Blues 2018

KiwiMurph

@tim Good call.

I'm never happy to see players injured but I think it's good for the Blues that they are being forced to give youngsters some gametime to see how they go - It may not be ideal in the short term or ideal for Tana but it will be beneficial in the long run for the Blues.

taniwharugby

@kiwimurph unless the new coach has a cleanout...

KiwiMurph

@taniwharugby I'd like to think a cleanout would be of journeyman...not of talented youngsters...but given the Blues history that is probably wishful thinking!

Duluth

@tim said in Blues 2018:

Faiane and Ioane in the midfield

Faiane and Umaga in the midfield. Ioane to coach.

KiwiMurph

Be interesting to see what sort of team the Blues field for their development team playing Japan A in the curtain raiser.

Tim

Also confirmation that Gerard Cowley-Tuioti is injured too.

Stargazer

Blues 'A' v Japan 'A'
Friday, 20 April, k/o 5.05pm @ Eden Park

This game will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 1.

Japan has already named it's team: https://www.rugby-japan.jp/2018/04/18/japan_a_team_for_blues_a/

KiwiMurph

Looks like Moulds will be fit to be on the bench for the Blues top team then.

Malo Tuitama is an interesting get by the Blues. Was impressive for Wellington and Canes in the Brisbane 10s.

http://theblues.co.nz/apisai-leads-blues-a-against-visiting-japan-a-side/

The Blues A team is: 1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Auckland), 2. Leni Apisai (Blues) ©, 3. Isaac Salmon (Blues), 4. Danny Drake (North Harbour), 5. Jacob Pierce (Blues Replacement, North Harbour), 6. Lyndon Dunshea (Auckland), 7. Antonio Kiri Kiri (Blues Replacement, Manawatu), 8. Matt Matich (Northland); 9. Harrison Levien (Blues Replacement, North Harbour), 10. D’Angelo Leuila (Blues Replacement, Auckland), 11. Malo Tuitama (Blues Replacement, Wellington), 12. Blake Hohaia (Northland), 13. Daniel Hilton-Jones (North Harbour), 14. Mark Telea (North Harbour), 15. Tyler Campbell (Blues Replacement, Waikato).

Reserves: 16. Jordan Olsen (Northland), 17. Franck Friconnet (Auckland), 18. Isi Tuungafasi (Auckland), 19. Kondo Masaki (Honda Heat), 20. Adrian Choat (Auckland), 21. Lewis Gjaltema (North Harbour), 22. Song Gi Paku (Honda Heat), 23. Scott Gregory (Northland), 24. Salesi Rayasi (Auckland), 25. Ben Sa’u (Auckland)

Staff: Tom Coventry: Coach, Otere Black: Asst. Coach, Paul Gianotti: Manager, Simon Kim: Doctor, Harley Mathews: Physio, Julia Herbst: Analyst, John Ryan: Trainer.

taniwharugby

Blake Hohaia has been named there, nice, looked sharp before breaking a bone for us in his brief appearances last year and was the best player on the park in the couple of club games I have watched recently (and one game included Tamati Tua, Josh goodhue) for Kamo

Tim

Interesting to see Eden stalwart, Franck Friconnet, in there, and that Harbour have signed Harrison Levien.

taniwharugby

Tana on radio sport just now...would not confirm/deny if has re-signed for 2019

Dice

Watched Leuila in the Pacific Challenge Cup last month and he looked really impressive.

Duluth

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2018:

Tana on radio sport just now...would not confirm/deny if has re-signed for 2019

Starts at 7mins 20s on this link(mp3 file), continues on this link

Stargazer

Blues 'A' trails 12 - 13 after 30 minutes. I only just started watching, so I don't know who scored the first try. The second was scored by Malo Tuitama. Japan 'A' just scored off a driving maul.

The game is Live on Sky Sport 1.

Stargazer

Lyndon Dunshea scored the Blues 'A' third try.

Half time: Blues 'A' 17 - 13 Japan 'A' (3 tries to 1)

Stargazer

Tuitama - Campbell - Tuitama - Campbell and the latter scores! Great try. Blues 'A' now leads 24 to 13.

Stargazer

Now a very good try to Japan 'A'. The Blues struggle a bit when they have to defend against a line-out maul.

24 - 20 Blues 'A'

Stargazer

Awesome try to Japan. Tuitama earns a yellow card for taking someone out in the air. I'd have to see a replay of that, but my initial thought was that he was going to have red.

It's 27 all.

Stargazer

Japan makes good use of the one-man-more and score after the hooter.

Full time: Blues 'A' 27 - 34 Japan 'A'

Japan 'A' wins its second game in NZ and will play Hurricanes Development next week.

Tim

Fun fact: the Chairman of the Blues board is also a director of Fletcher Building.

The Silver Fern

Blues 2018