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Cruden won't be thrown in the deep end

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:44

Despite the mass of Hurricanes fans wanting it otherwise, it appears that new flyhalf Aaron Cruden may be eased rather than rushed into Super 14 action.

Cruden, New Zealand's 2009 Junior World Cup winning captain and the IRB U20 Player of the Year, looks likely to be a back-up for Willie Ripia, initially at least.

The 24-year old Ripia has played 21 games at Super 14 level since his 2006 debut and started in all three of the Hurricanes pre-season matches.

On a poll currently running on the Hurricanes website, 1504 voters (61.7%) believed that the young prodigy should start at No.10, with 530 (21.7%) voting for All Black Piri Weepu and only 403 (16.5%) supporting the selection of Ripia.

Cruden gained international prominence last year when he gave a display of exceptional skill and vision in leading New Zealand U20 to world championship semi-final and final victories. He was immediately marked as a future superstar.
 
Scoring two tries in two minutes in the semi-final, and then in the final scoring two tries and setting up another three, he showed remarkable flair, composure and leadership.

Cruden had to endure a course of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in August 2008, but with the cancer in remission, he returned to rugby and set the 2009 IRB junior tournament on fire.

Though still U20, he was already spoken of as New Zealand's successor to Fox, Mehrtens and Carter - extraordinary expectations for one so young.

In terms of selection in the early stages of the Super 14, though, much will depend on how much head coach Colin Cooper reflects on the lessons of 2009.

To open their campaign last season, they had the then 20-year old Dan Kirkpatrick start the season at flyhalf, with mixed results, before being replaced by Ripia for most of the year. The Taranaki playmaker had a good 2009, although he was not at his best against the Chiefs in the semi-final.

"We know it's a big step up and it's about managing players. There are some lessons learned from last year, so we just have to make sure we manage Aaron and work out whether it is best for him to start or come off the bench," Cooper said to the Dominion Post.

"That will come down to how he's gone in the pre-season, how he is physically, and the opposition we are playing.

"Willie is going really well and the young fellow [Cruden] is coming on too. We are still working through which is the best starter and which is the best off the bench. Willie is a very good attacker and he's got better and better. He has a lot of experience and that has to come into account.

"He [Ripia] played very well last year, but because we didn't win the semi, that has probably affected him and affected the whole team.

"The No.10 has so much pressure on him. When things don't go well, you are usually looking at the 10 or the nine, and I think last year a lot of that pressure from outside the group went on him. There's a lot of learning there from us as coaches.

"The 10 is a major, major decision for coaches in any team, I think he's [Ripia] certainly a better player and been showing that."

Cruden admits that there is a big step up to the Super 14.

"Probably the pace of the game and the physicality. Those are the things I thought would be a major difference from the Air New Zealand Cup and they seem to be the main things at the moment," Cruden told the Dominion Post.

"It's a challenge and that's what you want. The pace of the game steps up, but you get that every level you step up in footy. It's good, I'm enjoying the challenge."

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