Highlanders vs Blues

[Crucial]

@booboo said in Highlanders vs Blues:

So ... Nanai. What's his downside?

Must have quite a big downside given he's missing out to a glue player.

If you read the article it's about communication. Can be pretty key in some setups and you have to balance out what he may do in a possible opportunity against being more organised during most of the game.
As an ex player at top level in 12,13 and 14, T will have strong ideas about what he wants in communication from the back.
Factor in the stress at 10 and I can understand the reasoning. Whether the decision is correct will play out.

[KiwiMurph]

@crucial The problem is this exact same approach failed in the NZ derbies last year. Collins lack of athletic ability got exposed in NZ derbies - Blues got away with it against the Aussie teams but not so the NZ derbies.

I just think the balance of the backline is off. Gatland has next to no running threat (he's 3rd string for a reason), SBW and Moala have distribution limitations and Collins is a carthorse at the back. I can't see the two All Black wingers getting the ball in any space.

[Duluth]

@kiwimurph

Umaga made the same comments about Collins last year and he barely played in pre season. Does that mean he's happy with what he saw last year??

Also Collins is hardly some experienced older head. I think you would get the same attributes from Duffie at the back but with a significant quality upgrade.

Nanai is at his best on the wing where being a ball hog is less of an issue.

[KiwiMurph]

@duluth exactly. Plus Collins is coming off a serious leg injury (he was already slow to begin with) and the game is guaranteed to be fast paced under the roof and with the way the Highlanders play.

[nzzp]

This is a massive game for the Blues. Our competition is basically the battle for 4/5 in the NZ conference. Last year we lost two tight ones; hoping this time to get up and get a win.

Fark me though, it feels too soon for footy. Last year our season was over before the cricket season finished

[Dice]

Why did Nanai re-sign with us last year?

Backrow looks underwhelming, but Taramai has had a good pre-season, so hopefully he's due for a better second season.

Rieko and Duffie might have to get their attacking opportunities from kicks.

@duluth said in Highlanders vs Blues:

Fingers crossed that some of Pulu's passes are accurate.

Most fans would want most of their halfback's passes to be accurate, but we just want 'some'.

I could live with some bad passes if he played with tempo.

[taniwharugby]

@dice surely with Pulu, it should be hopefully Pulu simply passes, good bad or otherwise...

[Bovidae]

Ha, TJ as the commentator.

[gt12]

This is fun.

Collins gives away the penalty. 3-0.

[taniwharugby]

Lienert-Brown probably shoulda passed

[Stargazer]

Dayum! I'm getting tired from just watching this. What a pace. This is real rugby, not that slow rubbish from the NH.

[gt12]

@taniwharugby

He still would have had plenty of work to do, but I’m with you. I was screaming at em to pass it.

Probably can’t hear me from Tokyo.

[Stockcar86]

You know how you don't miss something till it is gone?

The opposite applies to Justin Marshall

[Steven Harris]

Brilliant from Gatland looking really good,some great lead up work from SBW,

[taniwharugby]

still a couple of 'flat' passes being let go

But good work from SBW and Gatland

[gt12]

@steven-harris

Good work - saw the mismatch and took advantage. If he runs a bit and slows the defense, that Blues backline will get more and more dangerous.

Cracking pass from Hoffman there too.

[Steven Harris]

Cracking pace,the Blues have got to nail the little things

[KiwiMurph]

Im glad Collins is there for communication....

[gt12]

Landers player a mile offside there.

[Dice]

Gatland looking good.

Preston and Collins looking out of their depth.