (behind Cowan, Weepu, and Ellis). [/QUOTE]
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Super 15: Blues - Stormers in Auckland (20-05-2011)
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