SuperRugby: Hurricanes v Melbourne Rebels. 26/05/2012

[TRF Mr Fish]

Simply have another viewing of the Chiefs v Hurricanes match and watch Cruden outclass Barrett time and time again

 

[donmcdazzle]

Just watched the highlights to this game, Barrett directly set up one try and wasn't really near the rest of them? Larksea what game were you watching?

 

[Aedaphon]

Expecting to see all the Hurricanes young guns in the ABs set up in the next year or so- preferably in the Autumn games. Perenara was edged out to Kerr-Barlow for the young scrum-half place and Andre Taylor was absolutely robbed off a place... But if they can keep this up for another season they'll be in with a shot of nailing down the bench places by next year.

Also with the above, it's early to judge on Barrett but Cruden was similarly working through the ****les in his game last year- hopefully Barrett will turn out as good, if not better.

And for anyone that wants to see the enormous Motu Ma'atu hits:

 

[InsaneAsylum]

as a rebels fan, this game sucked. canes played really well, everything they did just worked, their defence was great. rebels had a few flashes of good play but were simply out played.

i have to feel sorry for gerrard and mitchell on the wrong end of that human freight train ma'atu, i don't know what the aftermath was but mitchell was obviously concussed not sure of any fractures, gerrard looked like a collar bone break. you have to give the guy credit for playing on, he was obviously in a world of pain.

anyway hope the rebels can come back, o'connor should be back soon, heard beale is in trouble too with a shoulder.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

With Perenara, Kerr-Barlow and Smith, I think the All Blacks will probably have their best halfbacks in a while. Been a long time since we've had three (consistently) class operators at nine. Of course, they could all suck next year, but signs are good so far

 

[nickdnz]

Pleased someone brought up Matu'u. Every game he's made HUGE hits, unlike any other hooker I've ever seen. It's not just the rebels game, I think he's been knocking players out all season with that exact kind of monster tackle. Sure is a great guy to bring off the bench, especially as Dane Cole is very much a small running hooker. Wouldn't mind seeing Matu'u get a few starts this season, he's been extremely impressive oof the bench, and been pretty unnoticed for a guy who's tackling like Jerry Collins.

 

[smartcooky]

Impressive stats but they dont explain how Cruden also has the best chiefs pack in the last decade in front of him which is currently also one of the best in the comp this season and the best 12 in NZ maybe the world outside him and because of that he's had a whole lot more posession. Cruden is playing very well, it is interesting how he's being used. He's running more than most/any other 10 yet he's passing less? he has some genuine polish to his game as I said.

But the way barrett has run the ball into traffic and attracted 2-3 defenders and got a pass away and eventually resulted in a hurricanes try time and time again in the last couple of months I honestly dont think Cruden can touch that. And I can pick out 3-4 of barretts runs that have impressed me more than any single run Cruden has made. maybe when I look at the work cruden does I see great team play and when I look at what Barrett is doing I see genuine individuel brilliance.

To be honest all the hype about Crudens running game is a bit over stated. The stats obviously done show it but I personally dont think he's been the same since that knee injury he got in the world cup final. he simply has not had the same speed, acceleration and agility he had before that injury and it's clearly still an issue because he has a fricken truckload of tape on it each game.

note, I never said Barrett was better than Cruden all round or overall. Just Barrett's running game and his passing in traffic at the line.

I would like to mention that Barrett is also operating outside of TJ Perenara, who you must admit is having a stellar season so far. His speed and long accurate passing gives Barrett additional time and space that he might not otherwise be getting behind, say Kerr-Barlow or Weepu. That isn't to say that Kerr-Barlow isn't quick, but Perenara is quicker.

 

[Larksea]

Just watched the highlights to this game, Barrett directly set up one try and wasn't really near the rest of them? Larksea what game were you watching?

of course I'm basing my opinion on just this one game...

 

[Larksea]

I would like to mention that Barrett is also operating outside of TJ Perenara, who you must admit is having a stellar season so far. His speed and long accurate passing gives Barrett additional time and space that he might not otherwise be getting behind, say Kerr-Barlow or Weepu. That isn't to say that Kerr-Barlow isn't quick, but Perenara is quicker.

True that, I even think Perenara has overtaken Barlow and Smith who both started the season in red hot form but have also both kind of dropped off the pace a bit. Where Perenara seems to have started just as well but actually lifted his game, I think physically he's a bit bigger and more robust but Barlow and Leonard have both been in great touch for Cruden. The biggest problem for the canes is their tight 5, I think they have taken over from the chiefs tight 5 as the weakest in NZ, and that is reflected in the fact no Hurricanes tight 5 made the 35man All Blacks training squad.