Benji Marshall got a raw deal from rugby union

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Benji

Marshall. He leaves rugby union a broken man, the victim of a first class

stitch up by Blues coach Sir John Kirwan. So much so that Marshall actually

believes he was doomed to fail. It just didn’t work out for him at the Blues,

Marshall told Sydney journalists earlier this week. “I

am just an average rugby player,” he reckoned after having a chat with

Kirwan on Sunday.

How Marshall can make such a harsh

assessment after only 212 minutes of playing time – the bulk of it at first

five-eighth, the most technically and tactically demanding position in rugby –

beggars belief. Sounds like some kind of Jedi mind trick from Kirwan: “Yes

Benji, you’re a superstar … a full-back … no, a first five … hold on,

actually you’re neither because you’re no good at rugby.”

Sadly, the weight of public opinion and

media commentary will buy Kirwan’s mumbo jumbo the same as Marshall has done.

The reality is that we’ll simply never know how good Marshall could have been

in the 15-man code.

The poor bloke was never given a chance to

succeed. Instead he got Kirwan’s unrealistic expectations, confusing messages

and general lack of support. The real failure in this so-called experiment is

Kirwan and the Blues management, not Marshall.

You got to hand it to Kirwan though. He’s

come out smelling like roses with few if any commentators questioning his role

in this debacle. Kirwan was virtually untouchable at his best as an All Black

winger and that appears to be the case still with the New Zealand rugby media

not going for the jugular, say, in the way they savaged 2012 Blues coach Pat

Lam.

Lam’s treatment in 2012 has never sat well

with this columnist.

That uneasy feeling has intensified in

hindsight, seeing how easy Kirwan has had it despite presiding over an equally

appalling start to the season (one win, eight losses after round 10 for Lam in

2012 against three wins and five losses for Kirwan in 2014). Lam was reduced to

tears. Kirwan fingers Marshall as the culprit and moves on.

Tahs

poised for Oz top spot … if only for 80 minutes

Alas, Benji is gone. Moving on but sticking

with the Blues. The Waratahs (24 pts) could take the Australian conference top

spot if they beat the Blues in Auckland on Friday and the Brumbies (25 pts)

lose at home to the Chiefs. The Tahs, on form and with Israel Folau back,

should have too much for the dysfunctional Blues who could turn up with minds

elsewhere given the Marshall media circus. However, the Tahs’ conference top-spot

reign could be brief with the Brumbies playing the Chiefs in the night game in

Canberra.

The Chiefs look to be in a worrying slump

at the moment, which is not surprising with All Black first five Aaron Cruden

out injured. Their last start loss to a very limited Crusaders outfit has

suddenly thrown the New Zealand conference wide open. And it won’t get any

easier for the defending champs against the Brumbies. Incredibly, the bookies

have the ACT team at $8 to win the title, behind the Sharks ($3.00), Chiefs

($4.25), Waratahs ($4.50) and Crusaders ($7.00). Those prices are well off – $8

on the Brumbies is ridiculous; they ought to be second favourite behind the

Sharks. The Crusaders? Unlikely.

The Reds? Only the true believers rate

their chances for the finals now. They’re desperate for points coming off a

bye. Unfortunately, they’re up against a Hurricanes side that has finally

clicked. Here’s tipping the Reds’ faithful to finally give up the ghost at

Westpac Stadium. The ‘Canes look the best of the New Zealand sides right now.

They ought to give a top two conference finish a decent nudge and could be this

year’s dark horse for the title. The Reds’ season ended when they lost to the

Brumbies in round nine. That’s the harsh truth.

Talking points

• Suddenly the Crusaders are back in title

contention. This column’s season preview tipped the Chiefs’ knack of winning

tight games to come to an end with the Crusaders to take spot in the NZ

conference.

Of course, there are still nine rounds to go but slowly yet surely the Chiefs

are running thin on get-out-of-jail cards. They used up a pair in back-to-back

draws in South Africa but finally came unstuck in losing 18-17 to the Crusaders

at home at Saturday. The Crusaders are only three points behind and are

trending upwards notwithstanding obvious limitations on attack. Pivot Colin

Slade is the main reason for the resurgence. The Melbourne Rebels could use a

player of his quality and experience, and should seriously consider making

inquiries. With Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Tom Taylor ahead

of Slade in the All Black pecking order, he may well be receptive to an

opportunity with an Australian franchise. The Rebels’ incumbent no 10 Bryce

Hegarty is a fine prospect. But he’s still very much a rookie who needs more

considered development to perform consistently at Super level. Playing

understudy to an All Black first five-eighth would be perfect for him.

* One final thought on the Crusaders’

reversal of fortunes. Much has been said about the good form of giant Fijian

winger Nemani Nadolo. He’s been great running over blokes but, to this

columnist’s mind at least, he’s an accident waiting to happen against,

especially against smaller, quick-witted opponents. Watch the footage – Nadolo

is big but not very nimble. He’s slow to turn and is prone to get burnt for

pace on the outside. His hands also let him down. Israel Folau could have a

field day against him should the teams face off in the finals.

* Folau, meanwhile, needed only 28 seconds

to show the Tahs what they’d been missing on attack with his ARU-enforced

injury lay-off. That’s how long it took Australian rugby’s most valuable

playing and marketing asset to score his ninth try of the season against the

Bulls in Sydney on Saturday. Folau was barely seen after that stunning opening

try, but it was enough to confirm what we all already knew – Australian rugby

hit the jackpot when Folau landed at the Tahs after an NRL contract failed to

finalise. Now that he’s here, he must never be allowed to leave. Empty the

bank. Whatever it takes. He’s worth every penny and more.

Super

Rugby round 10 results: Hurricanes 39 d Blues 20;

Rebels 22 d Force 16; Crusaders 18 d Chiefs 17; Waratahs 19 d Bulls 12; Sharks

19 d Cheetahs 8; Stormers 18 d Lions 3.­­

Article source: http://sportsnewsireland.com/rugby/rugby_irish/irish-rugby-team-to-play-scotland-kick-off-2014-01-31/

Benji Marshall got a raw deal from rugby union