Blues 2017

Tim

It's looking like all the Blues will be fully available from the start, except SBW and Parsons (~ round 5 return), established All Blacks Kaino and Faumuina ("gradual return"), and possibly Tuipulotu.

So, what's the early season starting XXIII going to look like?

We know that Francis is favoured for 12, so that leaves the back three, hooker, locking combination (Tupou/Scrafton has been hinted at), and openside flanker as points of contention.

I'll go with this prediction:

15. Nanai
14. Duffie (10s captain, would prefer M. Vaega)
13. Moala
12. Francis
11. R. Ioane
10. West
  9. A. Pulu
  8. Luatua
  7. Gibson (K. Pryor plenty of time off the bench)
  6. A. Ioane
  5. Scrafton
  4. Tupou (C)
  3. O. Tu’ungafasi
  2. Moulds/Faiva (no idea who will start)
  1. Manu 

16. Hodgman
17. Faiva/Moulds
18. Mafileo (early return from the bench for Faumuina?)
19. Cowley-Tuioti/Tuipulotu (returning from the bench?)
20. K. Pryor
21. Guyton (would love to see Nock overtake him)
22. Perofeta (covers 10 & 15)
23. M. Vaega (covers midfield & wing)

taniwharugby

Probably put Ranger at 14?

Tim

I think that later in the season we'll see:

15. Nanai
14. Duffie/Vaega/Collins
13. Moala
12. SBW
11. R. Ioane
10. West
  9. A. Pulu
  8. Luatua
  7. Gibson 
  6. Kaino/A. Ioane (sharing starts)
  5. Scrafton
  4. Tuipulotu
  3. Faumuina
  2. Parsons
  1. Manu 

16. Hodgman
17. Faiva/Moulds
18. O. Tu’ungafasi
19. Tupou/A. Iaone 
20. K. Pryor/A. Iaone/Kaino
21. Guyton 
22. Francis/Perofeta
23. M. Vaega/Duffie/Collins

Tim

@taniwharugby Shoot, I forgot about him.

I suspect that the coaches might go for a "2nd fullback" type wing.

Stargazer

Has Rieko played at 11 before? Somehow, I see him more as a right wing than a left wing (if not in the midfield), but that's just because I remember him playing there and not on the left..

Tim

@Stargazer Both Ioane and Duffie play on the right wing, so I'm not sure how they're going to balance that out.

gt12

I'd put Ranger at 11, and have Rieko at 14 in my top Blues team. Some time for Rieko at 13 wouldn't be out of place either.

There are plenty of options there, if people stay fit, and Pulu passes it.

I'm still not convinced about West - I thought he would turn the corner last year, but we're still waiting. He plays well, they don't suffer injuries, and that Blues team should be good. If he's shit, it won't matter about how talent he has around him.

gt12

@Tim

Shirley, Duffie gets booted?

taniwharugby

@Tim be interesting to see where Tana goes at 7, cos Pryor was very good last year when Gibson was injured and the last couple of games Gibson came off the bench with Pryor starting.

Any news on Tom Robinsons injury from the 10s? I know he was unlikely to get any time for the Blues, just interested to see.

Tim

@gt12 said in Blues 2017:

@Tim

Shirley, Duffie gets booted?

Umaga seems to be keen on him, and he improved quite a lot with Harbour, so perhaps not.

I'm not sure how Ranger fits into a back three without a Ben Smith type player.

Tim

@taniwharugby Certainly going to be an interesting battle for 7.

IIRC, Gibson re-injured his hand early in the NPC season, so perhaps he wasn't at 100%?

gt12

@Tim

Duffie is pretty good in the air, but he was five shades of shit in Super rugby last year, at least from my drunken recollections I admit that I didn't see any Mitre 10 cup, so can't comment, but I'd have got rid of him from the team if I were picking players and had the option.

Would it be a skillset that Rieko could/should develop? From memory, he didn't seem terrible for the ABs, but again, I may have been boozed.

Otherwise, Ranger is pretty useful as a bench option?

I still think he potentially brings plenty, although he was pretty shit for a while there too, before he got injured. As @ACT-Crusader said, he's very Umaga-esque on D at 13, but was looking lost on attack.

Tim

@gt12 I'm not a Duffie fan, and would prefer Vaega (and maybe Collins), but he does seem to be popular with the coach.

Tim

I'd actually be really interested to see how West goes at fullback. Could be pretty dangerous with a bit of extra space/time.

KiwiMurph

Duffie was rubbish early on last year - however he improved a great deal, particularly after the bye - he put in some quality performances - and was outstanding in Mitre 10 Cup - he will start at wing or fullback id say interchanging with Nanai.

I think the 10-12-13 axis is going to be key for the Blues - West-Moala-Ranger failed miserably there last year - West-Francis 10-12 was much better.

Id say Nanai and Duffie are locked in for the back 3 for the start of the season with the other winger spot going to Rieko or another if Rieko is at 13.

Personally id go with Rieko at 13 and play Moala/Ranger on the wing but I suspect theyll play Rieko on the wing early and play Moala at 13. Hopefully Ranger is seen as a winger not a 13.

It will be interesting to see Blues lineup on Friday for the last trial - fingers crossed for no injuries.

To me with West he only looks good at 10 if you play a 2nd playmaker at 12 - so Francis.

Id like to see Perofeta off the bench at fullback offering another playmaking option during the season.

Tim

If Ioane comes on strongly, I'd love to see at him at 13, with Moala on the wing.

Bones

I'm intrigued by so many people clamoring to have Ioane at 13. Why? He's looked brilliant on the wing and is very accomplished there. I understand he's played 13 at age group and dabbled there at senior level, but I can't say he's wowed me when I've seen him there and his skillset seems more dangerous on the wing.

Plus, Moala.

gt12

@Bones

I think many (including Hansen apparently) see his future there. I think he's got the tools to be good there, but agree he's better on the wing now. I'd be interested to see him get some time there, especially if he can work off SBW or Moala.

Edit: Added Hansen comment from Stuff:

Long term, the prospect of Blues star Rieko Ioane developing into a polished centre option enthuses Hansen.

"Rieko Ioane's best position is probably going to be centre. He's going to be involved with the sevens but will be free later in the year."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/79256384/All-Blacks-midfield-starting-to-take-shape-in-post-Nonu-Smith-era

KiwiMurph

Rieko played mostly/all Mitre 10 Cup at 13 for Auckland and was easily the best player in a woeful team. He runs attacking lines of a classic centre. Outside SBW offloads he could be a weapon. He still has work to do on his distribution but so does Moala. His pace makes him a short term option at wing agreed.

Crucial

@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2017:

Rieko played mostly/all Mitre 10 Cup at 13 for Auckland and was easily the best player in a woeful team. He runs attacking lines of a classic centre. Outside SBW offloads he could be a weapon. He still has work to do on his distribution but so does Moala. His pace makes him a short term option at wing agreed.

A Moala 12, Rieko 13 combo would be effective as well.
I know Umaga is expected to use Francis at 12 to provide another set of tactical eyes for West but maybe it would be better to force West to step up.
Having Moala, Ioane and SBW all in the 23 provides a lot of gameplan options.

The Silver Fern

Blues 2017