• Howick and Botany Times
HAVING received bouquets and brickbats for their latest 33-man All Black team, the selectors will have come to the realisation they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Damned because they appear to have made young lock Isaac Ross the scapegoat for an ordinary year so far, in which they have won five tests and lost four.
He played in eight, three against tough Springbok supremo Victor Matfield, who is the best lineout forward on the planet.
Told to pump iron, muscle up and work harder at the breakdown, the lean but athletic Ross still looks a better long-term locking prospect than any of the four chosen despite lacking the power of 33-year-old Brad Thorn.
And while I applaud the selectors’ adventurous spirit in introducing new All Blacks Zac Guildford, Ben Smith, Mike Delaney and Tamati Ellison, I’m sorry to see Manawatu first five Aaron Cruden miss out.
With his vision, superb balance and instinct for making the right decision, Cruden is, at 20, the best first five-eighths I’ve seen since Daniel Carter.
Like Carter and unlike the brave Stephen Donald, he appears to have time to execute because he’s so clever at creating space for himself even when under pressure.
Expect Cruden to advance his claims in next year’s Super 14 playing for the Hurricanes outside Piri Weepu, and inside Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Delaney, who can cover both five-eighth positions and at 27 has come of age as a player, is a sharp attacker who has the added bonus of being a splendid kicker.
With 13 tries already in the NPC for Hawke’s Bay, 20-year-old Guildford looks to be the complete wing, sharp of brain and foot with a huge future in front of him.
Thankfully, too, his first instinct is to run and beat a man.
Smith, 23, an in-form fullback/wing in the manner of Cory Jane, gets his chance with the selectors losing patience with Joe Rokocoko, who has lost confidence and lacks stability under the high ball.
While some feel prolific try-scorer Hosea Gear’s finishing ability warranted better reward, Gear doesn’t go looking for work in the manner of Smith and 27-year-old veteran Sitiveni Sivivatu, who returns after a long injury spell.
With Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava unavailable due to injuries, Ellison is a versatile utility who rarely makes mistakes and can cover most backline positions.
With head coach Graham Henry pledging all 33 players will get game time, most of the new boys will probably get their chance against Italy and the Barbarians.
However Guildford looks ready for the bigger challenges against Australia, Wales, England and France, and could become the same sort of sensation a young Jeff Wilson was when he tore the Scots apart at Edinburgh so long ago.
Meanwhile, I’m stunned by the coaches’ decision to play musical chairs by switching their roles so Henry moves from defensive mentor to forward coach with Wayne Smith in charge of the defence and Steve Hansen the back attack.
Personally I’ve always believed in horses for courses instead of converting them into donkeys by giving them unfamiliar roles.
Having long since found an Ausssie Rules coach to teach players to kick and chase, it’s a pity Ian Jones, Andy Haden or Robin Brook have not been co-opted to fix the lineout woes. Like that brave Dutch boy of folklore knew, unless you put your finger in a leaking dyke, you’re bound to end up in the poo.
