SBW/Robbie Fruen Combo

[shiznit]

i dont think its his actual defence itself thats the problem... we all know the guy can tackle.

i think his biggest problem is getting used to the defensive patterns being used in NZ RU. especially positionally.

coming from a background of RL he would be used to defending in corridors on either side of the field. or even defending edges.

i know from when i made the switch from playing RU for 10 years then playing RL the defensive positioning was massive to get your head around.

in RL you mark up in pretty much in the same area the whole way through the game.... in your corridor... ie if your a prop your in the middle third... or as a backrower/centre you start to drift to the edge.

in RU you need to mark up depending on where the ruck is. either side. so theres a lot less structure to the defensive patterns. especially when the opposition has recycled possession for 5+ rucks.

the defence will come... he just needs to integrate himself in the system for longer.

after a northern tour, a super15 and a midyear window he should tighten it up for the WC.

 

[Te Kaha]

i dont think its his actual defence itself thats the problem... we all know the guy can tackle.

i think his biggest problem is getting used to the defensive patterns being used in NZ RU. especially positionally.

coming from a background of RL he would be used to defending in corridors on either side of the field. or even defending edges.

i know from when i made the switch from playing RU for 10 years then playing RL the defensive positioning was massive to get your head around.

in RL you mark up in pretty much in the same area the whole way through the game.... in your corridor... ie if your a prop your in the middle third... or as a backrower/centre you start to drift to the edge.

in RU you need to mark up depending on where the ruck is. either side. so theres a lot less structure to the defensive patterns. especially when the opposition has recycled possession for 5+ rucks.

the defence will come... he just needs to integrate himself in the system for longer.

after a northern tour, a super15 and a midyear window he should tighten it up for the WC.

Thats exactly his problem... he cant read the defensive screen at all yet... that takes time... hence the reason he wont be a starting 2/5 in an important test until he does...

Another thing i noticed.. he doesnt ruck or counter ruck, he hangs back... its all well and good being ready to recieve a pass, but you have to make sure your team wins the ball first.

 

[shiznit]

i gotta say... i disagree with the counter ruck argument. his last 2 games ive seen a significant improvement in his work at the ruck. especially at the tackle.

against counties there were 2 instances where he singlehandedly caused a turnover only to be penalised because of someone else on his side coming in from the side. i noticed Justin Marshall & Aaron Mauger said the same thing.

sure hes no Conrad Smith or Tana Umaga. but i think hes coming along nicely.

i honestly think its all about time in the saddle for him.

 

[Te Kaha]

i gotta say... i disagree with the counter ruck argument. his last 2 games ive seen a significant improvement in his work at the ruck. especially at the tackle.

against counties there were 2 instances where he singlehandedly caused a turnover only to be penalised because of someone else on his side coming in from the side. i noticed Justin Marshall & Aaron Mauger said the same thing.

sure hes no Conrad Smith or Tana Umaga. but i think hes coming along nicely.

i honestly think its all about time in the saddle for him.

It is... will see how well he improves on the tour.

 

[Fast Eddie]

He will tear the backlines of Scotland and Wales to pieces.

 

[butchmcdick]

I have been watching SBW play for Canterbury and a one thing leaps out at me. SBW isn't even the best centre in the Canterbury team let alone NZ. For mine Fruen should have been picked in the Blacks ahead of SBW.

Don't get me wrong, SBW is still an awesome player but for mine Fruen is just that little bit better at the moment. Still as has been said, SBW or indeed any of the backs in the squad will tear the Scots and Welsh backlines to shreds so I guess in the end it won't matter too much

 

[Te Kaha]

I have been watching SBW play for Canterbury and a one thing leaps out at me. SBW isn't even the best centre in the Canterbury team let alone NZ. For mine Fruen should have been picked in the Blacks ahead of SBW.

Don't get me wrong, SBW is still an awesome player but for mine Fruen is just that little bit better at the moment. Still as has been said, SBW or indeed any of the backs in the squad will tear the Scots and Welsh backlines to shreds so I guess in the end it won't matter too much

Fruen was unlucky not to get picked... provided his health holds out he is a serious player of the future...

This late before a word cup tho they see SBW as providing more, probably as an impact player late in the game.. something Fruen may not be able to do.

On a side note it seems im not the only one who believes that the Nonu/Smith combo wont be broken up this close to a world cup... Tim Horan, one of the best midfielders of modern times also shares that view.

 

[Alehana]

i think they are just getting SBW a test cap so he cant play for another international team.. there was talk of him playing for the wallabies, which would cause an outrage if he did.
but still hes a very good second five eight, probablly on of the 2nd best number 12 in the country, so thats why he was picked.

 

[Twizzle]

he wouldn't make the Wallabies team

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Another thing i noticed.. he doesnt ruck or counter ruck, he hangs back... its all well and good being ready to recieve a pass, but you have to make sure your team wins the ball first.

Whenever I've watched him (i.e. always) he hits more rucks than just about any back on the field. His workrate in all facets of the game is immense.

It honestly just sounds like you're churning out generic "league player switching to union" criticisms.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Well you need to watch without your rose coloured member of the family glasses...

I hate the **** tbh

 

[hellteam]

he wouldn't make the Wallabies team

I reckon NZ's top 10 centres would make the Wallabies side...

 

[Te Kaha]

Whenever I've watched him (i.e. always) he hits more rucks than just about any back on the field. His workrate in all facets of the game is immense.

It honestly just sounds like you're churning out generic "league player switching to union" criticisms.

Horse sh*t on both counts... he does not hit "more rucks than just about any back on the field" thats a blatent lie.

I hate the **** tbh

Sure you do.. thats why you watch him play all the time.

 

[shiznit]

I reckon NZ's top 10 centres would make the Wallabies side...

lol... for sure... i reckon if the Taniwhas Jarred Payne(whos about 6th or 7th in line) was Aussie he would be the wallibies starting centre.

 

[butchmcdick]

So how long will nz's top 10 centres hang around and play NPC with no hope f playing for the Blacks when there is massive cash on offer from Europe ?

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Horse sh*t on both counts... he does not hit "more rucks than just about any back on the field" thats a blatent lie.

lol "lie"..it's an opinion you nut. I'd say all these defensive misreads you are imagining are lies as well.

Sure you do.. thats why you watch him play all the time.

I watch him play because he's a shining beacon of extraordinary talent in a ridiculous sport.

 

[Alehana]

So how long will nz's top 10 centres hang around and play NPC with no hope f playing for the Blacks when there is massive cash on offer from Europe ?

well wait till after the WC next year, when everyone leaves, however it happeneds all the time, just in small numbers, rather than after WC when everyone leaves in recent times we've lost

rudi wulf
anthony tuitavake
tamati ellison
tim bateman
Jason Shoemark(leaving in couple of months)

all to OS, so there is the 'middle men' all centres gone overseas, and now we have young players coming thru the ranks

with conrad and ma'a occupying
theres
luke mcalister
SBW
Fruen
benson stanley
rene ranger
Kahui

all playing for centre spots in all blacks, after the WC, i expect conrad and ma'a to leave, luke Mcalister to leave
maybe to leave
bensen, SBW and ranger,

but if they are smart about it, they'd stay, coz all the good centres (and this will be helped if NZ win the WC), will go OS eventually and they are more chance of a starting spot, the longer they grind it out

In saying that, there are some good centres coming up, with the likes of Jayden Hayward of Naki, Stanley Brothers, Fruen, ryan crotty, charlie ngtai, shaun treeby to name a few and this is helped if NZ keeps winning the U20's WC,

plus, its not like, OS offers millions of dollars to every single player in NZ ITM cup that cant make the All Blacks, the lowest contract in ITM cup is about 80,000 for a starting player, when they make a S14 contract this goes up, so its not like they r on the mimimum wage in NZ and if they go OS they will be paid millions, OS they might get couple of hundred thousand a season at most, but the quality of rugby can be lower most of the time, and they are away from family, friends, so its not like OS is the best thing for you personally or your career, its just about the money.

SO in conclusion, centres (to narrow it down) will always leave NZ if they cant crack All Blacks, as seen by those named above, however the production line in NZ is so good, that theres always numerous players to fill that void. After WC's theres always a drain, but theres a strong number of capable centres to step in should conrad and Ma'a leave.

hope it answers your question

 

[hellteam]

well wait till after the WC next year, when everyone leaves, however it happeneds all the time, just in small numbers, rather than after WC when everyone leaves in recent times we've lost

rudi wulf
anthony tuitavake
tamati ellison
tim bateman
Jason Shoemark(leaving in couple of months)

all to OS, so there is the 'middle men' all centres gone overseas, and now we have young players coming thru the ranks

with conrad and ma'a occupying
theres
luke mcalister
SBW
Fruen
benson stanley
rene ranger
Kahui

all playing for centre spots in all blacks, after the WC, i expect conrad and ma'a to leave, luke Mcalister to leave
maybe to leave
bensen, SBW and ranger,

but if they are smart about it, they'd stay, coz all the good centres (and this will be helped if NZ win the WC), will go OS eventually and they are more chance of a starting spot, the longer they grind it out

In saying that, there are some good centres coming up, with the likes of Jayden Hayward of Naki, Stanley Brothers, Fruen, ryan crotty, charlie ngtai, shaun treeby to name a few and this is helped if NZ keeps winning the U20's WC,

plus, its not like, OS offers millions of dollars to every single player in NZ ITM cup that cant make the All Blacks, the lowest contract in ITM cup is about 80,000 for a starting player, when they make a S14 contract this goes up, so its not like they r on the mimimum wage in NZ and if they go OS they will be paid millions, OS they might get couple of hundred thousand a season at most, but the quality of rugby can be lower most of the time, and they are away from family, friends, so its not like OS is the best thing for you personally or your career, its just about the money.

SO in conclusion, centres (to narrow it down) will always leave NZ if they cant crack All Blacks, as seen by those named above, however the production line in NZ is so good, that theres always numerous players to fill that void. After WC's theres always a drain, but theres a strong number of capable centres to step in should conrad and Ma'a leave.

hope it answers your question

There's 8 that should easily make the Wallabies...

Of course our geniused management would probably rather have Berrick Barnes in there..

 

[Te Kaha]

lol "lie"..it's an opinion you nut. I'd say all these defensive misreads you are imagining are lies as well.

Its either truth or its a lie... Im telling the truth... you arent... therefore you are lieing... fairly easy to understand, opinion or not...

I watch him play because he's a shining beacon of extraordinary talent in a ridiculous sport.

So you hate him, you hate the game he plays... and yet you still watch him... riiiiiiiiighhhhhhhht.

 

[Te Kaha]

There's 8 that should easily make the Wallabies...

Of course our geniused management would probably rather have Berrick Barnes in there..

barnes isnt your problem... its the overated hack who is in there instead of him... Giteu was good for a year or two... but he is sliding fast... Aus would be better off with a mainly Reds backline.