New Zealand

TotalRugbyRules says...

TJ Perenara is he can stay fully fit and works on his passing a little is the pick of the bunch for me. He has done things on the rugby field for the Canes I've never seen an AB half do. His running around the base of the scrum/ruck a little reminiscent of a young Marshall, his tricky, dodging runs ala Sid Going and his defense like George Gregan at his best. The way he held up some of the biggest, strongest forwards in seemingly impossible situations was amazing. Though to be honest Kerr-Barlow's defense also impressed me. Anyone on this forum see the try Andre Taylor scored thanks to Perenara ducked under & spinning around defenders under immense duress on his own side of halfway before passing to Jane who set Taylor on his way to the line ... never seen a try like that ever.

Having said that this first RC & Bledisloe 2012 match is huge and probably not the place to bring on Kerr-Barlow ... but given Cruden as a Carter replacement is goal kicking, well better than Carter... than Weepu perhaps should be out and Ellis in. I don't particularly like Ellis, but he has played pretty well this year and his combination with Reid & Carter is good.

Let's hope Aaron Smith lasts at least to the 70 minute mark, as Genia will bide his time waiting for a slow Weepu to let him snipe through a gap on the side of the ruck and outpace the cover from 50m out.

Posted 05:33 17th August 2012

markpat says...

Weepu wasn't even 4th best NZ scrum half. Ellis as much better this season as the 4th best.

Posted 14:27 16th August 2012

Centre12 says...

You can say that again Piri, I didn't see too much of Aaron Smith throughout the S15 so I can't really comment, but what I did see was Tawera Kerr-Barlow and TJ Perenara on absolute fire and Weepu lagging miles behind, Kerr-Barlow & Perenara were much more better and must miss out purely on lack of international exposure.

Posted 12:35 16th August 2012