A strange thing is happening in New Zealand at the moment, and it involves some of their most famous rugby players.
With the World Cup fast approaching, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has some tough decisions to make. The problem for him is that some of the stalwarts of New Zealand rugby – Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Israel Dagg, anyone who plays for the Blues – have been pretty awful in this year’s edition of Super Rugby.
Interestingly, a host of uncapped Kiwi players have been playing scintillating stuff while the established order have had a dip in form. Chiefs openside Sam Cane (who has won 23 caps) has eclipsed the great one in every important category imaginable.
Sam Cane v Richie McCaw – Opta stats for season pic.twitter.com/WdWflW2SCK
— Russ Petty (@rpetty80) June 8, 2015
Dan Carter has struggled with injuries and from the tee, while Highlanders out-half Lima Sopoaga has been slicing defences open under the tutelage of prospective Leinster coach Tony Brown. And then you have Sopoaga’s team-mate Waisake Naholo, who has been so destructive on the wing that the AB’s bought him out of his pre-contract agreement with Clermont so he can potentially take part in the World Cup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6khjoV_oss
But the jewel in the uncapped crown is undoubtedly Hurricanes fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder. NMS is playing his first season in Super Rugby – that’s why it is so shocking that he can make seasoned defences look so inept.
Granted, Super Rugby teams are often more focused on putting up points instead of keeping teams out, but even in an attack-orientated league, Milner-Skudder stands out.
What is so refreshing about his fullback play is that he ALWAYS looks to counter-attack. In Ireland, we almost accept that the ball will be launched back into the air – and to be fair, the national team has achieved results with that tactic – but it’s so much more enjoyable to see the game played this way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ekHkeTxX-8
As crazy as it is to say, no All Black is playing as good at the moment as the uncapped 24-year old who finds five buyers for every dummy he decides to sell. Some of the elder internationals have played well – Ma’a Nonu is caring about Super Rugby for the first time in six or seven years and finally translating his All Blacks form to club level – but it will be interesting to see how Hansen balances his World Cup squad this autumn.
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