Blues 2019

[taniwharugby]

@rotated NZ Rugby has a fast track for ex players.

[KiwiMurph]

@rotated wasnt the whole point that they needed more rugby expertise on the board which is why Hart was brought in?

[rotated]

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@rotated NZ Rugby has a fast track for ex players.

They do and it's a poor policy if it extends to Super Rugby head coaching positions (which I don't believe it does).

It's clear from the article and previous moves the NZRU have been behind they want an ex-AB to step in and sprinkle Crusader-dust on the team... which has worked well at the Hurricanes, Warratahs, Wallabies, Cardiff...

[Tim]

From Instagram, Harrison Groundwater, Thomas Aoake, Evan Olmstead, Mike Tamoaieta, Brad McNaughton, and Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa are still training with the team.

[Yeahtheboys]

@Tim who who who who and who?

[Nepia]

@Yeahtheboys said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@Tim who who who who and who?

You must know who Olmstead is - he's the Super rugby Akira.

[Tim]

Matich is there too.

[taniwharugby]

@Tim I think @Steven-Harris mentioned before Xmas he had signed an injury cover contract??

[Tim]

Who's the ginger beard guy in headgear in the last picture? Danny Drake?

[Duluth]

@Tim Isn't that Olmstead?

[Tim]

@Duluth No headgear in the earlier shot. Might have put some on though.

EDIT: Same taping around the wrists, so probably him.

[KiwiMurph]

This was mentioned in Blues newsletter to fans

The first day saw the players straight into testing after two weeks away from team training. Speed, strength and a Bronco Test for fitness were all on the cards with a new Club record set by Jonathan Ruru in the Bronco.

[taniwharugby]

@KiwiMurph did it say the time?

IIRC the previous Blues record (from 2017) was a second or so faster than the AB one (at that time) which was held by Andy Ellis (who had obviously held it for a while)

[KiwiMurph]

@taniwharugby It didn't say the time. It is an interesting development with Ruru coming off a strong M10 Cup and Pulu probably in his last year and with a different coach now doing the selections....

[Tim]

@KiwiMurph Saw a comment on Instagram the other day that Ruru holds the record at Otago too.

[KiwiMurph]

Adrian Choat training with Blues. Nice. He impressed in the Mitre 10 Cup semis and final filling in for Papali'i/Gibson.

[taniwharugby]

@Tim IIRC the previous Blues record was about 4.28, Andy Ellis was about 4.30...?

[Bones]

@taniwharugby bloody hell... This website reckons that's only in the middle of standard times...

https://www.rugbyrenegade.com/5-rugby-fitness-tests/

[taniwharugby]

@Bones maybe it was 3.28? haha I dunno, was around 2 years ago when I saw the records (on paper)...either way, all way quicker than me when I did it last year with my son...

is 1200m all up (assuming my math is correct )

[Bones]

@taniwharugby yeah sure is, that's a very impressive time considering all the stopping and turning. Less than 70 seconds per 400m.