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NZ view: Blues must cut their losses with Benji Marshall in what is a failed cross-code experiment
- FOX SPORTS
- April 02, 2014 3:33PM
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 29: Ben Smith of the Highlanders congratulates Benji Marshall of the Blues following the round seven Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Highlanders at Eden Park on March 29, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) Source: Hannah Peters / Getty Images
THE Blues must cut their losses with Benji Marshall if they have any desire to reaffirm a growing bid for the Super Rugby semi-finals.
That?s the feeling coming out of New Zealand this week after the former NRL star endured his worst outing in the 15-man game in an atrocious 15-minute cameo at fullback on Saturday night.
Coming onto the field with the Blues in a comfortable position, Marshall missed a golden opportunity to play in the absence of any real pressure and build some confidence with ball-in-hand.
?The Blues might as well cut their losses on the Benji Marshall experiment before his alleged rugby union education causes a calamity that derails their growing Super 15 title bid,? the New Zealand Herald?s Chris Rattue wrote.
?This so-called drip feed education of Marshall is not how cross-code transitions are normally done. The deep end is the smart end. The Blues are conducting a charade, covering their tracks. The turnstiles aren?t exactly going mad with Marshall mania.
?In his league prime, Marshall was a wildly creative risk taker who was an absolute joy to watch. As his long-time coach Tim Sheens reckoned, he was a better runner - rubber-man style - than playmaker. And this was all a long time ago.
?Marshall?s cross-field style had already gone out of fashion in league and is cringe-inducing in union. His physical courage in coming back from shoulder injury disasters is a memory. Any money was crazy money for Benji. He was awful in a half-hour stint at fullback against the Highlanders on Saturday night. The Blues don?t need the distraction. Did someone, yes it was Marshall himself, really mention the All Blacks??
