Blues 2019
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@gt12 We might be the only NZ franchise where he'd have no competition for minutes. He could wait to see if Weber goes overseas after this year and re-sign for the Chiefs, but he might be too pissed off at Cooper by then to do that.
@Dice said in Blues 2019:
@gt12 We might be the only NZ franchise where he'd have no competition for minutes. He could wait to see if Weber goes overseas after this year and re-sign for the Chiefs, but he might be too pissed off at Cooper by then to do that.
Nothing to argue about there. With Rennie and Smith (also at the Saders) they also often switched their two main HBs (eg Drummond & Hall) but we haven’t seen that yet. If we lose TTT, I’ll fucking spew.
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Hopefully they take a hard line with him. If he is introducing negativity like that I would rather he was paid to sit at home and not be involved with the squad at all. Negativity is contagious.
@Duluth said in Blues 2019:
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Hopefully they take a hard line with him. If he is introducing negativity like that I would rather he was paid to sit at home and not be involved with the squad at all. Negativity is contagious.
Agreed. Blues are much better giving Tele'a, Faiane and even Aumua gametime. MacDonald should take the long term view - this season is about setting the Blues up for next year and beyond.
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My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons ,I have also heard much of the reasoning behind Parsons being held onto is in and around his work ethic to training and attention to detail things..he also ticks a lot of boxes in and around playing stats.
I suppose it’s hard to argue with when your picking through a players playing details.My only real issue is,whilst he has great work ethic on and off the paddock..does he really have X Factor..?,I often see him running in Channel 1 and getting rag dolled which in effect creates slow ball because he does not get over advantage line..and to be honest,if you asked ourself this question,is he in the top 5 hookers in this comp..?,probably not..!.
I am hearing that Matt Moulds out of frustration is looking for an overseas contract at the end of this super rugby season.
Personally I would make an offer to Asafo Amua from the Hurricanes as an understudy who at least has X Factor..I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Is this telling us something..?,one thing I will give SBW ,whenever he is not involved in the playing 23,he’s one of the most supportive players in the squad.@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Seems like a teachable moment for both guys. Leon use his experience sitting on benches for a good part of his AB career to show Ma'a how to do it. Nonu can use his experience has a world-class midfielder to teach Rangi the basics of midfield play.
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My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons ,I have also heard much of the reasoning behind Parsons being held onto is in and around his work ethic to training and attention to detail things..he also ticks a lot of boxes in and around playing stats.
I suppose it’s hard to argue with when your picking through a players playing details.My only real issue is,whilst he has great work ethic on and off the paddock..does he really have X Factor..?,I often see him running in Channel 1 and getting rag dolled which in effect creates slow ball because he does not get over advantage line..and to be honest,if you asked ourself this question,is he in the top 5 hookers in this comp..?,probably not..!.
I am hearing that Matt Moulds out of frustration is looking for an overseas contract at the end of this super rugby season.
Personally I would make an offer to Asafo Amua from the Hurricanes as an understudy who at least has X Factor..I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Is this telling us something..?,one thing I will give SBW ,whenever he is not involved in the playing 23,he’s one of the most supportive players in the squad.@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Is this telling us something..?,one thing I will give SBW ,whenever he is not involved in the playing 23,he’s one of the most supportive players in the squad.I think it's telling us that Umaga and Rangi have/had a very different vision of signing Nonu.
Putting him at 13 against the Saders (which showed a loss of edge in pace, especially in defence) then discarding him was a bit dumb. They should be using a SBW/Nonu double act at 12. SBW to start and Nonu to come on and add punch in the last half hour. -
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My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons ,I have also heard much of the reasoning behind Parsons being held onto is in and around his work ethic to training and attention to detail things..he also ticks a lot of boxes in and around playing stats.
I suppose it’s hard to argue with when your picking through a players playing details.My only real issue is,whilst he has great work ethic on and off the paddock..does he really have X Factor..?,I often see him running in Channel 1 and getting rag dolled which in effect creates slow ball because he does not get over advantage line..and to be honest,if you asked ourself this question,is he in the top 5 hookers in this comp..?,probably not..!.
I am hearing that Matt Moulds out of frustration is looking for an overseas contract at the end of this super rugby season.
Personally I would make an offer to Asafo Amua from the Hurricanes as an understudy who at least has X Factor..I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Is this telling us something..?,one thing I will give SBW ,whenever he is not involved in the playing 23,he’s one of the most supportive players in the squad.@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons
Geez i hope not! If they are that desperate to resign him then atleast give him one year contracts otherwise we
are going to end up with another Leni Apisai.
Hopefully Rangi can convince Ben Funnell to come up, he’s 3rd choice at the Crusaders these days but would be a starter for us. Robbie Abel or Greg Pleasants-Tate could be other options. -
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons
Geez i hope not! If they are that desperate to resign him then atleast give him one year contracts otherwise we
are going to end up with another Leni Apisai.
Hopefully Rangi can convince Ben Funnell to come up, he’s 3rd choice at the Crusaders these days but would be a starter for us. Robbie Abel or Greg Pleasants-Tate could be other options.@shack said in Blues 2019:
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons
Geez i hope not! If they are that desperate to resign him then atleast give him one year contracts otherwise we
are going to end up with another Leni Apisai.
Hopefully Rangi can convince Ben Funnell to come up, he’s 3rd choice at the Crusaders these days but would be a starter for us. Robbie Abel or Greg Pleasants-Tate could be other options.He's just a Canterbury version of Parsons.
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@shack said in Blues 2019:
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons
Geez i hope not! If they are that desperate to resign him then atleast give him one year contracts otherwise we
are going to end up with another Leni Apisai.
Hopefully Rangi can convince Ben Funnell to come up, he’s 3rd choice at the Crusaders these days but would be a starter for us. Robbie Abel or Greg Pleasants-Tate could be other options.He's just a Canterbury version of Parsons.
@Nepia said in Blues 2019:
@shack said in Blues 2019:
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons
Geez i hope not! If they are that desperate to resign him then atleast give him one year contracts otherwise we
are going to end up with another Leni Apisai.
Hopefully Rangi can convince Ben Funnell to come up, he’s 3rd choice at the Crusaders these days but would be a starter for us. Robbie Abel or Greg Pleasants-Tate could be other options.He's just a Canterbury version of Parsons.
I almost wrote that Parsons was the Auckland version of funnel earlier
Good backup/ 3rd string hooker. But not enough of an athlete to dominate at super level.
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You'd have to think that Makalio is the most likely to move to the Blues. He's from Auckland, still plays club sevens there, and MacDonald was his coach for several seasons at Ta$man.
Outside of Coles and Taylor is there anyone better than him?
@Tim He's a different sort of player to most of the hookers in NZ - maybe more like that Steve Thompson who played when England won the RWC.
Big unit, not hugely mobile, but with good ball skills - plus he can scrum and hit his lineout targets.
His relative mobility might be an issue for the ABs, where he might not be able to simply slot into a team without adjustments elsewhere - but, he can play.
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On bluesrugbyteam Face book
BTV is back On Facebook live this Tuesday 26 March at 6.30pm!Learn about restrictions on @allblacks in Super Rugby, meet stand-out @northlandrugby loosie Tom Robinson and your chance to put questions to our coach Leon MacDonald in a live Q+A.
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@Duluth yea when he was injured in 2017 he did some video interviews with some of the northland lads, seems a character alright.
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The Blues and New Zealand Rugby have landed two key player signatures with All Blacks Dalton Papalii and Patrick Tuipulotu committing their immediate futures to the Super Rugby side and NZR. Twenty-one-year-old loose forward Papalii, who made his All Blacks Test debut on the Northern Tour last year, has extended his stay at the Blues to at least 2022, while co-captain and lock Tuipulotu has committed for a further year until the end of 2020.Full story: https://theblues.co.nz/papalii-and-tuipulotu-extend-their-stay-with-blues-and-nz-rugby/
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Blues A named to play Chiefs A
: Friday 29th March
: 2:30pm kick off
: Beetham Park, Hamilton-
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
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Leni Apisai
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Marcel Renata
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Jimmy Tupou
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Ben Nee-Nee
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Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
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Jed Brown
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Hoskins Sotutu
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Sam Nock
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William Havili
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Caleb Clarke
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Levi Aumua
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Michael Collins
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Jordan Hyland
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Matt Duffie
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Luteru Tolai
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Lua Li
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Rob Cobb
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Sam Caird
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Kosuke Hattori
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Taufa Funaki
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Zarn Sullivan
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Hawaii Ahokovi
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Masaki Fujisaki
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Cameron Suafoa
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Blues A named to play Chiefs A
: Friday 29th March
: 2:30pm kick off
: Beetham Park, Hamilton-
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
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Leni Apisai
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Marcel Renata
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Jimmy Tupou
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Ben Nee-Nee
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Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
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Jed Brown
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Hoskins Sotutu
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Sam Nock
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William Havili
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Caleb Clarke
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Levi Aumua
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Michael Collins
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Jordan Hyland
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Matt Duffie
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Luteru Tolai
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Lua Li
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Rob Cobb
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Sam Caird
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Kosuke Hattori
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Taufa Funaki
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Zarn Sullivan
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Hawaii Ahokovi
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Masaki Fujisaki
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Cameron Suafoa
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@Nogusta Some interesting names in that squad.
Wonder of we'll see Funaki get a run in the NPC this year?
@Tim With Leon Fukofuka gone we probably will see him get a run. Auckland and Blues have HUGE wraps on him.
Lindenmuth, Tupou, Jed Brown, Clarke, Duffie all making returns from injury. William Havili - younger brother of David Havili so McDonald wouldve had something to do with his being up here. Ahokovi was one of the best on field the last Blues A game against the Hurricanes. Zarn Sullivan brother of Chiefs Bailyn Sullivan.
Thats a decent backline there. -
@Tim With Leon Fukofuka gone we probably will see him get a run. Auckland and Blues have HUGE wraps on him.
Lindenmuth, Tupou, Jed Brown, Clarke, Duffie all making returns from injury. William Havili - younger brother of David Havili so McDonald wouldve had something to do with his being up here. Ahokovi was one of the best on field the last Blues A game against the Hurricanes. Zarn Sullivan brother of Chiefs Bailyn Sullivan.
Thats a decent backline there.
