Aaron Cruden enjoys directing Hurricanes

When Aaron Cruden was even more of a slip of a lad at Palmerston North Boys' High School, he used to slip away every day after school and kick goals.

He landed his share in those days but he felt he took a backward step for the Hurricanes against the Highlanders last Saturday night.

"The game wasn't too bad, apart from me not knowing how to goal kick," he said. "At the weekend my radar was just a bit off."

He calls it a work in progress, even if he has been shouldered with the frontline goal-kicking duties for only the last two Super 14 matches.

"I think I'm starting to over-think things, fiddling around with my technique."

He had also started mixing up different kicking tees.

Cruden figures he might be better off keeping things simple as he used to do in his 1st XV days.

"Maybe I should start playing more golf," he said in jest.

He was happier with how he kicked against the Brumbies two weeks ago when he landed one conversion from the sideline.

That aside, he is enjoying being the starting first five-eighth now, trying to direct play from the start rather than coming on as a sub feeling he has to make an instant impact.

The difference between playing for the Turbos and Super 14 rugby each week is the "physicality", the speed and intensity in Super 14.

"We're playing world class players every week and they seem to get bigger and bigger. It's challenging," he said.

"I have started to play more of my natural game in the last couple of weeks.

"I was a little hesitant at the start of the season. I have enjoyed every moment of it."

Making his Super 14 debut he says was on a par with captaining the New Zealand under-20s to the IRB world title in Japan last year.

He was summoned by coach Dave Rennie to speak to the latest batch of New Zealand under-20 players at Massey University on Monday.

"It felt a little funny because I am still quite young myself."

He hopes he got the message across short and sharp, telling the players selection was only the first step and not to be satisfied with making the team.

Meanwhile, Cruden is living in Wellington during the Super 14 season with partner Grace King (Palmerston North).

She studies at Massey University (Wellington) while he is keen to study something with a practical, sports bent, when he returns to Palmerston North.

After taking a business paper last year, he was advised to step back this season until he found his feet in the Super 14.

He keeps himself busy away from rugby when he gets a day off.

"I don't go home and watch too much rugby."

He has come off medication for his cancer and his regular check-ups have spread from every three months to four.

Whether he gets to play club rugby for College Old Boys will hinge on whether the Hurricanes reach the semifinals.

"To do that we have to win every game and pick up bonus points," he observed.

"If the opportunity arises I'd be keen to play for College."

He played only the opening game for them last year, against Te Kawau, and kicked four penalties and a conversion.

That was his first game after his sickness. A week later he injured his knee in the under-20s trial.

The Hurricanes play the Chiefs at Wellington on Saturday night.