Omission rocks fans Wednesday, 01 November 2006
BLUES rugby fans are shaking their heads in disbelief at news brilliant young Auckland wing David Smith will launch his Super 14 career next year as a Hurricane.
Instead, Blues coaches David Nucifora and Joe Schmidt have opted for James Somerset and Rudi Wulf as backup wings for All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett.
While both have talent, they lack Smith’s explosive quality as well as the dazzling sidestepping skills of unwanted wing Viliame Waqaseduadua, who joins fellow former North Harbour players Craig Newby and Nick Evans as a Highlander.
Fortunately the selectors have not repeated the blunder of allowing the Chiefs to snap up Sam Tuitupou who returns while the hot and cold Tasesa Lavea heads for Moolooland.
His place has been taken by experienced Northlander David Howell, who should offer a potentially outstanding backline much needed direction with Luke McAlister and Isa Nacewa other first-five options.
While Troy Flavell’s return from injury should incite the national selectors interest, Blues hopes will fade if halfbacks Steve Devine and David Gibson continue to be plagued by injuries.
Without their All Blacks for the first half of the Super 14 championship, the Crusaders could struggle to defend their title while the Chiefs look likely to prosper most, especially in the forwards where Keith Robinson is their only current All Black.
With so many internationals absent, the progress of so many rising stars during the national provincial competition will be watched with avid interest.
Richard Kahui and Liam Messam performed wonders for Waikato and Canterbury’s Stephen Brett follows in the wake of Andrew Mehrtens and Daniel Carter as a gifted first- five.
With so many riches to choose from, New Zealand rugby has an abundance of depth as younger players challenge established stars for international honours.
The irony is that the All Blacks machine hasn’t fired on all cylinders despite suffering only one loss this year, thanks mainly to a magnificent Richie McCaw led defence.
Hopefully the lineout worries will be overcome against France, England and Wales, where King Henry will also want to see the ball dispatched faster to speedy wings who have been unemployed for too long.
The development of the Aaron Mauger/Conrad Smith centre partnership is vital unless Ma’a Nonu can sharpen his passing skills to complement his punishing tackle-busting runs.
Another interesting alternative in a quest to sharpen the inside backs attack would be to combine Carter and Nick Evans and allow them to interchange as a five-eighths combination to confuse defences.
With the elusive Carter the undisputed prince at first-five that may sound like heresy. But add Evans’ vision, skip pass and attacking thrust, it’s a combination that offers exciting possibilities.
However the selectors will be reluctant to drop a man of Mauger’s experience for Evans’ game-breaking talent unless Evans proves he can match the Cantabrian’s solid defence. But as an attacker and playmaker for the likes of fullback Mils Muliaina and his speedy wings, Evans still has much to offer a backline that hasn’t clicked as it should.
