Blues 2026
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I know a few people on here rate Wrampling highly. He's had a lot injury problems hasn't he?
@Duluth injuries and stuck behind a lot of talent in the chiefs loosefowards, great pick up from the blues
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Possible replacement fir Sotutu if he leaves?
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Possible replacement fir Sotutu if he leaves?
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:
https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/blues-sign-rising-talent-malachi-wrampling
Interesting signing. To me, it feels a bit like ‘back to the future’ for the Blues, as the player Wrampling reminds me most of is a young Akira Ioane. Wrampling, like Ioane in 2016, is an athletic back-rower who does most of his attacking damage out wide using his pace and power, while both are further characterized by their upper-body strength in contact (holding opponents up in defence; bumping off low tacklers on attack). Finally, like Ioane in his early twenties, Wrampling is also quite raw at the breakdown, with both susceptible to cutting corners at the ruck and getting penalized for it.
With all this in mind, it’ll be interesting to see whether the Blues view Wrampling as a blindside or a number 8 in the long-term (I'm sure he'll play in both positions early in his Blues career). Personally, I always thought Ioane should’ve stayed at the back of the scrum rather than move to 6. He looked to me most at home as an 8, ideally in combination with two high work-rate flankers. I’d prefer to see Wrampling developed in the same position, with Sotutu most likely moving on. With both Papali’i and Segner also in the squad, I think all the necessary parts are there to form a potent loose forward trio.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:
https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/blues-sign-rising-talent-malachi-wrampling
Interesting signing. To me, it feels a bit like ‘back to the future’ for the Blues, as the player Wrampling reminds me most of is a young Akira Ioane. Wrampling, like Ioane in 2016, is an athletic back-rower who does most of his attacking damage out wide using his pace and power, while both are further characterized by their upper-body strength in contact (holding opponents up in defence; bumping off low tacklers on attack). Finally, like Ioane in his early twenties, Wrampling is also quite raw at the breakdown, with both susceptible to cutting corners at the ruck and getting penalized for it.
With all this in mind, it’ll be interesting to see whether the Blues view Wrampling as a blindside or a number 8 in the long-term (I'm sure he'll play in both positions early in his Blues career). Personally, I always thought Ioane should’ve stayed at the back of the scrum rather than move to 6. He looked to me most at home as an 8, ideally in combination with two high work-rate flankers. I’d prefer to see Wrampling developed in the same position, with Sotutu most likely moving on. With both Papali’i and Segner also in the squad, I think all the necessary parts are there to form a potent loose forward trio.
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@Mauss i don't see all the hype about segner, average super ruby player. wouldn't be surprised if he gets moved on in a year or 2
@whatsupdude1234 said in Blues 2025:
@Mauss i don't see all the hype about segner, average super ruby player. wouldn't be surprised if he gets moved on in a year or 2
I don't necessarily disagree. At the moment, he's a good glue guy (the added lineout game this year was a nice touch) but he often still looks too light in contact.
But for now, I do think he can do a job, although I would switch Segner to openside and Papali'i to the blind.
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No Suafoa and no Choat next year. So there will be another loosie to add. I assume it will be someone who can play 7
Maybe that will be Hainsworth-Fa'aofo?
That would mean the Blues have four established players:
Papali'i, Sotutu, Christie & SegnerAnd a trio of guys from the 2023 NZ u20's
Hainsworth-Fa'aofo, Wrampling, Clark -
Vern likes a big pack so I think Trystan Cook gets picked to share 6/lock with Christie, allowing Segner to be back up 7. Segner needs to specialize to advance his game. He tends to be the spare part man at the moment playing which ever position there are injuries . He is still only 23 so has time to grow his game. They had 7 props and six loosies this year which is unusual so could let Sheck go and add another specialist 7. Kitiona Vai would be an exciting openside option if he doesn't return to the Sevens (and stays fit).
With Choat likely paying in the NPC it may limit game time for SHF and Vai unless Choat plays 6. I would like the two young guys share 7 duties so they can be assessed for super selection. SHF is only 22 and has been in the blues training group for 2-3 years but is always injured. He has played only one game for Auckland, in 2022 off the bench. -
@cgrant said in Blues 2025:
Woodley ?
He’d be an outlier as I don’t think there were any U20 players signed to a Super Rugby team this year (Letiu was only an injury replacement) and Woodley would still be eligible for the U20s in 2026 (he’s a January ’06 birth).
That being said, I do think NZR could be a bit less conservative when it comes to player pathways. There’s an argument to be made that it would accelerate their development.
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With Malachi Wrampling Alec signed it would to see someone with a high workrate like Rob Rush, Lotu Inisi, Sione Havili Talitui or Ekuasi.
Although Suafoa covered lock too. Maybe someone like Dunshea, Tai Cribb or Aisake Vakasiuola who has the size already.
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@whatsupdude1234 said in Blues 2025:
@Mauss i don't see all the hype about segner, average super ruby player. wouldn't be surprised if he gets moved on in a year or 2
I don't necessarily disagree. At the moment, he's a good glue guy (the added lineout game this year was a nice touch) but he often still looks too light in contact.
But for now, I do think he can do a job, although I would switch Segner to openside and Papali'i to the blind.
@Mauss said in Blues 2025:
But for now, I do think he can do a job, although I would switch Segner to openside and Papali'i to the blind.
I've had the same thought myself. The other option is to find a better 6 and leave Segner as an impact player.
Papali'i's career is at a bit of an impasse with Savea playing at 7. He could have switched to 6 this year and made a go of that but now Tupou Vaa'i is starting to make strong claims to 6 and that's likely to be a continuing situation after Barrett continues as captain along with the emergence of Holland.
Vaa'i is obviously higher up in the pecking order than Papali'i now.
Jacobson moves around a lot so he has the dibs on the utility role.
Now he is in the AB's against France who have had a strong bench and he's covering lock/blindside in the event of an injury. A tough situation for him.
