sukkadoits says...

Genia is awesome. He knows Cruden, also awesome, is the maestro for the Chiefs just as he is for the Reds. He plans to cut the Chiefs down at the source. The difference between the teams is that Cruden has the most devastating pair of centres in the competition outside him to fall back on. Genia doesn't have such back up with Quade in the casualty ward.

@agardiner22 Fruean has been in devastating attacking form, but his defensive reads on the edge can be terrible at times. SBW has frequently been atop the linebreaks and metres gained tables. Although it is hard to compare the defensive roles of a 12 to a 13, Sonny has been huge on defense while Fruean frequently gets beaten on the outside.

@Rayz i know they aren't proven internationally, but IMO SBW and RK would destroy D'arcy/O'Driscoll. O'Driscoll was a great player, but he never performed to any great standard against the ABs, and D'arcy was just fortunate to play beside a great player.

Posted 08:29 11th May 2012

Rayz says...

@jonesy2...I'm glad I made someone's day even though I was serious.

In all your wisdom I would be interested in your centre pairing picks.

(BTW - I thought we were talking about SBW/Kahui not Nonu/Smith)

Posted 07:11 11th May 2012

ruckingkiwi says...

Hmmm Masaga... oh dear..

Actually think the Reds will take this one, they're tough to beat up there and the Chiefs will fall over sometime soon, they've had a tough run the last few weeks and it started to show last weekend. I'd have preferred the bye this weekend and then this match but go hard boys.

Posted 01:23 11th May 2012

rakavi187 says...

@jonesy2... you must be a young fella if you think the Nonu/Smith combo is better then Little/Bunce.Honestly, I think Jdv & Fourie combo is much better...

Posted 21:53 10th May 2012

Dangerous says...

I wonder what that means " to target cruden"? Surely it always makes sense to try and shut down, put pressure on your opposing fly half. Whoever they are. It's not like you need to put two tacklers on cruden either. Equally if guys rush cruden and break the line the centres will seize there opportunity. Really looking forward to this game.

Posted 19:46 10th May 2012

jonesy2 says...

Rayz please tell me you are having a laugh. the only pairing there that comes close to nonu/smith is horan/little. odriscoll/darcy? funniest thing ever

Posted 14:29 10th May 2012

Bones7 says...

I think Cruden has looked fantastic but SBW has let that happen by taking the focus of defences. It's like Jamie Roberts when he had one season where he was breaking the line for fun and the next he had no space at all, but because of that the space appeared out wide and Rhys Priestland was allowed more room to work. Shutting down a 10 is the best way to stop a backline moving but if it doesn't work then you're expending a lot of energy and leaving danger men like SBW and Masaga with a little more room. Targeting a 10 normally requires either doubling up on him, blitzing or a good old fashioned roughing up. All are easily avoidable or countered by someone like Cruden.

Posted 13:52 10th May 2012

jonesy2 says...

cruden has been spectacular and i agree, is probably the main reason the chiefs have been so dominant i would love to know if there has been a centre or couple of centres better than SBW and RK...

Posted 11:31 10th May 2012