Blues v Reds

[Dice]

@tim He's asked to cover all 3 backrow positions, but doesn't really fit any of the roles that are asked of those positions.

With this being a lost season, I'd rather someone like Havili get as much experience before next season. And if Taramai ends up not being with us next year, it'd make even more sense to give the game time to Havili.

[Tim]

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/match-officials-to-july-1-2/

Blues v Reds
@ Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Glen Jackson
TMO: Ben Skeen

[Machpants]

Egon Seconds, I have never heard of. Wiki says ex Bokke, at least a neutral! What was the last game he ref'd, anyone know?

[Tim]

@machpants On a couple of other forums they're saying he's really incompetent.

[Machpants]

@tim The way these two seasons are going, quite a poetic appointment then

[Tim]

@tim said in Blues vs. Reds:

playing Ioane at 12.

Nigel Yalden was going off about this on the Out of the Box podcast. Seems he is quite a fan of TJ Faiane.

[taniwharugby]

@tim I think playing Ioane at 12 surely nullifies alot of his game, whereas playing someone else at 12, with sole intention of getting it wide to Ioane is a better bet??

[cgrant]

Collins maybe ?

[Tim]

Queensland Reds: Jono Lance, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia'aua, Eto Nabuli, Hamish Stewart, Moses Sorovi, Scott Higginbotham (c), George Smith, Lukhan Tui, Kane Douglas, Harry Hockings, Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, JP Smith.
Reserves: Alex Mafi, Harry Hoopert, Ruan Smith, Caleb Timu, Angus Scott-Young, Tate McDermott, Aidan Toua, Filipo Daugunu.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/105067841/reds-lose-two-players-to-injury-for-super-rugby-clash-with-blues

[akan004]

Reiko has played every minute of the season so far including the three games for the ABs. The one positive of the Blues not qualifying is that Reiko can have a good three week break before the Bledisloe to recharge the batteries.

Great to see Gibson back.

[KiwiMurph]

@akan004 Except for the last time the Blues played when Rieko was rested (v Rebels).

[akan004]

@kiwimurph Really? Ok, wasn't aware of that. Have tried to remove that Rebels game from my memory. Even so, the break will do him good. He's probably played the most minutes out of all the ABs this year.

[Stargazer]

@akan004 said in Blues vs. Reds:

@kiwimurph Really? Ok, wasn't aware of that. Have tried to remove that Rebels game from my memory. Even so, the break will do him good. He's probably played the most minutes out of all the ABs this year.

Nope (not yet), according to the stats, Rieko has played 960 minutes. Scott Barretts is the AB with most minutes (972). The New Zealand player with most minutes is George Bridge (1040 minutes). Overall, the SR player who's played most is Elton Jantjies with 1120 minutes.

Edited to add that - barring injury - Rieko will temporarily overtake S Barrett this weekend because the Crusaders have the bye.

[mimic]

Considering the Crusaders have played an extra game compared to the other NZ franchises, that comes as no surprise.

Barring injury, I expect Reex to play the same number of minutes as Bridge by the end of this week.

[SammyC]

Speaking to a member of the crusaders coaching staff this week he told me they still have to rest Codie Taylor for 1 game per instructions from the ABs.

I assume the blues will have to do likewise for Ioane.

[Stargazer]

@mimic Yep, that's what I said in my edit (which I had already posted before your response).

[Stargazer]

[KiwiMurph]

@stargazer Kaino to captain then I wonder?

[Tim]

[Machpants]

Some of those mug shots are so awful