@JK Yep. I thought he was great with the limited opportunity he had. Some quality moments. Huge future ahead.

@KiwiMurph Good to see Akira get a mention. His work on defence and breakdown was crucial.

Sullivan was the official Blues player of the match

Because RM and BB showed they can play well when their packs are going backwards, DMac stuggled badly in a low quality game.

As you say, up to him to prove that wrong.

Blues picked Akira as player of the game too. I think our polls and their choice has lined up a lot this year

@Machpants

I'd describe him more as more of a lock that can cover loose forward.

His ball carrying at lock is something the other lock possibilities can't match. Potentially a good bench option too, it would make it easier to carry a specialist openside on the bench

I've been saying for a while that his style of play reminds me of Hemopo

Maybe not this year though

@KiwiMurph said in Blues MOTM v Tahs:

Hard to pick 3.

Went Clarke, Zarn and Ricky.

Could have easily gone 3 others

Same. Lots of forwards I could have picked too.

No way Beauden was in the top 3 after that first half.

RR, Tuips, Zarn.

I thought Perofeta and Segner were stand outs.

A bunch of others that were ok to goodish. I’m not a fan but I thought Plummer did some good things in straightening the attack. Sullivan looked steady. The winger with the longest name in SR and clearly one that TJ practiced all week, did some nice things in addition to the AFL specky try. Suafoa was massive in close. Choat was a real nuisance and won TO ball.

Thought Sotutu looked bloody good, but by gee hope we don't take it as indication for test team, his picking up one handed out of scrums may not be so easy playing international rules.

Papalii
Sotutu
Ioane
Suafoa

i went for sotutu, was very prominent early with ball in hand

@Crucial also he let the English first five waltz past him with BBS yellow card.

@broughie said in All Blacks MOTM v Scotland:

@nostrildamus who are you talking about? Coles? Are you testing my attentiveness?

Sorry, rather than testing you I am undoing myself, not enough sleep, meant Codie I think...

Fucking Scooter man. As much as you want to get on him for a multitude of reasons, it's just so hard to because of that workrate .

Savea an obvious choice despite the egg-dive. Paps great, both hookers awesome, Whitelock with some wicked tackles. Amd Smith learned to run again.

Fun!

I'm astounded the love Dalton is getting.

Came on, bustled, made a few tackles. That's his job. Did fuck all Cane didn't when he was on. We gave up metres and a try when he was on. ALB arguably had more impact, made 5 tackles and he's a centre.

The stats on this game are weird.

I only voted for Plummer, looks so much more comfortable at 12.

after the Manawatu game:
Reihana 3, Macilai 2, Rush 1, Matich 1

Rush wins our MVP for the season quite easily, with the Canterbury games scores not even in

Season total
Rush 15
Reihana 8
Moorby 7
Murray 7
Tua 6
Goodhue 5
Matich 5
Tu'ungafasi 4
Mau'u 4
McNamara 2
Milo-Harris 2
Macilai 2
Hallam-Eames 2
Nock 1
Te Whata Colley 1