HE’S GOT A NAME
And it adds pressure
Stewart Cruden is embracing the expectation of being the younger brother of an All Black. The New Zealand Ma¯ ori Under 18s first five-eighth said the pressure from having a halfbrother with 50-tests for the All Blacks in Aaron Cruden and a father who played 50 games for Manawatu¯ in Stu Cruden was a positive.
‘‘There is always a bit of expectation, I have always liked the expectation,’’ he said.
‘‘I love handling that pressure because it calms my nerves a bit more. Just having the understanding that I am not my brother and hopefully people know that I am not my brother. I am my own self. That is who I want to be and what I want my name to be,’’ Cruden said.
He said his brother was always on hand for advice, as was Manawatu¯ and now Blues first five-eighth Otere Black.
‘‘I have done a lot of training with Oats over the years. He is a big mentor for me and also my first XV coach Mr Van [Blair van Stipriaan]. But my dad has always been my biggest mentor. Dad has always been there hassling me to get out on the field and get my kicking and passing going, even over summer.’’
That extra training appeared to pay off as he looked assured leading the New Zealand Ma¯ ori Under 18s around the park against the New Zealand Schools Barbarians on Monday.
Cruden scored an impressive solo try in the first half, but his side eventually lost 28-24.
‘‘We knew that they were going to be a strong team and I hope they knew we were going to be strong because we were definitely trying to take it to them.’’
The team has been together since Thursday with the camp set to end after their final match against Tonga Schools in Porirua on Friday.
Cruden said it was a great group to be a part of.
‘‘On the field we are all switched on and off the field it is all about tikanga, learning our Ma¯ ori stuff,’’ he said.
‘‘It has been a real good eyeopener, it has been awesome.’’
To take part in the camp, the Palmerston North Boys’ High School first XV co-captain had to forgo the chance to take part in his school’s tour to the United Kingdom. He said making a representative side had always been his plan A.
Cruden still has another year at school, which will be his fourth season in the first XV. And he has lofty goals for the season with a target of cracking the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.
‘‘If I don’t get New Zealand Schools I will be happy wherever I end up. I hopefully have a big future ahead of me and I don’t want to put too big of a name on it.’’
If he does miss the New Zealand Schools side, he can rest safe in the knowledge that his brother was also overlooked for the squad back in 2006.
"I am not my brother and hopefully people know that I am not my brother. I am my own self. "Stewart Cruden, half-brother of Aaron Cruden, left