Super Rugby: Crusaders vs. Highlanders in Christchurch (20/04/2013)

[Darwin]

That was something special

Just a normal day at the office for Ben Smith

 

[Patchey]

Just a normal day at the office for Ben Smith

I'm really beginning to see why you rate him so much. How is he not a multi-capped All Black already?

 

[Darwin]

I'm really beginning to see why you rate him so much. How is he not a multi-capped All Black already?

Israel Dagg and Conrad Smith are pretty handy at test level (and the selectors are idiots ) He got quite a few caps last season (mainly off the bench), and I expect he will get even more game-time this season. He will probably start on the right wing vs France (with Jane out injured), and looks set to play at centre during the end of year tour (as Conrad Smith is set to miss the tour).

 

[austingtir]

I'm really beginning to see why you rate him so much. How is he not a multi-capped All Black already?

He should of been started in a minimum handful of games last year at fullback.

If he's not starting this year then imo the AB's are going to loose more than one test.

He is without doubt next to Savea one of the best outside backs in nz ATM.

 

[Patchey]

True, he started one of the end of year tests I seem to remember? He looks confident enough to play inside Conrad Smith though (based on this seasons performance, I didn't catch many Highlanders games last year). Of course then there could potentially be three 'Smiths' in the All Black's back line which would be confusing.


Crusaders to muscle their way over from here.

 

[Darwin]

True, he started one of the end of year tests I seem to remember? He looks confident enough to play inside Conrad Smith though (based on this seasons performance, I didn't catch many Highlanders games last year). Of course then there could potentially be three 'Smiths' in the All Black's back line which would be confusing.


Crusaders to muscle their way over from here.

Yep he started versus Scotland at 13 (and played very well). He is being groomed by the AB's selectors to take over from Conrad Smith in the 13 jersey (though has been consistently the best NZ fullback in Super Rugby for the last 3 years...).

Possibly a Crusaders try here after almost 10 minutes of pressure...

EDIT: Yep try confirmed. Ensor misses yet another tackle....

 

[Patchey]

Yep he started versus Scotland at 13 (and played very well). He is being groomed by the AB's selectors to take over from Conrad Smith in the 13 jersey (though has been consistently the best NZ fullback in Super Rugby for the last 3 years...).

Possibly a Crusaders try here after almost 10 minutes of pressure...

EDIT: Yep try confirmed.

Well from a non-Kiwi point of view the selectors can keep grooming him for as long as they want as long as he doesn't start against England...

Despite a well finished try from Taylor the Crusaders really should have scored well before then. Shows how good the Highlanders have been in defense at time and how averagely the Crusaders are attacking.

EDIT. Tanaka on for the last minute. Why do they bother bringing players on for ninety seconds of game time?

 

[Darwin]

Game over. Crusaders win 24-8. A pretty average game to be honest but I'm sure the Crusaders will be happy to take the points.

 

[austingtir]

Ah well atleast the Brumbies reds game might be more intresting that this one was. Aaron Smith still isnt playing like someone desperate to retain his AB jersey.

 

[Patchey]

Ah well atleast the Brumbies reds game might be more intresting that this one was. Aaron Smith still isnt playing like someone desperate to retain his AB jersey.

He had a bright spell towards the end of the first half I thought. IMO Tanaka is more consistent at the moment in terms of the Highlanders squad and for the AB Weepu, TJ and maybe even Ellis are in better form.

 

[William18]

Israel Dagg and Conrad Smith are pretty handy at test level (and the selectors are idiots ) He got quite a few caps last season (mainly off the bench), and I expect he will get even more game-time this season. He will probably start on the right wing vs France (with Jane out injured), and looks set to play at centre during the end of year tour (as Conrad Smith is set to miss the tour).

Kahui will be on the right wing, providing he is fit.

 

[Darwin]

Ah well atleast the Brumbies reds game might be more intresting that this one was. Aaron Smith still isnt playing like someone desperate to retain his AB jersey.

I disagree - he played very well behind a beaten pack. I would say outside of Ben Smith he was the pick of the Highlanders. His passing was quick and accurate - I would doubt any other halfback in NZ could have thrown that pass for Emery's try. He made a great break at one stage, and I can't recall him making a single error. The only negative in his game was he missed a couple of tackles (though he did make a few). He outplayed Andy Ellis (who had a dream ride behind the dominant Crusaders pack).

Kahui will be on the right wing, providing he is fit.

I'm assuming Kahui will be injured by the time France arrive.

 

[William18]

I disagree - he played very well behind a beaten pack. I would say outside of Ben Smith he was the pick of the Highlanders. His passing was quick and accurate - I would doubt any other halfback in NZ could have thrown that pass for Emery's try. He made a great break at one stage, and I can't recall him making a single error. The only negative in his game was he missed a couple of tackles (though he did make a few). He outplayed Andy Ellis (who had a dream ride behind the dominant Crusaders pack).

Agree completely. I don't know how any back would play well in that Highlanders team. When you consider a scrum going backwards, a lineout unable to retain its own ball and then throw in the conditions. You have to blame the forwards first and foremost for that one. The Highlanders don't really have a bad forward pack on paper either.

 

[austingtir]

Would you guys select him given the current form of peranara, weepu and kerr barlow before injury? Not a chance imo.

 

[Darwin]

Would you guys select him given the current form of peranara, weepu and kerr barlow before injury? Not a chance imo.

Would I select him for the AB's at the moment? Yes. He hasn't been at his best for the Highlanders this season, but over the last two weeks he has started playing like he did last season (where he was very good). Given the AB's game-plan he is the best option we have at 9. Weepu is having a great season, Perenara has been pretty good (though not as good as last year), while Kerr-Barlow was looking good before injury (and the Chiefs are really missing him). If Smith continues to play as he has these last two weeks I would be very surprised if the AB's selectors didn't pick him....

It seems strange that you would single him out after this match considering he was one of the few Highlanders players that played well. What exactly did he do wrong?

 

[Patchey]

Would I select him for the AB's at the moment? Yes. He hasn't been at his best for the Highlanders this season, but over the last two weeks he has started playing like he did last season (where he was very good). Given the AB's game-plan he is the best option we have at 9. Weepu is having a great season, Perenara has been pretty good (though not as good as last year), while Kerr-Barlow was looking good before injury (and the Chiefs are really missing him). If Smith continues to play as he has these last two weeks I would be very surprised if the AB's selectors didn't pick him....

It seems strange that you would single him out after this match considering he was one of the few Highlanders players that played well. What exactly did he do wrong?

On this match I think he'd make the team but on the season so far probably not.

I'd say a lot of who gets the 9 jersey depends on who is at 10. Weepu is much more of a 'general' and doesn't seem to gel with DC too well who is obviously the key playmaker in the backline when he plays. TJ or Smith would be a better partner to him with Weepu on the bench for the light half an hour.

 

[austingtir]

I just dont think his style of play is good at test level simple as that. And i honestly think NZ will be found out pretty badly if we continue with the same style of play as last year. Ultimately that style worked for one season. I just cant see it working again and again.

I dont rate his kicking at the start of the match he threw an absolute hospital pass to the young first five that nearly got him killed when he should of been the one taking ownership of kicking that ball out. That sort of play at test level wont go well for us just like in the England game. Nothings changed with him since that game and i bet nothing will change in the future he's a one trick poney.

 

[Darwin]

I just dont think his style of play is good at test level simple as that. And i honestly think NZ will be found out pretty badly if we continue with the same style of play as last year. Ultimately that style worked for one season. I just cant see it working again and again.

I dont rate his kicking at the start of the match he threw an absolute hospital pass to the young first five that nearly got him killed when he should of been the one taking ownership of kicking that ball out. That sort of play at test level wont go well for us just like in the England game. Nothings changed with him since that game and i bet nothing will change in the future he's a one trick poney.

It wasn't a hospital pass (despite what the commentator said). A box-kick would have been an option, but passing the ball to a left foot kicker (while deep in your right hand corner) was probably the correct choice. Smith's kicking game isn't perfect, but is hardly a liability. He played very well this match - you seem to pick up on very mistake he makes (or think he makes), but can't seem to see all the positive things he brings to the game (like creating Emery's try with his passing). He may only have one main trick (a phenomenal passing game), but he has the potential to be a world class halfback, as that is a pretty handy trick to have!

On this match I think he'd make the team but on the season so far probably not.

I'd say a lot of who gets the 9 jersey depends on who is at 10. Weepu is much more of a 'general' and doesn't seem to gel with DC too well who is obviously the key playmaker in the backline when he plays. TJ or Smith would be a better partner to him with Weepu on the bench for the light half an hour.

If you were picking a test side 'on-form' I agree he wouldn't make the side. Luckily that is not how the selector work, as we would probably have a different side starting each week I think the AB's have plenty of good halfback options - they just need to be decide which suits there style of play best...

 

[William18]

I just dont think his style of play is good at test level simple as that. And i honestly think NZ will be found out pretty badly if we continue with the same style of play as last year. Ultimately that style worked for one season. I just cant see it working again and again.

I dont rate his kicking at the start of the match he threw an absolute hospital pass to the young first five that nearly got him killed when he should of been the one taking ownership of kicking that ball out. That sort of play at test level wont go well for us just like in the England game. Nothings changed with him since that game and i bet nothing will change in the future he's a one trick poney.

What do you mean by style? Aaron Smith's style is a halfback who has an incredibly quick pass. What is wrong with that sort of style? Do you think fast passing from the back of a ruck is a disadvantage? I actually don't care if all my halfback does is pass well because that's what a halfback is meant to do. I think a team will do pretty well if its props only do well in scrums and your locks only do well in the lineouts. Obviously you need to do the basics as well. Smith does not deserve to start right now. However, you just seem to take everything Smith does bad and use it as a reason not to pick him. Everyone looks bad if you just analyse their worst games.

 

[William18]

It wasn't a hospital pass (despite what the commentator said). A box-kick would have been an option, but passing the ball to a left foot kicker (while deep in your right hand corner) was probably the correct choice. Smith's kicking game isn't perfect, but is hardly a liability. He played very well this match - you seem to pick up on very mistake he makes (or think he makes), but can't seem to see all the positive things he brings to the game (like creating Emery's try with his passing). He may only have one main trick (a phenomenal passing game), but he has the potential to be a world class halfback, as that is a pretty handy trick to have!



If you were picking a test side 'on-form' I agree he wouldn't make the side. Luckily that is not how the selector work, as we would probably have a different side starting each week I think the AB's have plenty of good halfback options - they just need to be decide which suits there style of play best...

I think Smith probably did the right thing. Any box kick in that position has to be kicked to a high altitude. When you are playing into the wind, you need to kick as low as possible. Any first five is going to have to clear the ball in that position through their career.