Has Andy Ellis had an affair with Steve Hansens wife? A crazy statement, and of course tongue in cheek, but how else can you explain his continued non selection.
Ellis is one of the most consistent players in New Zealand rugby.
Ellis was a key performer during the All Blacks march to the 2011 World Cup, playing a crucial 30 minute cameo as a substitute in the final and showing composure in helping to close down the match in the dying stages.
As he signed off 2011 as a World Cup winner there is no doubt that Ellis would have expected to add to his 26 caps going into the 2012 season.
We are now almost three years on from the World Cup final and Ellis is yet to play his 27th Test. Understandable perhaps if Ellis had been injured, had a form slump or been usurped by some younger talent coming through.
What is strange though is that none of the above have happened, Ellis has been a consistently excellent performer for the Crusaders, remained relatively injury free and it would be hard to argue he has been usurped on performance by any of the youngsters except of course for Aaron Smith.
It’s that last category, young talent, where Ellis seems to have paid the price. After persevering with Piri Weepu in 2012 and initially in 2013, the All Black selectors have obviously chosen to go with young, promising talent, clearly backing Aaron Smith as their number one and putting their faith in the raw talent of Tawera Kerr Barlow and TJ Perenara as his backup.
Of that trio only Aaron Smith can be said to have nailed his chances and established himself as a worthy All Black. Kerr Barlow and Perenara have been given time to develop and grow into the jersey but now two to three years into this development, the clock has to be ticking and it’s about time these two show a return on investment.
There is surely only so much raw potential a player can get by on before results are needed to be seen. Sure Perenara has only played a few Test matches but its not just international rugby where these two need to deliver, consistency in performance to warrant those higher honours now needs to be seen week in week out in Super Rugby.
Both Kerr Barlow and Perenara have been slightly disappointing this year. Inaccuracies in their games persist, performances are inconsistent and neither has yet to learn how to truly organise or dictate a game.
Add in their shaky box kicking which is an absolute fundamental of halfback play and you have to question how comfortable you would be having either of the two youngsters start a World Cup knockout match at this stage if Aaron Smith was injured.
This is not entirely fair on the two up and comers. Both have potential in bucket loads, both are hungry to learn and both have the added ingredient that they are clearly great athletes.
But I just can’t help but think that by neglecting Andy Ellis, the All Blacks are ignoring a player who at only 30 is still at the peak of his career and unlike the two aforementioned players, already has a developed and rounded game to call upon.
Ellis is a proven Test player, a World Cup winner and Hansen and co could do a lot worse than reintroduce him to the setup, especially with the World Cup just around the corner. He is off to Japan in the off season but has recommitted to the Crusaders for 2015 and obviously still harbours dreams of going to his third World Cup.
A steady head, accurate game and experience, sounds to me like exactly the player you want in a World Cup campaign.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
I do think Ellis is an asset given his prior experience at world cup. There is no final that I can recall where teams were playing a flowing and masterful game with lots of trys. The pressure is so great that teams that won are the ones who can the basics well. Andy Ellis with his experience will be invaluable at least on the bench. As to Aaron Smith's box kick, part of the problem is that he is shortish sort of guy and when he is not protected by the forwards, the oppositions towering over him really limits his box kick options. I notice he plays better when Read is on the field. Read tend to shield him at the base of a ruck so he can do his box kick properly. But what I don't understand is why he doesn't vary his kicking based on how much room he's got given.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
Mark Skinner
Roar Rookie
Can't agree more. I have never understood this. I understand arguments about youth but the bringing in on of young candidates does not look all that successful. Perenara particularly worries me.
Harry Jones
Guest
I like Piet van Zyl's game.
Jerry
Guest
Cruden was definitely ahead of Donald in the pecking order, but he didn't make the original squad. He only came in when Carter got injured with Donald coming in following Slade's injury. I don't doubt that Slade's versatility was helpful, but for whatever reason the cartel did also prefer him as backup 10. They got lucky with his injury, IMO.
Another bogan
Guest
I agree with you Cam
44bottles
Roar Guru
Wouldn't the same fly-half only tag have been applied to Cruden then?
Kiwi Kid
Guest
Not sure how you can say Perenara needs to deliver on investment. He's had about 12 minutes of test rugby over 3 matches. Give him a break!
Sylvester
Guest
I can see Ellis going to the WC if TKB hasn't improved by the end of the year. He's the sort of player a coach can rely on as back up in a tournament like that.
Sylvester
Guest
Possibly one injury away from a WC callup in reality.
Chan Wee
Guest
no Donald wasnot selected becoz he is primarily a fly half. Colin Slade is a 10 / 15. SGH was on record stating several selections were based on versatality given the squad size of 30. Kahui for example could play 11 12 13 Simillarly Adam Thomson could play 6 7 8 .
Firstxv
Guest
my thoughts as well...except TJP disappoints in some ways. Gets cheeky enough to be annoying, backchats a bit. Like A Smith he just needs to get on with it.
44bottles
Roar Guru
I thought Donald wasn't selected at RWC for loosing the game against the wallabies.
DC-NZ
Guest
I don't rate TKB - sorry - takes the wrong option on attack too often. doesn't read the moment. would rather Shag fast-tracks TJ. Ellis time is over.
atlas
Guest
para - cheers - my mistake I'd been reading the Jimmy Cowan bio and somehow that 51 got 'stuck' - Ellis's peak year has to be 2008 when he started in 6 out of the 7 tests he played. A long time ago in pro rugby years
Jerry
Guest
Guildford was a safety first pick. After 2009 they decided it was best to have a back 3 who were good under the high ball, could kick and were defensively sound. Zac was nowhere close to Hosea in terms of creating breaks or scoring tries but they figured he was more reliable. You could say the same thing about Kahui to be honest.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ biltongbek : I think differently. If i am a coach, I have seen what Ellis can do at test level. I am seeing he is in SXV form. at the same time i want depth and experience among young guys so i will play TKB & TJP. if there is a need for experience at RWC i can always select Elliss or have him as standby. Same happened with Donald last time. The selectors "KNEW" what he brought to the park , but not the exact thing they want for plan A or B. (thin he was plan D) . IMO Elliss had his best years around the time Genia was in prime form and lost out game time. I will not discard him. given Piri Weepu is not 100% (like Freuen) thre is always the chance of Ellis being on the back up list. Also of late MIB selectors have been looking at a physical 9 (a-la Mike Phillips of Wales) as the variation. A Smith Pulu TJP all look more or less the same.
Lassitude
Guest
If that's the case then we've only ever had 2 halfbacks worth picking in the last 20 years - Bachop and Smith. .... come to think of it you might have a point.
Lassitude
Guest
Which particular wife (of Hansen) has he slept with ? There are a few.
Para
Guest
@atlas - Ellis doesn't have 51 caps for the ABs, he's only played 26 tests which shows where that he's never been a first choice pick (Cowan and Weepu both have over 50 tests - mostly swapping between starting and replacement). The AB selectors have clear issues with the style of Ellis' game ... Fox has been interviewed in the radio many times and has discussed this. This was also the reason Weepu was dropped as he couldn't adjust his style. There is no silly conspiracy theory. I've seen a few posts above questioning TKB and his sharing of the game time with Pulu, Ellis has been in exactly the same situation over the last couple of years. Heinz has actually had a lot of game time for the Crusaders - and he's no where near the quality of Pulu.