Benji benched for Super Rugby debut

[Eye_Of_Da_Tiger]

No time tonight ! . Ouch. His moral must be taking an absolute beating. I don't understand union to much but the guy who played Benjis preferred position apparently nailed it?

 

[happy_tiger]

No time tonight ! . Ouch. His moral must be taking an absolute beating. I don't understand union to much but the guy who played Benjis preferred position apparently nailed it?

Beniji needs to be looking over his shoulder as well

The back up No 10 for Auckland is a handy player as well and is back from injury next week

 

[cqtiger]

Benji's biggest mistake was signing for a kiwi rugby franchise. Being a kiwi himself, I can understand it but rugby is their national sport and I don't think that he will be given the latitude that some aussie franchises have given NRL converts. That, and the fact that Benji doesn't like to follow the script.

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[MacDougall]

Auckland Blues showing Tim Sheens how it's done imo.

The other guy must be doing well because Benji did look good in the time he got last week.

 

[ball_main]

I've thought for a while that Benji would have made a great centre. The game against the dragons re-affirmed this train of thought. Yes, his defense wasn't great but I think by playing in the centres he would have been able to concentrate on his running game and work on his defense. Say whatever you like about Benji but he sure knew how to sniff out a line break

I agree. He was never a natural kicker of the ball. I can't recall an entire game when we could've said his kicking game gave us the win like a Lockyer Johns or Cronk. His passing game diminished the last 2 seasons leaving him embarrassed on many occasions. As a centre with his footwork and the flick he could've been as effective as Lyon or Gasnier.

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[tigermaniac]

I've thought for a while that Benji would have made a great centre. The game against the dragons re-affirmed this train of thought. Yes, his defense wasn't great but I think by playing in the centres he would have been able to concentrate on his running game and work on his defense. Say whatever you like about Benji but he sure knew how to sniff out a line break

I agree. He was never a natural kicker of the ball. I can't recall an entire game when we could've said his kicking game gave us the win like a Lockyer Johns or Cronk. His passing game diminished the last 2 seasons leaving him embarrassed on many occasions. As a centre with his footwork and the flick he could've been as effective as Lyon or Gasnier.

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Not bagging Benji but Lyon has been world class and Gaz always featured in rep sides. I don't think Benji could've come close.

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[simonthetiger]

20 minutes last week.

On the bench again tonight….got a taste of Sheens bench selections that rode the pine for 80...didnt get a run

Did he really not get one minute???

Wow…....that 700k a season at the tigers he knocked back looks good now.

 

[innsaneink]

Nup.

BENJI Marshall sat on the bench for the entire match as the Blues downed the Crusaders 35-24 in the Super Rugby clash in Auckland.
>
The much-hyped rugby
league convert looked on…....................................
>
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/benji-marshall-snubbed-as-blues-come-from-behind-to-beat-crusaders-3524-at-eden-park/story-fnii0ksb-1226841148507

I feel sorry for him

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

He made his bed, he can lay in it.

Hope he gets a chance to have a red hot go though and prove definitively whether he'll be a success or failure.

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[T-REXX]

Anyone who thinks he will get a run instantly is kidding them selves. It'll be a good 5-6 weeks before he starts to see some game time.

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[innsaneink]

He got a run last week

Whats the point of him observing for 6 weeks?

 

[barra]

I've thought for a while that Benji would have made a great centre. The game against the dragons re-affirmed this train of thought. Yes, his defense wasn't great but I think by playing in the centres he would have been able to concentrate on his running game and work on his defense. Say whatever you like about Benji but he sure knew how to sniff out a line break

I agree. He was never a natural kicker of the ball. I can't recall an entire game when we could've said his kicking game gave us the win like a Lockyer Johns or Cronk. His passing game diminished the last 2 seasons leaving him embarrassed on many occasions. As a centre with his footwork and the flick he could've been as effective as Lyon or Gasnier.
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Not bagging Benji but Lyon has been world class and Gaz always featured in rep sides. I don't think Benji could've come close.
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Unfortunately we'll never know. Sheens cruelled his best years by getting him closer to the ruck instead of wider. I'd have loved to see how his career would have gone playing in the centres with a decent halves pairing feeding him. (And NO kicking duties!!!)

 

[innsaneink]

Anyone who thinks he will get a run instantly is kidding them selves. It'll be a good 5-6 weeks before he starts to see some game time.

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Sounds like youve no confidence in him??

I think youre getting the excuses in early….they wouldnt pay close to $1m or watever it is hes getting, for him to sit and be a spectator for a quarter of the season

 

[T-REXX]

Anyone who thinks he will get a run instantly is kidding them selves. It'll be a good 5-6 weeks before he starts to see some game time.

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Sounds like youve no confidence in him??

I think youre getting the excuses in early….they wouldnt pay close to $1m or watever it is hes getting, for him to sit and be a spectator for a quarter of the season

When I mean game time, I mean a lot of.

The first qtr of the comp I rekon he will be lucky to see him more the 20 min a game.
It's not like league where u can bring a player on and off. Once there is an interchange it's done. He can't come on and off ( unless blood bin)

If the position he is subbing for is going strong there won't be a need to sub him for long game time. I think for the 1st season he will be lucky to see much game time. Specially if team is performing and little injuries.

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[pHyR3]

Anyone who thinks he will get a run instantly is kidding them selves. It'll be a good 5-6 weeks before he starts to see some game time.

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Sounds like youve no confidence in him??

I think youre getting the excuses in early….they wouldnt pay close to $1m or watever it is hes getting, for him to sit and be a spectator for a quarter of the season

1 million?? i heard 500-550k thrown around, cant imagine they'd pay much more than that. we only paid 700k cause we got some veteran thing allowance meaning it went about 500k into our cap not 700k.

 

[innsaneink]

The moneys not the point

Its his game time. I wasnt expecting him to get no time last night, after only round 2\. It was surprising and it was to the commentators too

Dont follow the game that much, unsure if it was just the coach playing it by ear as the game unfolded (likely) it ended up a fairly close game 8 points in it with 10 to go….Kirwan may wait until games are virtually won or lost before BM gets game time

 

[The_Hill]

And now Benji has been left out of the Blues squad for their match against the Bulls altogether!

Can't even make the bench! lol

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/blues-drop-benji-marshall-from-squad-for-super-rugby-clash-with-south-africas-bulls/story-e6frf4pu-1226847162941#

kinda feel sorry for him though…but still glad he's not with us taking up a huge chunk of salary cap!

 

[innsaneink]

What about

The Footy Show?

Maybe they;ll take him back

 

[Marshall_magic]

I bet he really regrets walking out on us now. He operates on the highest level of delusion imaginable.

 

[russelldp]

Benji started at 15 for the Blues last night in South Africa.

He had a kick charged down and a couple of kicks were tactically dubious, but he scored a good solo try near full time and ran the ball well on 5 or 6 occasions. He was beating defenders with his step going back against the grain.

Whilst I was frustrated with his last 2 years at WT, I must admit to cheering him along in this morning's game.

His performance was 7/10 and he will get better with knowledge and confidence.

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