Blues v Chiefs, 14th Feb., 2015

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^ I have a feeling that either Trudi Gatland or one/ both her parents were born in Wales. Could be wrong but seem to recall hearing or reading about it when Gats first got appointed.

Blues in with a shout here, just 5 down & 8 to go.

Whoppa on. Hasn't trimmed down in the off-season if you were wondering.........

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Chiefs should be setting for a DG. Decide to go down the pick & go ad infinitum road instead & it works.

Good first-up win but will hardly have anyone quaking in their boots.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

But does he want to be an AB or Welsh-qualified?

I think anyone born in NZ wants to be in a Black jumper first and foremost, but given Kiwi pragmatism (they gave women the vote first, beat us to same sex marriage, introduced GST before us, etc ), I reckon kiwis would prefer to play for a second country they may be eligible for just to get an international cap, rather than stay as a good ITM cup level player "at home" stuck behind a D Carter, R McCaw, J Savea etc.

Same with many "mixed parent" Australian born players. Gold first, but if there is a roadblock to a Gold jumper then Nana's country will do.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Has Sir John got lifetime tenure? They seemed to have learned nothing from 2014.
McKenzie is going to haunt my remaining Wallaby days.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

SJK is off-contract after this season, knives are already out & he'd probably have to win it to not get the chop. In other words, he's toast.

McKenzie certainly looks the goods, doesn't he. Suspect Ihaia West may be the next Nick Evans i.e. the guy who coulda played a heap of games for the AB but didn't want to be No.2 forever so took the NH cash.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Surgeon Kirwin seems to have been granted tenure, like RG at the Reds. Maybe the Jaffas want to avoid a early payout for his contract.

Since their glory days of the early 90's when all fell before them, Auckland have struggled with both coaches and players.

Having players like Grant Fox and Sean Fitzpatrick on the roster then helped.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Ihaia West seems to have a bit of Carlos Spencer (and Campo) about him.

Brilliant at times in ITM cap for the Gimblett Gravellers, but can be a little high risk and inconsistent at the next level.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

And that's why I suspect he's the next Nick Evans if for different reasons. Also don't forget that Carlos was 1st choice for a while there when both he & Mehrts were fully fit. Sadly too many people remember him for a certain pass in a certain RWC semi rather than how good he was e.g. in SA in '96. Sometimes it's a fine line between those moments of genius that win you games & the moments of madness that lose them.

Poms 66/4, they goooone!

BTW, there's only one f in JAFA & the A doesn't always stand for Auckland.........

 

[2bluesfan]

McKenzie is going to haunt my remaining Wallaby days.

This kid looks good. I suspect he may have a grandparent born in Parramatta and I expect @Bellytwoblues to be checking this as we speak.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^ how's about you get McKenzie major & we keep McKenzie minor? Both pretty handy 10/15's, shame if either were to miss out on an int'l career. Win/ win, no?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

SJK is off-contract after this season, knives are already out & he'd probably have to win it to not get the chop. In other words, he's toast.

McKenzie certainly looks the goods, doesn't he. Suspect Ihaia West may be the next Nick Evans i.e. the guy who coulda played a heap of games for the AB but didn't want to be No.2 forever so took the NH cash.

Well Nick Evans played quite a few tests so there's no shame in that. No doubt all the other NZ provinces have a young 10 ready to step into s 15 like they've been playing it all their lives and fortune will determine who becomes the preferred one - or moves to 15 like Slade (who would/should be #1 pick if he was Australian).
SJK talked the talk after half time but he seems have based the team structure on touch or under 11s football: just fling it as wide as you can as soon as you can. They try to run everything as if it were counter attack - they must have read somewhere they were good counter attackers.

 

[Hawko]

But does he want to be an AB or Welsh-qualified?

Look what's in front of him. Cruden will mean he gets minimal game time this year at the Chiefs, so his development is going to be slowed. At the AB's Cruden is still very young, Barrett is younger and pushing him hard, Slade is playing brilliantly. I would put him in front of West already but Parker and Sopoaga will want to have a say about their credentials too.

Even if he develops I can't see him pushing himself in front of Cruden, Barrett and Slade for at least another four years. They won't be able to pay him a lot for the next four years either, with salary caps and stuff, as he'll mainly be playing ITM and Super reserves.

He has the skills NH teams love - huge accurate boot, good game management, solid rather than flashy. It all just depends on what the lad thinks about the black jersey. Is it worth risking that he'll get a chance in the future against a guaranteed NZ$200K+ for the next 10 years playing up north?