Weepu? Yes. Even Cruden? Yes.
Slade? Not in a million years.
Of course they're good enough to win w/Weepu or Cruden. But those 2 players can't & won't lose a game all by themselves. Slade can, and will.
South Africa beat his ass up in SAF in the Tri-Nations, and they'll do it again. Henry has to grow a brain in short order. Slade always looks like a deer in headlights. Any opponent he inspires fear in, is an opponent who can't play rugby.
Of course they're good enough to win w/Weepu or Cruden. But those 2 players can't & won't lose a game all by themselves. Slade can, and will.
South Africa beat his ass up in SAF in the Tri-Nations, and they'll do it again. Henry has to grow a brain in short order. Slade always looks like a deer in headlights. Any opponent he inspires fear in, is an opponent who can't play rugby.
the ABs won't be so lucky enough that that injury isn't more than a scare.
of course he's good but people don't remember why he isn't in front of Slade in the first place
It's not a matter of remembering as far as I'm concerned, it's a matter of not understanding why in the 1st place. Today he faced Canada, and at numerous times didn't look like he was up to it. I don't see how Cruden could have played any worse. I've seen Slade like players in the ABs before. They're good at provincial/Super level which suggests they're up for international play, but then they're not really good enough once they get there - good enough to fool people in the short term they might grow into it, but never do grow into it. Stephen Donald is a classic example. Cruden maybe young, and inexperienced internationally, but he doesn't strike me as one of those players, to me he appears to have a real international future ahead of him. So I personally would rather go with a player who I know belongs on the international stage, than one I don't. I have no hesitation in saying Slade will not go on to have a long career in the ABs 10 jersey (even if Carter never played another game, I assert there'd rapidly come a point where Slade would be replaced).
the ABs won't be so lucky enough that that injury isn't more than a scare.
of course he's good but people don't remember why he isn't in front of Slade in the first place
It's not a matter of remembering as far as I'm concerned, it's a matter of not understanding why in the 1st place. Today he faced Canada, and at numerous times didn't look like he was up to it. I don't see how Cruden could have played any worse. I've seen Slade like players in the ABs before. They're good at provincial/Super level which suggests they're up for international play, but then they're not really good enough once they get there - good enough to fool people in the short term they might grow into it, but never do grow into it. Stephen Donald is a classic example. Cruden maybe young, and inexperienced internationally, but he doesn't strike me as one of those players, to me he appears to have a real international future ahead of him. So I personally would rather go with a player who I know belongs on the international stage, than one I don't. I have no hesitation in saying Slade will not go on to have a long career in the ABs 10 jersey (even if Carter never played another game, I assert there'd rapidly come a point where Slade would be replaced).
I'm not saying, from my pov, Cruden is an ideal choice in any sense of the word, but for me it's Cruden ahead of Slade. But I'd go with Weepu before either of them.
As for this line, the coaches picked him so trust that they know what they're doing - these are the coaches that coached the ABs out of the QF stage last time. Not every choice they make is the right one. IMO, this is clearly, without a hesitation of a doubt, the wrong one.
I'm not saying, from my pov, Cruden is an ideal choice in any sense of the word, but for me it's Cruden ahead of Slade. But I'd go with Weepu before either of them.
As for this line, the coaches picked him so trust that they know what they're doing - these are the coaches that coached the ABs out of the QF stage last time. Not every choice they make is the right one. IMO, this is clearly, without a hesitation of a doubt, the wrong one.
I'm not saying, from my pov, Cruden is an ideal choice in any sense of the word, but for me it's Cruden ahead of Slade. But I'd go with Weepu before either of them.
As for this line, the coaches picked him so trust that they know what they're doing - these are the coaches that coached the ABs out of the QF stage last time. Not every choice they make is the right one. IMO, this is clearly, without a hesitation of a doubt, the wrong one.
I'm not saying, from my pov, Cruden is an ideal choice in any sense of the word, but for me it's Cruden ahead of Slade. But I'd go with Weepu before either of them.
As for this line, the coaches picked him so trust that they know what they're doing - these are the coaches that coached the ABs out of the QF stage last time. Not every choice they make is the right one. IMO, this is clearly, without a hesitation of a doubt, the wrong one.
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