Blues 2017

KiwiMurph

@cgrant I may be wrong but I think he's having planned shoulder surgery with the view to give the NZ U20s a real crack next year.

KiwiMurph

Perofeta is back for Blues development this weekend

Team list:

Howard Silioto, Northland
Hame Faiva, Blues
Namatahi Waa, Northland (Blues Squad)
Josh Goodhue, Blues
Scott Scrafton, Blues
Brandon Nansen, Blues
Kara Pryor, Blues
Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a, North Harbour
Sam Nock (C), Blues
Stephen Perofeta, Blues
Pisi Leilua, Auckland
Matt Vaega, Blues
Rene Ranger, Blues
Declan O’Donnell, Blues
Jordan Trainor, Blues

Joe Royal, Blues
Isi Tu’ungafasi, Auckland
Marcel Renata, Auckland
Sam Ulufonua, Auckland
Connor Collett, North Harbour
Lisati Milo-Harris, Auckland
William Talataina-Mu, Auckland
Jordan Hyland, Northland

Stargazer

@KiwiMurph Maybe good to add that they play the Chiefs Development team at Pakuranga Rugby Football Club at 2:30pm on Saturday.

Bovidae

Here is the Chiefs Development team:

Aidan Ross
Samisoni Taukei’aho
Sosefo Kautai
Michael Allardice
Matiaha Martin
Taleni Seu
Mitchell Jacobson
Jesse Parete
Jonathan Taumateine
Luteru Laulala
Sali Tukania
Alex Nankivell
Dwayne Sweeney
Latu Vaeno
Sevu Reece

Kalolo Tuiloma
Brayden Mitchell
Reuben O’Neill
Viliame Rarasea
Fotu Lokotui
Matt Vai’i
Richard Judd
Ciarahn Matoe
Liam Steele
Lalakai Foketi

Frye

Is Alex Hodgman injured?

Stargazer

@Bovidae Finally, Allardice! Took 9 months for his knee to come right.

KiwiMurph

@Stargazer Yep absolutely, sorry was in a rush. I believe it is free entry.

Tim

@Frye Yep.

number9

@Frye Yes Alex Hodgman is out with a calf tear. He was named in the initial squad to play against the Rebels he injured the calf at the final Captain's Run. He is expected back either Round 7 v Force or Round 8 v Hurricanes.

KiwiMurph

Cant see a write up anywhere but it looks like Blues development A team beat the Chiefs equivalent 55-31. Apparently Perofeta was pretty tidy.

Northlandallday

@KiwiMurph Thanks I've been hunting out that result and haven't seen anything about the match.

KiwiMurph

@Northlandallday

http://theblues.co.nz/blues-bag-nine-chiefs/

BLUES A BAG NINE AGAINST CHIEFS
20 MAR 2017

The Blues A side reversed the result of their recent clash against the Chiefs Development with a 55-31 victory at Pakuranga Rugby Club on Saturday.

In front of a sizeable crowd, the home side ran in nine tries, set-up with an excellent platform and delivered around the park with precision by first five Stephen Perofeta.

It proved an excellent hit-out for the Blues players, especially those coming back from injury who will now push for Super Rugby game time as a result.

Perofeta, who played for Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup, was impressive in first game coming back from a foot injury, showing real composure for a teenager and was dangerous in open field running.

Inside him Sam Nock (pictured, above, in a previous match against the Hurricanes) was also back from injury, with the young captain clearing the ball well for the backline to prosper.

It was also the first full game this year for Rene Ranger, who will be much the better for the game-time, typically abrasive on defence and producing some typical elusive Ranger line-breaks.

Another to return from injury was former NZ Sevens player Declan O’Donnell, who was powerful and elusive on the wing, beating the first defender repeatedly.

Upfront Scott Scrafton, Hame Faiva, Josh Goodhue, Namatahi Waa and Brandon Nansen were aggressive and lively in the physical encounter.

The next Blues team to play is the Blues Under-20s who take on Argentina at Waitemata RFC on Wednesday from 7pm.

Meanwhile the Blues A side take on the Hurricanes in the curtain-raiser before the Super Rugby clash against the Western Force, at Eden Park on Saturday 1 April.

The Blues try scorers were: Tries: Stephen Perofeta (2), Pisi Leilua, Rene Ranger, Brandon Nansen, Sam Nock, Kara Pryor, Declan O’Donnell, Matt Vaega

Conversions: Jordan Trainor (5)

Duluth

Home matches against the Bulls and Force coming up next. I would like to see Perofeta get some game time off the bench in at least one of those games.

Stargazer

The Blues 'A' team will play the curtain raiser to Blues v Force against the Hurricanes Development team this Saturday at Eden Park. Kick-off 2:50pm.

Blues A:

Namatahi Waa, Blues
Hame Faiva, Blues
Marcel Renata, Auckland
Josh Goodhue (c), Blues
Brandon Nansen, Blues
Dalton Papalii, Auckland
Kara Pryor, Blues
Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a, North Harbour
Richard Judd, Blues
Bryn Gatland, North Harbour
Caleb Clarke, Auckland
Matt Vaega, Blues
Rene Ranger, Blues
Jordan Hyland, Northland
Jordan Trainor, Blues

Reserves:
16. JP Sauni, Auckland
17. Emerson Tamura-Paki, Auckland
18. Afi Ielemia, Auckland
19. Glen Preston, North Harbour
20. Connor Collett, North Harbour
21. Lisati Milo-Harris, Auckland
22. D’Angelo Leuila, Auckland
23. Tamati Tua, Auckland
24. Salesi Rayasi, Auckland
25. Epineri (Ratu) Uluiviti, Northland

http://theblues.co.nz/strong-team-named-face-canes/

Northlandallday

@Stargazer
Tamati Tua, Northland, ok!

Crucial

Richard Judd, Blues

Judd is a good player for CM but I can only assume this is to keep him in the game in case injuries strike the Blues. As a 'development' thing though, he is hardly long term and surely there are some young 9s in the area that need developing?
People concentrate on the paucity of Auckland produced 10s but the situation with 9s is just as bad. Look at some of the journeymen and ring ins the Blues have had in recent years

KiwiMurph

@Crucial I agree. However the 9 on the bench Milo-Harris is a promising youngster, injury ruled him out of Auckland Mitre 10 Cup squad last year. Fitness permitting he'll be in this year's Auckland squad.

Duluth

Yeah Milo-Harris is the one they seem to be bringing through

The NPC side last year only had Hickey and Fukofuka. Where is Jono Hickey, did he leave?

It's interesting that the Blues region seems to be exporting halfbacks to the Crusaders at the moment, Hall & Fukofuka and they came close to signing Hickey (for some reason??) a couple of seasons back

As for Judd getting a run. Geography helps, he's a nearby uncontracted player who has some NPC experience.
There aren't many quality halfbacks around and 15 get SR contracts. To be honest after the top 5-6 the quality drop is massive.

Tim

What do we make of this talk that Otere Black could be the answer to the Blues' No 10 problems?

Interesting. And logical. Black's path is clearly blocked at the Canes, so if he's serious about taking the step up a move would be in his best interests. And the Blues present as the obvious destination.

But I'm reliably informed the Blues see Stephen Perofeta as their long-term solution in the No 10 position. Or as he's been tagged at the Auckland franchise, Stephen Pero-future.

So whether Tana Umaga is prepared to offer Black the inducement he needs to come north may depend on what they see from their little project from the Taranaki this season. Watch this space.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/91064435/hintons-hot-topics-redemption-of-aaron-smith-otere-blacks-future--aussie-agony

Dice

@Crucial said in Blues 2017:

Richard Judd, Blues

Judd is a good player for CM but I can only assume this is to keep him in the game in case injuries strike the Blues

That's exactly why he's been brought in. In the link, it says he's been brought in as injury cover(Nock is out injured).

@Crucial said in Blues 2017:

People concentrate on the paucity of Auckland produced 10s but the situation with 9s is just as bad. Look at some of the journeymen and ring ins the Blues have had in recent years

Kahn Fotuali'i is the best halfback Auckland has produced in recent times, but unfortunately, he didn't get to play for us. I would've loved to have seen a prime Kahn play for Auckland and the Blues.

The Silver Fern

Blues 2017