Super Rugby 2012 is a great stage not only for existing stars like Sonny Bill Williams, Bismarck Du Plessis and Will Genia to strut the stuff, but it is always exciting to see the new talent coming through the ranks and New Zealand’s cupboard of young scrum and fly halves look encouraging.
It is amazing how Colin Slade went from second choice first five eighth to Dan Carter at the Rugby World Cup 2011 and now he would be lucky to be included in the top handful of first fives in the country. Jimmy Cowan is a similar case, except he entered Rugby World Cup 2011 as the starting All Blacks halfback and now he is starting from the Highlanders bench behind the impressive Aaron Smith. Here are some people putting the heat on incumbent’s Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan and Andy Ellis.
The Contenders
Fly-half (First five eighth in New Zealand)
Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) – The Taranaki and Hurricanes first five eighth is a prolific talent. He kicked the Naki to their Ranfurly Shield win over Southland last season (ouch baby!). He reminds me of Stephen Larkham with his casual upright running style, but he reads the game so well. He is also such a gifted timer of the ball when kicking goals or out of the hand.
Gareth Anscombe (Blues) – Blues pivot Gareth Anscombe is a star of the future and he showed that in his first start at the weekend. He scored all of the Blues 29 points and the only reason he didn’t start earlier in the season for the Blues was so he would have the experienced duo of Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu playing inside and outside him. Anscombe and Barrett look like contenders for the All Black first five. It will be interesting to see how he goes without his father Mark Anscombe as coach. His father was the Auckland coach before leaving to coach Ulster.
Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) – Lima Sopoaga looks sharp and has an amazing running game for the Highlanders. He did hurt his shoulder against the Waratahs. Sopoaga has had to move to the Highlanders to get some opportunities at this level under coach Jamie Joseph.
Mike Harris (Reds) – The Blues didn’t want North Harbour’s Mike Harris and so he went to the Reds last season and now finds himself starting in the Number 10 jersey vacated by Quade Cooper. Mike Harris has kicked 18/21 from the kicking tee. It will be interesting to see if he wants to play for Australia or follow his youth level appearances for New Zealand by taking the more difficult route to the All Blacks.
Tyler Bleyendaal (Crusaders) – He is filling the huge boots of Daniel Carter at the Crusaders, but Tyler Bleyendaal is an accomplished goalkicker who has been given a rude awakening to Super Rugby being the victim of a few “Smashed ‘em bros!” He needs to work on his running game, but does boost the stocks of young first fives.
Scrum-half (Halfback in New Zealand)
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs) – Kerr-Barlow started the season on the bench, but quickly made himself at home in the Number 9 jersey for the Chiefs. He had an awesome ITM Cup for Waikato and is of great nuisance value for the Chiefs. He had a blinder against the Blues where he made 13 tackles (as first tackler) and four line-breaks, also scoring a try.
Aaron Smith (Highlanders) – The New Zealand Maori representative followed coach Jamie Joseph down to the Highlanders. He is electric and his fast pass gives the now dangerous Highlanders backs more time than Jimmy Cowan does. Initially used off the bench, it looks like Aaron Smith has ousted All Black Jimmy Cowan from the Number 9 jersey. Smith has scored two tries this season.
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) – Perenara who is still a teenager scored a hattrick of tries in his run on debut against the Force on Friday. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He also made eight tackles and took three lots of go-forward ball. He also made five tackles the week before off the bench.
Who impresses you in this bunch of New Zealand’s new breed of half? Is there anyone else who deserves to be on this list?
Aaron Smith looks quality at 9. Got the best pass at 9 since Bachop. Still feel Carter will be at 10 when the All Blacks roll up but could see the new breed take over at scrum half. My picks for the squad would be Smith, Kerr Barlow and Weepu.
Smith to start. Kerr-Barlow or Weepu on the bench. Cruden will be looking over his shoulder, but not at Slade given what we have seen to date. How they play in more crunch matches will be impt.
Everyone is writing Slade off but he hasn’t played consistently for a long time. Any one who saw his Man of the Match perfromance in the ITM Cup final a few years ago knows he just needs time. Having said that…there is a lot of competition at Fly Half now in NZ.
@Philip – I hope Slade does come good. But with Carter, Cruden, Barrett etc there is going to be fierce competition for places. Would say the northern scouts will be getting their moneybooks out, although I think carter & cruden (has just renewed) have a couple of years on contract, and the young guys might want to give it more time yet..but then Jared Payne headed off overseas after 1 year at a young age..fat lot of good that has done his career…In any case, Italy & Scotland are crying out for a decent fly-half, so if the road is blocked in NZ, a couple of years overseas can get an international jersey…
Agreed..although despite the fact that I support the Blues….I’m not ure Payne was the same level as say a Kahui or Smith. He probably knew that deep down and decided to take the money on offer.
Tamati Ellison has looked surprisingly good this season at centre – thought he was very lucky to be an All Black, but he is looking good. Seems pointless to keep investing in SBW, if he’s going back to league, so Ellison could give Kahui & Smith a good run for their money.