Keeping the faith vs cutting the cord

It has been very pleasing to see Nonu and Kaino, NZ´s two best performing players at this tournament in my opinion, perform so well. Amazingly both players have had their fair share of detractors.

When Kaino first started out, people said he was the weak link in the back row. Kieran Read got all the accolades a few years ago in NZ and Richie McCaw was taking the international awards. A year back, there were some who were even calling for Kaino´s head.

Nonu started to get the utility curse early on in his AB career. Like a poor man´s Tana Umaga, he started out his career on the wing, then moved to outside centre and finally found his position at inside centre. No sooner had he cemented that position and along comes SBW. Instead of throwing his toys out of the cot, like he had done in the past, he nurtured SBW in his first international tour last year and gave him all the support he needed. Then Freuan and SBW start making the headlines in Super Rugby and the Hurricanes have a shocker of a season and suddenly Nonu looks uncertain.

With Read out injured and McCaw in and out of the side and struggling for form, Kaino has had to step up as a player and a leader in this side. He has done just that and is a huge force in the pack. He has improved his running up the ball and is bruising on defence. Nonu seems at the peak of his powers and has that ability to bust through a line and when he has a sniff of the line he is unstoppable. I admire their perseverance and respect their hunger for the shirt and their awareness of their place in the team. Go you good things. Jane has restored the faith placed in him and hopefully Read can get back to some good form in a hurry.

Then you come from the other angle. Henry made the difficult choice to get rid of one of his favourite players Mils Muliaina to make room for Dagg. That move has been vindicated. I was impressed at how Dagg mixed his brilliant running with solid defence and that first difficult take under the high ball seemed to sum up his arrival to the next level. Then you have Stephen Donald who probably was held on too long by Henry and Slade or Cruden should´ve gone on that tour last year. When you look at the Samoan halfback and look at our current stocks, you wonder how many players have failed to get a break. How many players have slipped through the net where some current players have had too many chances?

It´s a difficult decision for selectors. To me it underlines the importance of stability in your squad selections without chopping and changing. I think players should get chances but if they don´t deliver after repeated chances then I think it´s time to cut the cord and be done with them.

Which players are you happy your selectors persevered with and which ones do you think were / are undeserving of their multiple second chances? As a neutral, Tait seems to divide opinion for example for England as does Hook. Is this because they are played in different positions and constantly changed around or is this because there are better choices available?

Yup, Henry has done bloody well keeping those guys. Maybe Donald taught him a thing or two and was the exception. Nonu and Kaino have been immense. Adds to the awesome balance of the backrow.

Kaino has been in superb form. I thought very highly of him last year, a great player.

Lets see how they go in the difficult end of the tournament, when it really counts to be at your best.

Even Argentina wont be an easy game, no matter whether they look the weakest team in the quarters.

Kia something for you to ponder, John Mitchell reckons he doesn`t rate Slade at all, he believes Weepu is the better option but said he would like to see Dagg at 10 and Mills at 15

It's really just a leap of faith on a coaches part. Declan Kidney gave Fitzgerald and O'Leary chance after chance in the last year but in the end he just had to leave them out of the World Cup squad. They just didn't deliver after many many chances. On the other hand he stuck by D'arcy through a long period of terrible form and also stuck with Rory Best through a shaky period. All three have delivered good form at the World Cup.

He obviously saw the potential in all these players to be big assets. Some rewarded his faith. Some didn't manage to get to the required standard in time.

Thtys mitchell though for you biltong. Hes not a fan of the trad 10 and likes them to show some flair. Although i actially agree because of the experience.
Slade will lock down und severe pressure. Can just feel it.

As a start 10 in the big 3 matches hes not started well.

Teams will target our 9/10s because thats our only weak area.

Biltong
What have you guys been doing to Mitch's brain?

Mate, nothing, but I can tell you the man has impressed me with his insight and ability to communicate his thoughts on the RWC

Biltong
I can assure you that I always listen when John Mitchell talks rugby,i am somewhat perplexed at the Dagg to 10 comment. Perhaps he got the idea off Carlos?

Unfortunately there wasn't really time to discuss in detail, it sounded like he believes Dagg does have the necessary skills to control the game

I have no issues with the Welsh squad at all. What team he picks for Saturday though...

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I admire thawareness of their place ineir perseverance and respect their hunger for the shirt and their the team

I think that's one of the key reasons Wales havent played well since 2008, the players had no competition for places, they were mostly guaranteed their shirts and started getting complacent, even when it was clear to everyone certain players' form had dipped, they were still selected. Now that the youngsters have burst through all of a sudden there is genuine competition for positions and its getting the best out of everyone.

IronMike wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I admire thawareness of their place ineir perseverance and respect their hunger for the shirt and their the team

I think that's one of the key reasons Wales havent played well since 2008, the players had no competition for places, they were mostly guaranteed their shirts and started getting complacent, even when it was clear to everyone certain players' form had dipped, they were still selected. Now that the youngsters have burst through all of a sudden there is genuine competition for positions and its getting the best out of everyone.

Well thats not true of Fly Half with Hook/Jones...they were constantly trading places and even Dan " The Best Fly Half In THe World" Biggar got a look in.
Hooks problem is simply that he got screwed by Ospreys refussing to play him at FH. If he'd been consistently playing there Im sure he woudlve nailed down the welsh 10 and be a fine seasoned international player, he has quality. Its lucky for Wales this young lad has come along with the ability to step it up.

With Tait he simply hasnt ever been good enough, and since Balshaw England have latgley looked for fullbacks who play fullback and have the basic skillset of fullback rather than just being able to run with the ball ( notable exception for the Monye Moment only strengthening the argument) and wanting centers who are strong and have a contact oriented game rather than being frustrated wingers.

aucklandlaurie wrote: Biltong
I can assure you that I always listen when John Mitchell talks rugby,i am somewhat perplexed at the Dagg to 10 comment. Perhaps he got the idea off Carlos?

Don't know id you have seen this, but someone agrees with John Mitchell.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10756680

How good is Dagg's passing though? Remember Larkham was the best passer in the world at 10 and that would have swayed Macqueen. Haven't seen too much of Izzy's distribution skills. But to be honest, it doesn't seem like the worst idea in the world strangely enough.

Can´t believe you´re advocating a non-specialist in a position. Shame on you disneychilly! We´ve already had two disastrous centre selections. We don´t need another positional gaffe. Keep Dagg where he is playing well.

There was an article by Eddie Butler recently (of all people) saying a very similar thing.

I think he cited the hilarious example of Josh Kronfelds disgust at the selection of Richie McCaw for his first cap. At the time Josh said something like "It's ridiculous, the selectors may as well give an All Black jersey to anybody. This guy's only played one season of domestic rugby."

The Dagg at 10 thing is probably best summed up again by the folks from wait of a nation

http://www.wait-of-a-nation.com/2011/10/05/24-hour-madness-amnesty/

"Two columnists have taken logic hostage and locked themselves in the newsroom with a technicolour typewriter, a fistful of valium and two swappa crates of Rheineck. And between you and me, I don’t think logic’s gonna come out sober."

Ha I wouldn't go near it in a WC mate. I don't do Rheineck. Me and the Monteiths Black I wish I were sipping on will stick to Colin. Though if Izzy gets a fair few tests under his belt it could be another option if he gets experience in lower levels.

To be honest I haven't seen him kick for goal yet. By all accounts he's awesome-not that I'd want to see him chucked in the deep end here but hopefully we can see that in the next couple of seasons.

Simply put if Dagg got put to 10 and the team lost GH would be ridiculed for the rest of his life and beyond. Regardless of all his achievements that would be his legacy... never gonna happen...