Blues 2019

African Monkey

Tu'inukuafe
Parsons (more because of a lack of options)
Tu'ungafasi
Tuipulotu
Goodhue
Papali'i
Gibson
A Ioane
Pulu (like Parsons a lack of options and a Tana favourite)
Black
R Ioane
SBW
Aumua
Nanai (Will probably be Duffie)
Anyone but Collins but it will be him
Moulds
Hodgman
Mafileo/Renata
Brown
Robinson/Sotutu but will be Tupou
Ruru
Perofeta
Nonu

Tim

Only things I'm happy about are the props.

Really haven't improved over last year. Still no centre, no new kicking options in midfield or the back three from exits, no class at halfback, very average hookers. Ioane only decent centre option, which will leave wings lacking power.

Gutted for Olmstead. Pierce over Whetton ...

Machpants

So Scott Gregory is unavailable for Blues (U20/7s), and unavailable for U20s (SR/7s) - he's in the 7s team???

KiwiMurph

@tim pretty good summary.

On the positive side I'm glad Trainor made it and i'm pleased with Lindenmuth and Renata.

Way too many average players - namely Apisai, Collins, Nock, Pulu, all 3 hookers.

Tana to get fired - hopefully Hanks and the CEO too. Squad cleanout to occur for next year.

African Monkey

@tim Yeah things don't look like changing. Poor recruitment has fucked us (again).

MacDonald and Coventry have a massive task ahead of them.

KiwiMurph

Some more interesting notes - Rieko to play on the wing and Harry Plummer is heading over to London for a few weeks to work with Nick Evans and Harlequins.

Tim

Best team they could put on the park:

Tu'inukuafe

Parsons

Tu'ungafasi

Tuipulotu

Scrafton

Papali'i

Gibson

A Ioane

Pulu

Black

Clarke

SBW

R Ioane

Nanai

Trainor

Moulds

Hodgman

Mafileo/Renata

Goodhue/Cowley-Tuioti

Robinson/Sotutu

Ruru

Perofeta

Nonu

Tim

@kiwimurph I probably won't bother watching unless they win early matches.

Hooroo

How come Ioane won't be on the wing? Surely Nonu and SBW midfield?

KiwiMurph

@hooroo Rieko will be on the wing. Tana said it himself today.

Tim

@hooroo He will play on the wing. SBW and Nonu would be a very slow midfield.

I have zero enthusiasm for Nonu.

Aumua is a fucking joke selection. I'm not laughing though.

African Monkey

@kiwimurph He's just having us on. We all know he's gonna try and sneak him back in at 12 once our geriatrics Nonu and SBW break down.

Steven Harris

Unfortunately the Blues still looking the weakest of all the squads,and the biggest thing that stands out is intellect..
This is one of the vagaries of signing guys for 2 x years,if they don’t perform in their first year ,then you are stuck with them for the 2nd year..Leni Apaisi comes to mind,why Micheal Collins was re signed is beyond me ..
Who’s gonna lead this team..?,and I don’t see smarts from August Pulu..
Feel incredibly sorry for Evan Olmstead,but there will be injuries, you only have to mention the Karl Tunukuafe story to realise what can happen if the opportunity arises..

Daffy Jaffy

@steven-harris The Sunwolves should be on the phone as we speak to Olmstead and Abel!

gt12

@daffy-jaffy

Great point. Shit I hope they pick them up.

Daffy Jaffy

The five best hookers in the region missed out! Abel, Sosene-Faegai, Olsen, Ekland, Wright.

KiwiMurph

@daffy-jaffy This is what happens when you sign Apisai to a 2 year deal last year that he had no business getting. He was on the bench behind Aumua for Wellington and looked every bit the journeyman he is. They are stuck with him. So awful.

mariner4life

Collins is a deadset spud. It would be worth paying him out and fucking him off.

Who picked up Rayasi?

Couple of guys who stood out for a champion NPC side can't get a run? What the actual? Why Blues why? The Auckland Browns

Daffy Jaffy

Olmstead or Redlinger-Kapa for Tupou, Matich or Choat for Brown, Abel and Sosene-Faegai or Eckland for Moulds and Apasai and I would be Ok with the forwards.
Apasai can't make the top 3 hookers in Wellington!

KiwiMurph

@mariner4life Canes got Rayasi.

The Silver Fern

Blues 2019