Blues 2018

[Tim]

If the Blues "past players" page is accurate, then the following 34 players are confirmed. Squads can be up to 38 + injury cover + WTG.

Props

Pauliasi Manu
Alex Hodgman
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Sione Mafileo

Hooker

James Parsons
Matt Moulds
Leni Apisai

Lock

Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott Scrafton
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Josh Goodhue

Loose Forward

Blake Gibson (7)
Jerome Kaino (6,8)
Akira Ioane (6,8)
Jimmy Tupou (6, lock)
Dalton Papali'i (6, 7)
Kara Pryor (7)
Murphy Taramai (6,7,8)

Halfback

Augustine Pulu
Sam Nock
Jonathan Ruru

1st 5

Stephen Perofeta
Otere Black
Bryn Gatland

Midfield

SBW
George Moala
Rieko Ioane
T.J. Faiane
Matty Johnson

Wing/Fullback

Matt Duffie
Melani Nanai
Michael Collins
Jordan Trainor
Caleb Clarke

Out

Charlie Faumaina
Steven Luatua
Ihaia West
Piers Francis
Rene Ranger
Sam Prattley
Billy Guyton
Declan O'Donnell
Branden Nansen
Matt Vaega

This leaves four players + 1st 5 injury cover to be named. The four are probably a loosehead prop, a tighthead prop, a lock, and a loose forward. Maybe another back in place of lock/loose-forward.

My guesses: Ross Wright (prefer Chris Eves) and Mike Tamoaieta for the props, and Marty McKenzie for replacement 10. Lock and loose-forward I have no idea. For lock I guess Robinson and Frizell might be options. Manihera or Moala-Liava'a at 8.

[Tim]

Likely XXIII:

1. Hodgman
2. Parsons
3. Tu'ungafasi
4. Tuipulotu
5. Scrafton
6. Kaino
7. Gibson
8. Ioane
9. Pulu
10. Perofeta
    -- now the speculation starts --
11. Ioane
12. Faiane
13. SBW
14. Nanai
15. Duffie
    -- reserves are more predictable --
16. Moulds
17. Manu
18. Tamoaieta
19. Cowley-Tuioti
20. Pryor/Papali'i/Taramai
21. Nock
22. Gatland
23. Moala

Key question for the starting line-up: when is Scrafton back from injury. We rely on him heavily for set piece proficiency and organisation. We need an able replacement for that role.

I really like those tight-five replacements to put some heat on at set-piece in the 2nd half. It'd be great to have a ball-carrying 8 on the bench, especially with Kaino likely to have a lighter workload.

Midfield combo will be a big selection question. A lot of talent outside them.

Pulu's form may be the key. Really hoping for a big year from Nock.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Tom Robinson may be the 5th lock and my choice for 1st/5 cover would be Jade Te Rure. Just compared Vaega and Johnson's stats for the Mitre 10 and Johnson's stack up pretty well. He made 12 clean breaks to Vaega's 15 with much less game time and in a struggling team. Defense seems to be Vaega's major work on at only 73% (missed 22 tackles), although Johnsons was not perfect at 82%.

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2018:

Tom Robinson

Ah, that's who I meant, not Bond.

[taniwharugby]

@tim although Bond would be a good option too, very good tight lock!

[Tim]

@taniwharugby With any luck, Goodhue will step up too.

[taniwharugby]

@tim yeah he started to really step up this year, missed a couple of easy tackles going for the big hits, but throws himself about and when our dysfunctional lineout was functioing, it was usually with him there.

[cgrant]

@tim said in Blues 2018:

Likely XXIII:

1. Hodgman
2. Parsons
3. Tu'ungafasi
4. Tuipulotu
5. Scrafton
6. Kaino
7. Gibson
8. Ioane
9. Pulu
10. Perofeta
    -- now the speculation starts --
11. Ioane
12. Faiane
13. SBW
14. Nanai
15. Duffie
    -- reserves are more predictable --
16. Moulds
17. Manu
18. Tamoaieta
19. Cowley-Tuioti
20. Pryor/Papali'i/Taramai
21. Nock
22. Gatland
23. Moala

Key question for the starting line-up: when is Scrafton back from injury. We rely on him heavily for set piece proficiency and organisation. We need an able replacement for that role.

I really like those tight-five replacements to put some heat on at set-piece in the 2nd half. It'd be great to have a ball-carrying 8 on the bench, especially with Kaino likely to have a lighter workload.

Midfield combo will be a big selection question. A lot of talent outside them.

Pulu's form may be the key. Really hoping for a big year from Nock.

Tana Umaga will surely include Collins somewhere.

[Tim]

@cgrant I was going to put him at 23, but then I felt a momentary hopefulness.

[Tim]

Ezekiel Lindenmuth is a possibility at loosehead.

[cgrant]

@tim
Still a bit too young but a fine prospect. Hodgman should have a great SR season and earn an AB call. His scrummaging has improved a lot since the BIL tour and he is one of the most effective props in NZ at clearing rucks.

[KiwiMurph]

The 2018 Blues squad is:

Hookers: Leni Apisai, Matt Moulds, James Parsons.

Front row: Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Pauliasi Manu, Isaac Salmon, Mike Tamoaieta, Ofa Tuungafasi.

Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Josh Goodhue, Scott Scrafton, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou

Loose forwards: Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Dalton Papalii, Glenn Preston, Kara Pryor, Murphy Taramai.

Halfbacks: Sam Nock, Augustine Puli, Jonathan Ruru.

First Five: Otere Black/Daniel Kirkpatrick, Bryn Gatland, Stephen Perofeta.

Midfield: Matt Johnson, George Moala, Tamati Tua, TJ Faiane, Sonny Bill Williams.

Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Melanie Nanai, Jordan Trainor.

[Tim]

Good to see Tua there. Looks like they've focused on work-rate for loose forwards. Could do with another ball carrier in there.

Kirkpatrick is an absolute joke. Really hope he sees zero game time.

Wider Training Group might be important for cover at 8, lock, wing, and when Kirkpatrick is dumped.

Hope Gibson isn't out for long!

[Daffy Jaffy]

I don't get the props? Apparently Salmon is a tight head which means we have 4 tight heads and 2 loose? Maybe Salmon can play both?.. It would be a shame to expect Tu'ungafaasi to switch when he is just starting to fulfill his promise at tight head. Unless that is in the AB selectors plans for him. .

[KiwiMurph]

@daffy-jaffy its much better than any prop rotation involving Sam Prattley. Addition by subtraction.

[Bovidae]

How old is Salmon? Was he injured if both Halanukonuka and Lomax were played ahead of him?

[KiwiMurph]

@bovidae 21 years old. He was only an NPC rookie this year I believe.

[Dice]

Hopefully Dan Kirkpatrick can recapture his U20 form....

[Dice]

@tim said in Blues 2018:

Likely XXIII:

1. Hodgman
2. Parsons
3. Tu'ungafasi
4. Tuipulotu
5. Scrafton
6. Kaino
7. Gibson
8. Ioane
9. Pulu
10. Perofeta
    -- now the speculation starts --
11. Ioane
12. Faiane
13. SBW
14. Nanai
15. Duffie
    -- reserves are more predictable --
16. Moulds
17. Manu
18. Tamoaieta
19. Cowley-Tuioti
20. Pryor/Papali'i/Taramai
21. Nock
22. Gatland
23. Moala

Key question for the starting line-up: when is Scrafton back from injury. We rely on him heavily for set piece proficiency and organisation. We need an able replacement for that role.

I really like those tight-five replacements to put some heat on at set-piece in the 2nd half. It'd be great to have a ball-carrying 8 on the bench, especially with Kaino likely to have a lighter workload.

Midfield combo will be a big selection question. A lot of talent outside them.

Pulu's form may be the key. Really hoping for a big year from Nock.

That is pretty close to being spot on.

Papali'i ticks all the boxes for the backrow bench role. He plays all the backrow positions and is a good line-out option.

That midfield was what I wanted to see this year, but it never got any time. I do wonder if Tana is willing to shift SBW out one.

[shark]

This is a fantastic example of a quality 1st XV, on paper at least, but plenty of potential for disaster as soon as this XV is eroded away.