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'Best 9 in the country on form': Ex-All Black halfback's view on Finlay Christie
Former All Black halfback Justin Marshall has agreed that Blues halfback Finlay Christie is the form number 9 in New Zealand this year, but warned that it doesn’t mean he will be given the All Blacks starting role.
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On hearing former Blues and All Black Steve Devine’s opinion that Christie had surpassed Aaron Smith in the pecking order on SENZ’s The Bunnings Trade Rugby Run radio show, Marshall sided with the Devine’s view that Christie is in a purple patch of form that is above everybody else.
“I certainly think he [Christie] is the in form 9 in the country,” Marshall said on SENZ’s The Bunnings Trade Rugby Run.
“Equally so was Brad Weber, he was playing well before his injury. He’s just super consistent, he delivers.
“I think in terms of the balance and the threat that he is at the moment, Finlay Christie, he is arguably the best 9 in the country on form.
“Whether or not that gives him the All Black number 9 jersey is definitely up for debate, because the All Blacks build their rhythm around what Aaron Smith delivers.”
“That doesn’t mean he can’t pressure him for an opportunity to start, but I would imagine if you are picking the side at the moment, he would definitely be in that matchday 23.”
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Marshall believed there would be a spot for Christie on the bench to come into games late and provide impact based on his Super Rugby Pacific form.
He highlighted his performance against the Crusaders in Christchurch as the game where Christie showed he is operating at a higher level.
“He’s playing good rugby, and he particularly stepped up his game against the Crusaders I thought. He was a real threat around the breakdown, he took steps and brought players into the game,” he said.
“His defence was very good. He’s a gritty little defender. His kicking game is as good as the rest in the country.
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“So I wouldn’t disagree with Steve Devine that at the moment he’s the form player in that jersey in the country, he is above the level that everyone else is playing at.
“But I don’t believe that gives him the right to step into that All Black number 9 jersey right now.”
The long time back-up to Aaron Smith has been TJ Perenara, who has played 56 of his 77 tests as a reserve halfback since debuting in 2014.
Despite pushing Christie’s claims forward to take over the reserve halfback role, Marshall didn’t believe that Perenara would be done either.
“No, I don’t,” Marshall proclaimed when asked if he thought Perenara’s time was up.
“TJ is too competitive to be done, he brings qualities to the jersey that others don’t have in the country, and you certainly can’t count out a guy that has been to World Cups and delivered.
“Again, he is a player that has continually been selected in All Blacks teams … probably over the last decade I would imagine. I’d be very reluctant to rule out TJ Perenara from any mix, in any equation that the All Blacks come up with.”
“He’ll be very well aware that there are other players in the country playing well like Finlay Christie, Brad Weber and Folau Fakatava,
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments