All Blacks bid not off the table for Aaron Cruden
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.
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.”
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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.”
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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.
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“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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments