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All Blacks bid not off the table for Aaron Cruden

By Online Editors
New Zealand's Aaron Cruden celebrates with Julian Savea after scoring a try against Australia. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

NZ Herald

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He’s back, but how far will Aaron Cruden’s return to New Zealand rugby take him?

The 50-test Cruden, who has just turned 31, was non-committal when asked if he harboured dreams of returning to the All Blacks with the new Super Rugby season just weeks away.

He is only on a one year deal, before playing in Japan for Kobelco Steelers, but one thing can always lead to another.

Cruden said European rugby had changed him as a player, and it will be fascinating to see if the mercurial first five-eighth has become the sort of string-puller who might still interest new All Black boss Ian Foster.

After a tough injury-hit stint in France Cruden is back with the Chiefs, under new coach Warren Gatland, after a two-year absence during which he played for the French club Montpelier.

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As the All Blacks re-build under Foster, and with debate still strong over the best position for Beauden Barrett who will make a late start to the season, there might be an opening for Cruden if he has a great season.

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Fronting the media after a Chiefs training Cruden indicated his main focus for now was returning the Chiefs to the Super Rugby winner’s circle and helping guide the many younger players in the squad.

“I just want to contribute to each environment I’m in and haven’t thought too much about the All Blacks,” he said.

“I’ve been removed from that environment for a few seasons and there have been a lot of changes in that scene as well.”

Cruden’s return to the spotlight is close at hand. The Chiefs open their campaign against the Blues at Eden Park in three weeks’ time.

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He last played on November 18, and was given a small pre-Christmas break after he and his family arrived back in early December.

Returning to the Chiefs, where he won two titles was always his priority. It was the only New Zealand franchise who made an official approach although All Black and Hurricanes midfield back Ngani Laumape had enquired about his intentions. He didn’t rule out a return to the Manawatu side either.

But for now, it was all about the Chiefs.

“Montpelier was an awesome and the rugby was very different to what we are used to in New Zealand,” he said.

“They have their way of doing things, the French style. It took me out of my comfort zone a bit, and I learnt a different style of rugby.”

Asked about the differences, Cruden said: “Controlling the middle third of the field… my approach has always been a positive one, in New Zealand that’s how we like to play.

“In Europe, they can be very pragmatic about the way they hold each zone. It was really cool to go over there and learn a bit more about that.

“They probably understand times when you can put the foot on the accelerator, when you have to pull back, and probably try to control things a little bit more.

“I’m not saying by any means that I’m perfect now, but that was one of the bigger learnings.”

He said an exodus of experienced players had probably evened up the New Zealand franchises, and the teams creating the best environments and culture of players “willing to put their bodies on the line” would be the ones to succeed in the new era.

He could already detect the Gatland effect on the Chiefs.

“His pedigree speaks for itself, you can see what he’s been able to do with the Welsh national side,” Cruden said.

“He’s obviously a passionate Waikato/Chiefs man and having him back in the region will do wonders for this team.

“He’s brought his own style and structure to training and, talking to a lot of the boys they are really energised.

“It’s a lot more player-driven with coaches there to provide guidance and a bit of structure, giving the players the allowance and energy to bring things to life which is awesome.

Cruden said the Chiefs had not sat down and talked about leadership specifics yet.

“Some of the guys were just starting primary school when I was leaving high school – I’m the old man leadership figure regardless,” he said.

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.

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Jon 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

30 Go to comments
A
Adrian 9 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

30 Go to comments
T
Trevor 11 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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