Blues 2025
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@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
Agreeing with this. The population is not a factor. It generates good rugby players, but in the pro era they head around the country.
Kieran Read springs to mind as a recent-ish example.
Certainly, but to my mind the home region should be better placed to identify and retain the best talent.
@antipodean said in Blues 2025:
@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
Agreeing with this. The population is not a factor. It generates good rugby players, but in the pro era they head around the country.
Kieran Read springs to mind as a recent-ish example.
Certainly, but to my mind the home region should be better placed to identify and retain the best talent.
We are better now!
But as someone said very well, the top 15 or so players in each position get snapped up no matter where they are from. So injuries mean you're dipping into a shallow talent pool.
This gets exaggerated by fringe players taking up overseas contracts
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@Duluth said in Blues 2025:
Agree with a lot of your post but not this part
Agreeing with this. The population is not a factor. It generates good rugby players, but in the pro era they head around the country.
Kieran Read springs to mind as a recent-ish example.
Front row has struggled. Fusi'tua doesn't seem big enough or good enough in the scrums to me. NZ rugby is no longer developing the world class talents we have seen consistently in the past. And our coaching IP has headed offshore and strengthened others.
Our season was rocked by the losses to teh Brumbies at home and the Landers away. We are very very disappointing at the moment.
Kieran Read springs to mind as a recent-ish example.
He wasn't really in the Blues system, the Chiefs dropped the ball. He was due to play for Counties and was allowed to play club rugby in the Waikato but got injured and went to Canterbury the year after.
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Kieran Read springs to mind as a recent-ish example.
He wasn't really in the Blues system, the Chiefs dropped the ball. He was due to play for Counties and was allowed to play club rugby in the Waikato but got injured and went to Canterbury the year after.
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They might have made an offer. Just remembering from what I read from his book and what I remember from the time. His first year out of school he was still involved with cricket too I think. No Chiefs or Blues U18/20 back then I don't think. I wonder if Waikato put an offer in as well.
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@mikedogz I thought he was at Rosehill college, played well and Auckland had to choose between him and Peter Saili to invest in and contract.
Without hindsight you can see why Saili got preferred, he had amazing physical gifts
@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@mikedogz I thought he was at Rosehill college, played well and Auckland had to choose between him and Peter Saili to invest in and contract.
Without hindsight you can see why Saili got preferred, he had amazing physical gifts
Ironic as Peter Saili was heavily chased by the Crusaders after he finished school too.
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@mikedogz I thought he was at Rosehill college, played well and Auckland had to choose between him and Peter Saili to invest in and contract.
Without hindsight you can see why Saili got preferred, he had amazing physical gifts
@nzzp I thought it was Saili and Nick WIlliams, although Williams is too old to have been in competition with Saili out of school, similarly with Read 3 years Saili's senior, it was probably someone else all together coming out of school at the same time?
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@nzzp I thought it was Saili and Nick WIlliams, although Williams is too old to have been in competition with Saili out of school, similarly with Read 3 years Saili's senior, it was probably someone else all together coming out of school at the same time?
Read debuted for Canterbury in 2006, Crusaders in 2007. Looking at a list of Blues players, only name that pops out in that time frame is Nick Williams, who debuted for Blues in 2005.
Saili didn't play for them until 2009 (Auckland debut 2008).
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Read debuted for Canterbury in 2006, Crusaders in 2007. Looking at a list of Blues players, only name that pops out in that time frame is Nick Williams, who debuted for Blues in 2005.
Saili didn't play for them until 2009 (Auckland debut 2008).
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@Bovidae said in Blues 2025:
@African-Monkey I am sure the Blues will be trying to get Sione Ahio back (signed with the Chiefs until 2026).
I'm still annoyed we let him go in the first place for PJ sheck.
He'd have played 20+ games by now if we didn't stupidly let him go.
@African-Monkey interstingly enough Stephen Bates was at the Waitemata v Eden game on Saturday ,Sione Ahio came on in the 2nd half played very well
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Read debuted for Canterbury in 2006, Crusaders in 2007. Looking at a list of Blues players, only name that pops out in that time frame is Nick Williams, who debuted for Blues in 2005.
Saili didn't play for them until 2009 (Auckland debut 2008).
@Tim I think it may have been Fritz Lee that Saili went through school years with and were competing for a Blues spot with?
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@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@mikedogz I thought he was at Rosehill college, played well and Auckland had to choose between him and Peter Saili to invest in and contract.
Without hindsight you can see why Saili got preferred, he had amazing physical gifts
Ironic as Peter Saili was heavily chased by the Crusaders after he finished school too.
@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:
@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@mikedogz I thought he was at Rosehill college, played well and Auckland had to choose between him and Peter Saili to invest in and contract.
Without hindsight you can see why Saili got preferred, he had amazing physical gifts
Ironic as Peter Saili was heavily chased by the Crusaders after he finished school too.
His physical gifts were incredible.
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@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:
@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@mikedogz I thought he was at Rosehill college, played well and Auckland had to choose between him and Peter Saili to invest in and contract.
Without hindsight you can see why Saili got preferred, he had amazing physical gifts
Ironic as Peter Saili was heavily chased by the Crusaders after he finished school too.
His physical gifts were incredible.
@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:
@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@mikedogz I thought he was at Rosehill college, played well and Auckland had to choose between him and Peter Saili to invest in and contract.
Without hindsight you can see why Saili got preferred, he had amazing physical gifts
Ironic as Peter Saili was heavily chased by the Crusaders after he finished school too.
His physical gifts were incredible.
Sadly his hands always let him down.
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Mark Talea suspension 3 weeks., be some interesting selections out wide, maybe move AJ to wing, and bring in Xavi Taele to 12, with Forbes staying on other wing.
@george33 said in Blues 2025:
Mark Talea suspension 3 weeks., be some interesting selections out wide, maybe move AJ to wing, and bring in Xavi Taele to 12, with Forbes staying on other wing.
Hopefully it makes room for Spencer in the 23.
I'd like him to start at 15. Lets have a proper look at him
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Have heard the hooker merry-go-round continues next year, with Bradley Slater heading to the Blues.
@frugby said in Blues 2025:
Have heard the hooker merry-go-round continues next year, with Bradley Slater heading to the Blues.
Sensible for both Chiefs and Blues. Chiefs will be wanting to bring Koloise into the mix with Taukei'aho and McAlister both great starting options. Slater is a good squaddie but doesn't have the upside of the other two guys. A relatively safe pair of hands for the Blues though, who are presumably losing one of their more experienced guys.
