Former All Black Daryl Gibson -Benji to shine in Super Rugby

[Newtown]

AAP
FOX SPORTS
December 19, 2013 5:49PM

FORMER All Black Daryl Gibson, now assistant coach of the NSW Waratahs, says don't discount Benji Marshall making an Israel Folau-like impact on Super Rugby next year.

Folau proved the revelation of 2013, picking up the Australian Super Rugby rookie of the year award before equalling fellow dual international Lote Tuqiri's calendar-year tryscoring record for the Wallabies.

In what promises to be an electric night at Allianz Stadium, Folau and Marshall are set to line up as opposing fullbacks in the Waratahs' second pre-season trial against the Blues on February 7.

"I reckon it'll probably be worth the admission alone seeing Benji's transition,'' Gibson said on Thursday.

"I'm sure you'll get a lot of Wests Tigers supporters being interested in how he's going.

"Then also to see Folau, two rugby league recruits going up against each other, it's very exciting.''

Rarely has a player made a more spectacular entrance to rugby than the code-hopping Folau.

Gibson, though, says it would be foolish to think Marshall couldn't make a similar mark after a decade mesmerising opposition defences in the NRL.

"For the last three or four years, he's been one of the most outstanding rugby league players for New Zealand,'' Gibson said.

"You never can say he can't do something. He's got a rugby background. He grew up in New Zealand with the game, so he's got an exciting challenge in front of him, I believe.

"He's joined a very young and talented Auckland team that's very similar to the Waratahs in that it's building its culture and building a team that can win.''

Playing in the halves for Wests Tigers and the Kiwis, Marshall won a premiership, a World Cup and the Golden Boot as the international rugby league player of the year in 2010.

But Gibson believes the 28-year-old will revel in the No.15 jumper.

"They've probably got him right at fullback,'' he said.

"It's something we spoke a lot about with Israel, about where would he have the easiest transition into rugby union and I think fullback will suit Benji.

"He will get a lot more time and space as opposed to playing at flyhalf, first-receiver. He's going to have less time than what he would have in rugby league.

``Israel's really pointed the way with transitions. He's done phenomenally well in his first year of rugby union and within 10 games you could see he's got something.

``Now it's all in front in Benji and it's very exciting.''

 

[alexaki]

AAP
FOX SPORTS
December 19, 2013 5:49PM

FORMER All Black Daryl Gibson, now assistant coach of the NSW Waratahs, says don't discount Benji Marshall making an Israel Folau-like impact on Super Rugby next year.

Folau proved the revelation of 2013, picking up the Australian Super Rugby rookie of the year award before equalling fellow dual international Lote Tuqiri's calendar-year tryscoring record for the Wallabies.

In what promises to be an electric night at Allianz Stadium, Folau and Marshall are set to line up as opposing fullbacks in the Waratahs' second pre-season trial against the Blues on February 7.

"I reckon it'll probably be worth the admission alone seeing Benji's transition,'' Gibson said on Thursday.

"I'm sure you'll get a lot of Wests Tigers supporters being interested in how he's going.

"Then also to see Folau, two rugby league recruits going up against each other, it's very exciting.''

Rarely has a player made a more spectacular entrance to rugby than the code-hopping Folau.

Gibson, though, says it would be foolish to think Marshall couldn't make a similar mark after a decade mesmerising opposition defences in the NRL.

"For the last three or four years, he's been one of the most outstanding rugby league players for New Zealand,'' Gibson said.

"You never can say he can't do something. He's got a rugby background. He grew up in New Zealand with the game, so he's got an exciting challenge in front of him, I believe.

"He's joined a very young and talented Auckland team that's very similar to the Waratahs in that it's building its culture and building a team that can win.''

Playing in the halves for Wests Tigers and the Kiwis, Marshall won a premiership, a World Cup and the Golden Boot as the international rugby league player of the year in 2010.

But Gibson believes the 28-year-old will revel in the No.15 jumper.

"They've probably got him right at fullback,'' he said.

"It's something we spoke a lot about with Israel, about where would he have the easiest transition into rugby union and I think fullback will suit Benji.

"He will get a lot more time and space as opposed to playing at flyhalf, first-receiver. He's going to have less time than what he would have in rugby league.

``Israel's really pointed the way with transitions. He's done phenomenally well in his first year of rugby union and within 10 games you could see he's got something.

``Now it's all in front in Benji and it's very exciting.''

It has been all in front of Benji for the last 2 years, yet sadly he failed to deliver miserably…

 

[MAFIA]

Blah blah blah been a passanger for the past 4 years so rah rah won't change him

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[innsaneink]

Aren't 15's in rugby meant to have a long kicking game?

Will be interested to see how he goes, Im sure many WTs fans will be watching the first few Blues games

 

[happy_tiger]

Benji will be back in either the NRL or ESL in 2 seasons Daryl or he will be playing in Japan

He won't crack it at international or Super 15 Rugby level

 

[Knuckles]

Good luck to him …. I hope he does make it.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Aren't 15's in rugby meant to have a long kicking game?

Will be interested to see how he goes, Im sure many WTs fans will be watching the first few Blues games

He could get the ball over the sideline on the full quite well (even better through the hands) when he was with us, except of course when he was supposed to.

I wish him all the best in his new venture.

 

[pHyR3]

he'll probably play inside centre in union i reckon.

 

[happy_tiger]

he'll probably play inside centre in union i reckon.

Have you ever watched a rugby game ??

Your inside centre has to be one of your best defenders and are usually used as battering rams in attack

Don't think Benji fits that mould sorry

 

[pHyR3]

so instead he'll be fullback? fact is every position has to be a good defender…

 

[happy_tiger]

so instead he'll be fullback? fact is every position has to be a good defender…

Watch a game of rugby union and tell me who the most important defender is and who gets targeted the most

 

[pHyR3]

haha i've watched quite a lot of union, watched the all blacks vs ireland most recently. was great.

i'm not saying either centre doesn't defend, but you'll struggle to find a position outside of maybe the halves that isn't very hard defensively. and the reason i avoided the halves is cause kirwan and benji don't seem to want him playing there in the interviews ive read.

 

[innsaneink]

Aren't 15's in rugby meant to have a long kicking game?

Will be interested to see how he goes, Im sure many WTs fans will be watching the first few Blues games

He could get the ball over the sideline on the full quite well (even better through the hands) when he was with us, except of course when he was supposed to.

I wish him all the best in his new venture.

Good point!
You can kick out on the full from your own 22m Im pretty sure

 

[happy_tiger]

haha i've watched quite a lot of union, watched the all blacks vs ireland most recently. was great.

i'm not saying either centre doesn't defend, but you'll struggle to find a position outside of maybe the halves that isn't very hard defensively. and the reason i avoided the halves is cause kirwan and benji don't seem to want him playing there in the interviews ive read.

Fullbacks and wingers probably do the least defending in RU

Fullback will the best position for Benji , but I still think he will take too many wrong options under pressure which at fullback will be critical because it will cost his side points and when the lack of confidence sets in that will be the end because you can't hide at fullback in rugby

 

[pHyR3]

i agree, wingers do probably the least defending but that's obviously moot as benji won't play there.

but i see him as better at inside centre than fullback in union. under the high ball, making important defensive plays, long kicking all doesn't really suit benji.

at inside centre he'll be decently close to the middle and forwards are always in the back line to help him out. and he'll also have a bit of space to move around with, especiallly in broken play.

 

[happy_tiger]

i agree, wingers do probably the least defending but that's obviously moot as benji won't play there.

but i see him as better at inside centre than fullback in union. under the high ball, making important defensive plays, long kicking all doesn't really suit benji.

at inside centre he'll be decently close to the middle and forwards are always in the back line to help him out. and he'll also have a bit of space to move around with, especiallly in broken play.

The problem at inside centre will be the amount of set plays

Scrums ,line outs ,rucks and mauls and he will be easily singled out in defence at inside centre

He won't have a second rower standing beside him to do his work for him and waiting for a breakaway to come across won't cut it either

 

[pHyR3]

i agree, wingers do probably the least defending but that's obviously moot as benji won't play there.

but i see him as better at inside centre than fullback in union. under the high ball, making important defensive plays, long kicking all doesn't really suit benji.

at inside centre he'll be decently close to the middle and forwards are always in the back line to help him out. and he'll also have a bit of space to move around with, especiallly in broken play.

The problem at inside centre will be the amount of set plays

Scrums ,line outs ,rucks and mauls and he will be easily singled out in defence at inside centre

He won't have a second rower standing beside him to do his work for him and waiting for a breakaway to come across won't cut it either

and what happens on every single linebreak? benji will be alone, and i can't see him putting up tackles like teddy…. that'll be a try 9 times out of 10.

i'd prefer him to be able to make the initial hit one on one and then get other backs or forwards to help him out in that situation than to have him isolated and forced to make a one on one as he would have to do at FB.

i'm not saying he'd be a horrible fullback, but i think he'd be better at inside centre. i mean hey, probably his best game for us in 2013 was when he played at centre.

 

[tig_prmz]

cmon benj do us proud