Carter's miss......haven't we seen this before?

Dan Carter has been the dominant flyhalf of the last 8 years. But does he have the ability to kick the crucial penalty.....his crucial miss today sounds about the same degree of difficulty as the one Morne slotted to beat the Lions.

Some guys can kick these crucial kicks. Jannie de Beer's kick in driving rain to get the Boks into the RWC Xtra time playoff with Oz in 99 is largely forgotten.....but it was wickedly difficult in the circumstances.

Koen couldn't be relied on to make these kicks, Monty missed a few clangers. I doubt Lambie will ever be secure in similar circumstances. Grant has been bullet proof this year, but the true test will come tomorrow if he has to make one near the end, to win or lose.

One thing is for sure Jannie, Braam and Morne, often villified as players, have a history of knocking over these kind of kicks.  Carter doesn't. And somewhere in the back of his mind, the inability to really make it happen in huge games has to bother him. To me it stands in odd contrast with his brilliance in most aspects of play.

They will be fine Cruden is quickly becoming no.1 choice

Didnt a cruden kick hit the goal posts. Carter looks still to be a good goal kicker and abs will not throw him a way easily.

Mozart

I agree with you about crucial kicks.   Carter missed a long kick with the breeze in his favour - that shows ther is a problem.

I don't think that since he came back from his last injury that Carter is the same player he was previously and I think that his retirement must be considered within the next year.   I was looking at Cruden again today - still inexpereienced, but a flyhalf that could develop into a good one on international level.

I have had a serious problem with some of the senior players and have stated so on this Board a number of times.   Thy normally stay beyond their "sell-by date" - often based on reputation more than performance - that applies to players from all countries.   I thought McCaw had a very good "Spies" type of game today - he was around a small number of times - for the rest he was missing.   Do not get me wrong - I do not think that Carter and McCaw should or would  be dropped immediately - but if I was in New Zrealand - where the people think the two mentioned walk on water - I would say that within the next year  replacement will be necessary. or at least well on its way.

Cruden and Barrett seems the way to go - but I developed reservations about them both.   Cruden was very good in the Irish test - but very average since then.   Barrett has speed - but he is erratic.    What they are doing about replacing McCaw would be difficult - since there are no really top loosies available. 

Didnt a cruden kick hit the goal posts. Carter looks still to be a good goal kicker and abs will not throw him a way easily.

Unlike us South Africans who have already decided Morne is rubbish and needs to be replaced by...A host of unproven players.  Only one of the list may be good enough...Yes if he needs to be replaced it should be Grant.

Mike. McCaw iws replaceable. Sam Cane did really well in the june tests I think.

Actually the sats were:

And the top 10 are

@mozart,

that was a bad miss, but one bad miss dosnet mean its all doom and gloom, especially when u look at all of carters other matches.
remeber, carters goal kicking is but one aspect of his All Black tenure, his play making ability has been his most prized asset, along with his attacking prowess.
cruden is on the scene now, but hes know more for his attacking prowess, but is also very apt at running a backline.

IMO were not done with carter by a long shotm not for the next two years anyway, but we will see cruden become the incumbent and then watch carter come of the bench, or even reclaim the incumbent role, if crudens form should waver.

should carter start have a string of game like morne has the last two months, then it will definately be something to look at, but u need only look at the last crusaders vs chiefs match to know carters still got plenty to offer the All Blacks,

 @sasuke - I think you missed the point of mozarts comment. He wasn't commenting on Carters general play , his kicking consistency or what he offers the AB's but his ability in the clutch which by Moz's observations seems to be lacking.

Sasu

I hope you did not put any money on the Crusaders after my strong warning against it.   I noticed some slight problems in Carters recent games - even that drop goal against the Bulls was preceeded by a dropped pass - luckily going backwards.   He did create a gap for the two try-scorers in the games against the Bulls and the Crusaders - but in general he is not the Carter he was two years ago.

The local media was very scathing about his performance and they even implied that he lost the plot - but then newspapers are not reliable commentators on rugby.   I myself think there is a noticeable decrease  in competency here.   It may be clarified in the forthcoming ttest series - when compeition is even on higher level than it was in the semi.

(It is not only the goalkicking aspect - but general play that bothers me to some extend in this case.   Final warning do not put a bet on the Sharks tomorrow.   I think the Stormers is going to win 

  "I think you missed the point of mozarts comment. He wasn't commenting on Carters general play , his kicking consistency or what he offers the AB's but his ability in the clutch which by Moz's observations seems to be lacking."

Exakerly.

My concern about this post is that we are all trying to be selectors and ball gazers for the All Blacks...WTF!!!!!

We need not worry about Dan Carter missing a kick and then all of a sudden he's second class or doesn't have it...thats laughable guys. I have also seen a very disturbing sight and its in the form of a  running and clever back up for DC and he is a slight young man but wow after I bagged him two weeks ago he certainly stood up...looks like the Bokkies have another headache to worry about.....If Grant is replacing Morne or Morne stays then I think our loosies though up to it will have there hands full.

I for one think that the Chiefs lifted the bar higher than any other team has this year and no matter who they play they will be extremely hard to beat...............As I said go the Stormers we need this final in SA

...haha..Cruden and Carter looking good for 4 nations mockingbirds...don't worry about the Kiwis...just focus on how you yarpies will find enough class players to stop the World Champion ABs from winning everything this year...

Cant help but notice your humility sitting bull its very infectious

...just another free sevice sitting bull provides...anytime you want some rugby pointers just ask Big Chiefs fan sitting bull

Sitting Bull

Thanks for your offer to provide advice - will certainly make use of it.   Whatevr you yhave said over the past three months have been WRONG - so the obvious thing is to turn around 100% yoou say and the nexact opposite will happen.

@clevermike,

i made a 2 $10 multibet, one for an AFL team hawks to beat essodon by 60+, another for NRL st george to beat the melbourne storm and the other for the chiefs to win. my 2nd bet was the same as the rest except for the chiefs to win and i made a nice $90 and change.

my head was telling me crusaders from the start, but i took ur advice and made a sfatey net bet with the chiefs as well and it paid of nicely, so next time in SA, first rounds on me, :)

@oimatey,

i understood the post, but given his recent past games where hes nailed some tough ones, i dont think his goal kicking is a problem.
the point i was trying to convey by mentioning other aspects of his game, is that IMO goal kicking while important, is not the No1 priority in ABs rugby. its important, but decision making and setting up the team to score is more important.

still no excuses, cos he really should have nailed that one.