Blues v Hurricanes
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@Chester-Draws wingers before Jonah were generally much smaller quick blokes .
You could argue Kirwan , then inga were first I guess.
But Jonah was the first real beast I can think of -
@Chester-Draws said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@taniwharugby You can't really completely hold down great players, but you can minimise them.
With BB it's much worse if you allow him the outside gap because you risk letting him clear through in space. Using a game plan of pushing in is still using the same amount of men to mark him -- I don't think double marking him is particularly helpful at all.
I'm not convinced the rain had anything to do with Barrett being quiet in Hamilton. The rain doesn't stop him running, and the field was firm. Usually in the rain you will kick more, so he'd get the ball more in space when he dropped back (and that is what happened at the start of the second half when the Chiefs forgot the game plan for a while).
Given that Barrett was the difference between the two sides last night, a plan aimed at minimising his effectiveness would seem wise. Just going on doing the same things and hoping things will change seems a trifle unwise.
That might of worked for one of his breaks last night, but he also pounced on a loose ball from a lineout, chip kicked us, and ran it back from deep several times.
He was a bloody nightmare.
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@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Hurricanes:
You could argue Kirwan , then inga were first I guess.
But Jonah was the first real beast I can think ofBG was a bit of a beast but it's all relative if he was compared to Terry Wright for example.
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The thing with BB is that he is a ridiculous combination of qualities that most 10s have some but not all of. For starters he's a big strong bugger, certainly bigger than most 10s. But not only that he has the pace to skin most wingers. And that's even before you factor in the insane skill set, i.e his awareness, passing, kicking game (particularly the chip), etc etc. We're now seeing the sum of all those parts and the result is pretty amazing. Pity his goal kicking is dodgy, but hopefully that was a glitch.
What is great to see is how he's now coming into his own and putting all the knockers in their place. And there were plenty of them even during last season. But us long suffering Canes fans knew better
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@Rancid-Schnitzel care to point out who was knocking him or at least how?
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@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel care to point out who was knocking him or at least how?
Mostly Chiefs/Crudan fans that kept saying BB was an impact sub, couldn't control a game had issues on defence and was a poor goal kicker.
Bit of truth in all of that, but he has improved in all areas except goalkicking.
Remember some people posting that he's really a fullback, not a ten.
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@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel care to point out who was knocking him or at least how?
Sure, I'll fax you a list.
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@Kirwan Most of that was valid criticism pre the Wales test series - but those starts saw him rise and then he went bonkers.
I don't even think uber fans such as Rancid would consider he was ever at the level he got to then and now prior to that.
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@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Kirwan Most of that was valid criticism pre the Wales test series - but those starts saw him rise and then he went bonkers.
I don't even think uber fans such as Rancid would consider he was ever at the level he got to then and now prior to that.
Actually I think he was heading in that direction before he was injured in 2015. At any rate, I never said he should be selected ahead of Carter or even Cruden at the start of last season. The point is that to me it was obvious and only a matter of time before he became the starting 10 and a superstar. There were plenty who doubted that he was any more than a supersub and possibly not even a decent 10.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel I completely doubted it watching him put in average games at 10 for the Canes early on and yep I thought he'd play out his career as a supersub - but I've been happily proven wrong. We'll have to credit your nostradamus abilities on this one.
My biggest worry was that he wouldn't carry that form over this year but he's done that too.
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@Snowy TJ Peranara is a beast compared to Terry Wright
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@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel I completely doubted it watching him put in average games at 10 for the Canes early on and yep I thought he'd play out his career as a supersub - but I've been happily proven wrong. We'll have to credit your nostradamus abilities on this one.
My biggest worry was that he wouldn't carry that form over this year but he's done that too.
Didn't take any special predictive abilities on my part. I was simply watching what was right in front of me.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel Nah, it wasn't a 100% lock. I remember the Robbie Robinson will be the next AB 10 fans on here back in the day and Cruden will never amount to anything ....
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@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel Nah, it wasn't a 100% lock. I remember the Robbie Robinson will be the next AB 10 fans on here back in the day and Cruden will never amount to anything ....
Nothing is a 100% lock, but I can't recall either of those two having the size or speed of BB.
The Cruden naysayers deserve plenty of crow as well btw.
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@Kirwan said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel care to point out who was knocking him or at least how?
Mostly Chiefs/Crudan fans that kept saying BB was an impact sub, couldn't control a game had issues on defence and was a poor goal kicker.
Bit of truth in all of that, but he has improved in all areas except goalkicking.
Remember some people posting that he's really a fullback, not a ten.
I'll call bullshit but will admit to thinking/saying/writing that BB coming off the bench is an unprecedented weapon.
(Cruden ... not Crudan ... is a fucking sensational player ... look at what he did this am v Cheetahs ... but faaark BB is good)
Having said weaponry on the field from the get go ... well there's an argument in favour ...
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Snowy TJ Peranara is a beast compared to Terry Wright
The guy in the Pakn save ads is a beast compared to Terry Wright .
I could be wrong but I don't remember him being an Eion Crossan type turnstile though.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel care to point out who was knocking him or at least how?
Sure, I'll fax you a list.
What's a fax? Is that like a telegram?
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@Billy-Tell said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel care to point out who was knocking him or at least how?
Sure, I'll fax you a list.
What's a fax? Is that like a telegram?
More like a smoke signal.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@SammyC easily Parsons best game of the year (which isnt really a high bar - but this game was getting close to his best) although thought he didnt ;lead the team too well.
Scrafton and Cowley-Tuioti have surely pushed Tupou out of the starting 15, Goodhue put in a decent 15 or so minutes, but probably not enough to push him from the bench too.
You seem to have forgotten Patrick Tuipolutu ...
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@Kirwan said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And the commentators highlighted how skilful his deception with his hands was too.
He was carving my team up and I could only laugh and admire the skill and pace.
Yeah, that slow mo where they showed him fake to kick, double pump and pass was fantastic... all while running at pace and being totally aware of who was where.
I still don't think he brings his forwards and backline into the game as much as Cruden, but his no. 12 and winger are dominating the try scoring stats so no complaints there.
Every time I see Barrett kick the ball through and it magically bounces into his chest as he runs at pace I think he has sold his soul... it's the only explanation for the success rate... but that's his problem. It's amazing to watch.
