Blues 2017
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As usual, 9 and 10 are probably the biggest concerns.
Hooker and lock deserve plenty of attention too.
Parsons is out of the EOYT with neck/concussion issues. Greg Pleasants-Tate missed most of the NPC with a neck injury. Hopefully both will be fit, and we pickup Gafatasi Su'a from Counties (and formerly Auckland). Adrian Smith looked pretty good for NH, and Molds is tidy.
Anyone else worth considering?
At lock we need a good an "athletic lock" who is a good lineout option to partner "power lock" Tuipulotu. Goodhue may be too young. Cowley-Tuioti is promising, but may not be up to it (in height and ability). It would be good to see Fatialofa in the squad.
Fullback and wing looked to be covered now.
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The 2017 Blues squad is:
Backs: Michael Collins (Otago), Matt Duffie (North Harbour), TJ Faiane (Auckland), Billy Guyton ( Ta$man), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Matt Vaega (North Harbour), George Moala (Auckland), Melani Nanai (Auckland), Sam Nock (Northland), Declan O’Donnell (Taranaki), Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki), Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau), Rene Ranger (North Harbour), Jordon Trainor (Waikato), Ihaia West (Hawkes Bay), Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau), Piers Francis (Counties Manukau).
Forwards: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (North Harbour), Epalahame Faiva (Waikato), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Josh Goodhue (Northland), Alex Hodgman (Canterbury), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Sione Mafileo (North Harbour), Pauliasi Manu (Counties Manukau), Matt Moulds (Northland), Brandon Nansen (North Harbour), James Parsons (North Harbour), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Kara Pryor (Northland), Scott Scrafton (Auckland), Murphy Taramai (North Harbour), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), Jimmy Tupou (Counties Manukau), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland),
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The 2017 Blues squad is:
Backs: Michael Collins (Otago), Matt Duffie (North Harbour), TJ Faiane (Auckland), Billy Guyton ( Ta$man), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Matt Vaega (North Harbour), George Moala (Auckland), Melani Nanai (Auckland), Sam Nock (Northland), Declan O’Donnell (Taranaki), Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki), Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau), Rene Ranger (North Harbour), Jordon Trainor (Waikato), Ihaia West (Hawkes Bay), Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau), Piers Francis (Counties Manukau).
Forwards: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (North Harbour), Epalahame Faiva (Waikato), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Josh Goodhue (Northland), Alex Hodgman (Canterbury), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Sione Mafileo (North Harbour), Pauliasi Manu (Counties Manukau), Matt Moulds (Northland), Brandon Nansen (North Harbour), James Parsons (North Harbour), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Kara Pryor (Northland), Scott Scrafton (Auckland), Murphy Taramai (North Harbour), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), Jimmy Tupou (Counties Manukau), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland),
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@Stargazer So Faiva makes the Blues squad. Little is still available to either the Canes and Landers.
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Happy with the Faiva pickup.
Outside backs is a bit of an issue - Declan is always injured, Rene hasnt refound his mojo, Nanai looks best at fullback, as do Trainor and Duffie.
Be interesting to see how Faiane goes - his knees have been wrecked and he hasnt played since the U20 World Cup over a year ago.
Forward pack looks promising.
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@Tim I do. I would have happily have had him in the Chiefs. Faiva is excellent around the field and does his core roles well enough. He would probably be the 3rd choice hooker in that squad to start the season but if Parsons is rated no.1 anything can happen.
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bit gutted for Waa, reckon he made huge progress from 2015 ITM Cup, his few outings for the Blues and then for Northland this year.
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So, what's the starting XV for the Blues? Lock, Wing, and Fullback probably the only contentious decisions. Though Pryor will push Gibson hard, and Hodgman should push Manu.
- Manu
- Parsons
- Faumuina
- Tuipulotu
- Tupou/Cowley-Tuioti/Goodhue/Scrafton
- Kaino (expect to see Kaino rested a bit, and Ioane get plenty of game time)
- Gibson
- Luatua
- Pulu
- West (with Francis getting significant game time from the bench)
- Vaega/Nanai/Duffie
- SBW
- Moala
- Ioane
- Nanai/Collins/Duffie
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Pretty close to the money there Tim.
I think Tupou will have the inside running on the other lock role given his experience and leadership, and his history with Tana.
I think Ranger could be in with a shot at the wing spot - to me he is suited to wing more than midfield.
I think Francis could really push West for the 10 spot. They will need to get that 10-12-13 axis right - last year the early option of West-Moala-Ranger at 10-12-13 didn't work.
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Pretty close to the money there Tim.
I think Tupou will have the inside running on the other lock role given his experience and leadership, and his history with Tana.
I think Ranger could be in with a shot at the wing spot - to me he is suited to wing more than midfield.
I think Francis could really push West for the 10 spot. They will need to get that 10-12-13 axis right - last year the early option of West-Moala-Ranger at 10-12-13 didn't work.
@KiwiMurph Ah, I forgot about Ranger. I guess Trainor is an outside chance too.
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Campbell Burnes' opinion:
There is some late Super Rugby reward for North Harbour's sterling title charge in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship.
No 8 Murphy Taramai, a former All Blacks Sevens and Wellington rep, who made every post a winner in 2016 by playing almost every minute for the union, has won a late, and fully deserved, call-up to a fulltime contract. The 24-year-old Taramai brings a high work-rate and carries well, as does lock/No 6 Brandon Nansen, who had his injury issues with North Harbour, but made an impact whenever he played.
They join new signings who had already been flagged in Sonny Bill Williams, Augustine Pulu, Otago's Michael Collins, Taranaki's Stephen Perofeta, Canterbury prop Alex Hodgman, Counties Manukau lock/loosie Jimmy Tupou and Steelers prop Pauliasi Manu, who returns to the franchise he should never have been forced to leave in 2012.
Others who had not been flagged include Waikato hooker Hame Faiva, whose play has matured nicely in 2016, Northland lock Josh Goodhue, and Taranaki wing Declan O'Donnell.
Midfielders Rene Ranger and TJ Faiane return from long-term injuries.
The unlucky man is North Harbour's inspirational skipper and lock/No 6 Chris Vui, who may have missed out to his bigger teammate Nansen.
If the Blues can stay fit, they will surely make the playoffs, but they cannot again finish bottom of the New Zealand conference for that to happen.
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Pretty close to the money there Tim.
I think Tupou will have the inside running on the other lock role given his experience and leadership, and his history with Tana.
I think Ranger could be in with a shot at the wing spot - to me he is suited to wing more than midfield.
I think Francis could really push West for the 10 spot. They will need to get that 10-12-13 axis right - last year the early option of West-Moala-Ranger at 10-12-13 didn't work.
@KiwiMurph Ranger has the skill set to play centre, but I don't think he has the mindset to do so, especially at Super level, which is where him on the wing with a freedom to roam and go hunting for work suits him best.
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Happy with the Faiva pickup.
Outside backs is a bit of an issue - Declan is always injured, Rene hasnt refound his mojo, Nanai looks best at fullback, as do Trainor and Duffie.
Be interesting to see how Faiane goes - his knees have been wrecked and he hasnt played since the U20 World Cup over a year ago.
Forward pack looks promising.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2017:
Happy with the Faiva pickup.
Yeah he's a good player.
I would have picked GPT in the squad though.. Moulds is a little lucky considering Umaga seemed reluctant to play him this year
I see Faiva is another Aucklander returning home. Born in Auckland played for Eden as a kid before going off to board at Wesley
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2017:
Happy with the Faiva pickup.
Yeah he's a good player.
I would have picked GPT in the squad though.. Moulds is a little lucky considering Umaga seemed reluctant to play him this year
I see Faiva is another Aucklander returning home. Born in Auckland played for Eden as a kid before going off to board at Wesley
@Duluth GPT is in the Highlanders squad isn't he, because he was there last year do they still have first dibs, or did that go out with the other contracting changes?
Yeah I'm surprised Moulds is still there TBH, this is his third season now and despite putting up decent showings when he has had the chance, I'd say his minutes in 2 seasons is probably less than 100.
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@Duluth GPT is in the Highlanders squad isn't he, because he was there last year do they still have first dibs, or did that go out with the other contracting changes?
Yeah I'm surprised Moulds is still there TBH, this is his third season now and despite putting up decent showings when he has had the chance, I'd say his minutes in 2 seasons is probably less than 100.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2017:
@Duluth GPT is in the Highlanders squad isn't he, because he was there last year do they still have first dibs, or did that go out with the other contracting changes?
Yeah I'm surprised Moulds is still there TBH, this is his third season now and despite putting up decent showings when he has had the chance, I'd say his minutes in 2 seasons is probably less than 100.
Not sure what the situation with GPT was. He was included in that list of unsigned players a week ago
I think Kirwan originally signed Moulds for 3 years? At least in his limited game time for Northland this year his throwing seemed better.
I have no problems with him in general play.
