Take a break now Conrad Smith

The last time Conrad Smith was knocked out after his recovery he said he would seriously contemplate giving the game away if it happened again. Well it has and the last Super game I think he was out cold for 4 minutes.

He has written into his contract an opportunity to take a sabbatical. Carter did it in the European season and McCaw in the super season. Originally Smith was contemplating taking it at the end of the year. After what happened I hope the difficult but sensible decision is taken. Take a break from rugby now. Smith may well have aspirations for the 2015 RWC. It might not happen but these concussions have to be taken seriously. No doubt Smith will pursue a legal career and it has to be in the back of his mind the negative impact these concussions might have on his future.

Obviously as hurricanes captain and an integral part of AB rugby he will be sorely missed. But we must take player welfare seriously. If we want him as a possibility for 2015 now seems an appropriate and necessary break from rugby. Ben Smith can take his place and we can explore another option in an area in which options are thin on the ground. I certainly hope the responsible decision is taken even though it hurts us short term. But we must set an example in terms of giving player welfare top priority.

Are options really that thin on the ground at 13 kia? As you say, there is Ben Smith who could play there, but there is also Rene Ranger and Tim Nanai-Williams, both of whom are in excellent form in Super Rugby.

Ranger I think I read is heading overseas. If that's the case Hansen won't want to invest in him.

What happened to him?

I check out stuff on Rugby Dump which shows a good selection of highlights and there seems to be a lot of shoulder first to the head area in super 14. Was this the case? I do like him as a player...very clever.

Are there any wingers that could move in and fill the role...something the AB's are particularly good at.

4mins is not good.

Yeah NZ can cope without him he could do with a rest and given he's already a world champ, a 3N & RC champ etc etc so its not like he still has goals he must reach for the 1st time.

Losing Kahui, Smith & Williams within a year isn't going to be easy for any team regardless of them being NZ or not.

If you go on YouTube and type on Conrad smith knocked out super rugby there are a few videos. Engelbrecht fended him off and he took it in the head as his position was low to the ground.

The issue here is that this has happened to him before and he has experienced black outs before. With head injuries I don't think we give players enough time to recover. The stand down period needs to be increased to remove the temptation of bringing back a player too soon. Especially when a player loses consciousness.

Don't mention that Geordie! We need specialists in that role or people who have played there before. No Mils or Cullen moves inside for the love of God!!

No but Tana did not a bad job of it...

At 12 mate which Nonu has also done. AAC has done it and Ben Smith is a kind of convert but too many horror stories to explore it as a real option.

And one the true greats from my own club...Inga!

GeordieFalcon wrote:And one the true greats from my own club...Inga!

Geordie, are you a Ponsonby Ponies man?

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Ranger I think I read is heading overseas. If that's the case Hansen won't want to invest in him.

Ranger is considering a move to Europe - not signed as yet. And Tamati Ellison is off to Japan at the end of SXV

aucklandlaurie wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:And one the true greats from my own club...Inga!

Geordie, are you a Ponsonby Ponies man?

Nah mate...Newcastle Falcon man..up here in the wilds of the North East of England.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:And one the true greats from my own club...Inga!

Geordie, are you a Ponsonby Ponies man?

Nah mate...Newcastle Falcon man..up here in the wilds of the North East of England.

I thought he was from Wigan .....

Nah they did some work on him...but WE made him the finished article...

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:At 12 mate which Nonu has also done. AAC has done it and Ben Smith is a kind of convert but too many horror stories to explore it as a real option.

I thought Tana initially moved to 13 from the wing, not 12. Did Umaga not play 13 with Mauger at 12 for a while?

I hated it when Cullen moved to 13. Talk about stupid, taking one of the greatest 15s to have played the game and moving him to centre!

Think that was Nonu FES and he later moved to 12. Never looked convincing there or on the wing before his move. Will have to check that out though.

Hopefully Ranger stays Pete then. He must know he's in the running now and hopefully sticks around.

Tana played his first 24 caps on the wing. His 25th cap marked his move to centre where he stayed thereafter. In that game, against France in 2000 he wore 13 with Darryl Gibson at 12.

As far as I can tell he was still playing at 13 in the 2002 3Ns (with Mauger at 12).

In the summer of 2003 he first played at 12 (with Nonu at 13) but looks like he was mainly in the 13 shirt (partnering Carter at kleast once)

His only appearance in the 03 RWC was at 13 (did he get injured?) and in the sumemr of 04 still seems to be wearing 13. In fact he was still in 13 for the first two tests against the Lions in 05 - then switched to 12 right at the ned of his Int career.

http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/12553.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match

That's what I thought. I always think of Tana as a 13 in his pomp.

LondonTiger wrote:Tana played his first 24 caps on the wing. His 25th cap marked his move to centre where he stayed thereafter. In that game, against France in 2000 he wore 13 with Darryl Gibson at 12.

As far as I can tell he was still playing at 13 in the 2002 3Ns (with Mauger at 12).

In the summer of 2003 he first played at 12 (with Nonu at 13) but looks like he was mainly in the 13 shirt (partnering Carter at kleast once)

His only appearance in the 03 RWC was at 13 (did he get injured?) and in the sumemr of 04 still seems to be wearing 13. In fact he was still in 13 for the first two tests against the Lions in 05 - then switched to 12 right at the ned of his Int career.

http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/12553.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match

That sounds right. Once he retired from internationals he made the permanent move to 12, with Conrad Smith 13 and Nonu largely on the wing for the Hurricanes. Poor old Rikki Flutey had to settle for being reserve scrum/fly half!

Good work guys. Then that leads me to believe that Umaga and Nonu are Predator Clones and SBW is an Alien. Who will be next? Terminator?

If necessary can't the ABs just move Carter to 12, Nonu to 13 and start Cruden - it would still be the best midfield in the world.

See above for fullbacks to centre. Carter's best position is at 10. He started his career at 12 but that doesn't mean he can play it as well as he can play 10. Nonu is getting on as well. We can't bank on SBW coming back to rugby. I think we need to explore two new centre options at 12 and 13 this year.

wales606 wrote:If necessary can't the ABs just move Carter to 12, Nonu to 13 and start Cruden - it would still be the best midfield in the world.

Q: How do you convert Daniel Carter from the best rugby player in the world to a provincial journeyman?
A: Stick a #12 on his back

That's as evidenced by games at 12 for the Crusaders over the past couple of seasons - while DC was handy enough at 12 in his youth nowdays the shift further from the ball negates his primary skillset. Ryan Crotty and Adam Whitelock are better 12s than DC - and no-one's talking them up for the ABs. Unfortunate really as otherwise the idea would be a good one.

Interesting article here about CS's possible replacement from last year.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7930987/Conrad-Smith-needs-an-heir-at-centre

CENTRE STAGE

ALL BLACKS CENTRES, PAST AND PRESENT

Conrad Smith 2004-present Tests: 63 Debut: v Italy, 2004, age 23 Established at centre: 2008 season, age 27 Age: 31

Tana Umaga 1997-2005 Tests: 74 Debut: v Fiji, 1997, age 24 (on the left wing) Established at centre: 2001, age 28 Last test: v Scotland, age 32

Alama Ieremia 1994-2000 Tests: 30 Debut: v South Africa, 1994, age 23 (at second five-eighth) Established at centre: 1999, age 28 Last test: v South Africa, age 29

Frank Bunce 1992-1997 Tests: 55 Debut: v World XV, 1992, age 30 (at second five-eighth) Established at centre: 1992, age 30 Last test: v England, age 35 Joe Stanley 1986-1990 Tests: 27 Debut: v France, 1986, age 29 Established at centre: 1986, age 29 Last test: v Scotland, age 33

FUTURE PROSPECTS Ben Smith Tests: 9 Age: 26 Strengths: Elusive runner, smart defender, good all round skills and pace Weaknesses: Has played most of his rugby at wing or fullback

Tamati Ellison Tests: 3 Age: 29 Strengths: Experience, footwork, fend, good defender Weaknesses: Has never specialised in one position

Alapati Leiua Tests: 0 Age: 24 Strengths: Hard runner, anticipation, defensively very strong in contact Weaknesses: Behind Conrad Smith at Hurricanes where he's mainly used at wing

Robbie Fruean Tests: 0 Age: 24 Strengths: Size, explosiveness and pace to break the line Weaknesses: Can go missing during big matches

Richard Kahui Tests: 17 Age: 27 Strengths: Size, pace, skill and vision Weaknesses: Injuries

No Fruean because he has heart problems and suspect defence.

Kahui has busted his shoulder and is off to Japan. Ellison also off to Japan.

Somewhere a leap of faith has to be made because nobody has experience at test level. Especially not somebody with as many caps as Smith and an astonishing success rate of over 90 per cent that even surpasses McCaw. You don't replace that talent overnight but you do have to think about it. Much like Ireland has to think life after BOD.

No to Ranger at 13 for the AB's anyway. just watching the Blues leak tries to the Rebels. Most of the tries scored against seem to have something to do with Ranger not making the right decision.

I agree nganboy that he often comes up in the line and creates a gap. That said he can be taught to hold the line but continue in his attacking ways. Much depends on with whom he partners in the midfield. Nonu and he could form an exciting partnership.

Agree re his defence and thats one of the few things that can be fixed in the AB camp. The Blues have an all out attack license which won't work at test level. His workrate and attacking prowess are too hard to ignore I say. Of those remaining I think Hansen will pump for Ranger over the more reliable but less x factor-y Ben Smith.

Ben Smith is the perfect guy who can steady the ship if Ranger stuffs up. He proved last year that he was very solid and had good defence and is versatile. Ranger deserves to have a shot and let's see what he can do just on attack and calm him down on defence.