Backed: Rene Ranger
Exciting back Rene Ranger is this year set for an extended period of time in the outside centre position, according to Blues head coach John Kirwan.
Ranger, a popular player amongst those who like to bet on rugby, has long been an attacking talent who has fallen just short of regular international rugby but Kirwan is keen for him to take a leading role.
"He's leading the backline and doing a great job," he told sportal.co.nz about how the threatening runner has been playing during 2013 pre-season.
"He should be a key focal point in our backline that's not to say down the line he might have to cover other positions, but for me he has to cement our backline."
Kirwan was happy with his Blues pre-season camp thus far but admitted that injury returnee Anthony Boric was one player he was keeping a close eye on ahead of his return to action.
"I think he's a fantastic Blues man. He has come through a pretty big injury so there's no pressure on him back to play," he continued.
"He's right on target, he's looking fantastic but I just want to make sure that when he comes back he's coming back to stay and that he achieves all the goals that he still wants to achieve in the game."
To back the Blues for the 2013 Super Rugby title you can visit Paddy Power for the best odds available.
Comments
hellovanite says...
Isograford... Well I guess I'm not expert because I thought he was virtually unstoppable at 12 a couple of years back. It is true that he was a little wayward in D but mainly due to his tendency to chase the ball and lose structure. I like what Kirwan is doing here and if he has been able to get him to maintain a pattern in D I predict great things. Yes time will tell but fortune favours the brave and you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. I applaud the non conservative approach he is taking, there is far to much conservatism around if you ask me. I look forward to seeing how they go
Posted 07:49 15th January 2013
passtheball says...
Ranger might make some errors on defense but he can bust open defenses at will and if played there regularly will be as or more effective than Nonu. Willison at inside centre could be a good choice too.
Agree that Ali W as capt is a long shot but it may just work - we shall see.
Posted 11:14 14th January 2013
NHsaints says...
hmm, that's interesting...I always considered Ranger to be a better winger from a defensive positioning point of view, although that's not to say he might not have improved at playing 13...
Posted 08:11 14th January 2013
Isograford says...
Kirwan is already starting to make some rather strange decisions that are a bit worrying. Ranger is considered by most experts in nz to be a far better winger than he is a centre, where he's often guilty of getting lost in defense at times.
The appointment of the woefully out of form, and injury prone Ali Williams as Captain also seems very strange. That and his draft pick mess-ups in losing a prop are worrying signs from the new coach.
Posted 07:07 14th January 2013