Blues 2019
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@Steven-Harris Moulds deserved more time on field. Lineout throwing his Achilles heel early on but that is substantially better now (but it sticks) so to see him warming the bench for 70 to 80 mins per game says something the Blues setup and the rotation of Harbour Coaches through the Blues setup. They kept signing Moulds, he their no 2 hooker and when he plays he is actually quite good. The Crusaders are constantly rotating players but Parsons (who is hardly athlete) gets more time on the field than Codie Taylor.
What’s the word on Jordan Olsen? He has been great for Northland - does he have the size and power for Super 15?
@kev he is listed as 1.8m and 103kg, up close is a pretty solid unit, not as big as Moulds (6ft 2/1.88) but then Taylor & Coles are only 1.83/106 and 1.84/108kg...so if Olsen was training full time I expect he would get up there (obviously unlikely to grow taller...) but seems a very strong runner (he made alot of ground last year) with solid defence.
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Olsen and Kurt Ecklund were both excellent for the Blues in the Brisbane 10's last season but have yet to be chosen for development team this year. Ecklund has not even appeared in club rugby yet so must still be injured or has moved on? This year the Development team has used Loteru Latu and Mike Sosene Feagai.
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Olsen and Kurt Ecklund were both excellent for the Blues in the Brisbane 10's last season but have yet to be chosen for development team this year. Ecklund has not even appeared in club rugby yet so must still be injured or has moved on? This year the Development team has used Loteru Latu and Mike Sosene Feagai.
@Daffy-Jaffy Eklund seems to be living in Waihi.
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Not cut, wouldn’t have signed him in the first place. It was moronic to sign a third 12 when there was a centre sized hole in the squad.
I’m sure Tana the dumbass was planning on playing Ioane at 13.
And I’ll bite on the journeyman dig, TJ was instrumental in winning us the first title in years. Fully earned his starting spot, and unlike the 12s in the squad his form is recent, not six years ago.
@Kirwan said in Blues 2019:
And I’ll bite on the journeyman dig, TJ was instrumental in winning us the first title in years. Fully earned his starting spot, and unlike the 12s in the squad his form is recent, not six years ago.
Faiane is not the journeyman. Absolutely rate him and would have selected him and go along with KiwiMurph's assessment.
If you aren't picking Nonu who is this specialist 13 that would have taken his squad position? There is an apparent above average Super Rugby level player or promising young guy who was available last year that I can think they overlook. All that was left were journeymen who happened to wear 13 a little more recently than Nonu while he was having a world class career in 12.
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@Steven-Harris Moulds deserved more time on field. Lineout throwing his Achilles heel early on but that is substantially better now (but it sticks) so to see him warming the bench for 70 to 80 mins per game says something the Blues setup and the rotation of Harbour Coaches through the Blues setup. They kept signing Moulds, he their no 2 hooker and when he plays he is actually quite good. The Crusaders are constantly rotating players but Parsons (who is hardly athlete) gets more time on the field than Codie Taylor.
What’s the word on Jordan Olsen? He has been great for Northland - does he have the size and power for Super 15?
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Olsen wouldn't be out of place in a SR squad. The problem for him is if Moulds sticks around for another NPC, or Northland signs another hooker, how can he force his way in? He really needs a full season as a starter to demand selection
Unless he requests a release, according to the list on taniwha.co.nz Moulds is signed for this season.
Campbell Matthews was on the bench a few times last year, but got buggar all time, so unless another hooker appears on the horizon, I'd say we will run with those 3 again.
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Looks like Rieko won't be resting this week.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/387247/rieko-running-hot-for-blues
I think Rieko will get one of his rests against the Brumbies, then the other against either the Reds or Bulls.
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Unless he requests a release, according to the list on taniwha.co.nz Moulds is signed for this season.
Campbell Matthews was on the bench a few times last year, but got buggar all time, so unless another hooker appears on the horizon, I'd say we will run with those 3 again.
@taniwharugby
Greg PT is back to playing post surgery recovery, so maybe he’s looking for a spot somewhere.
Then again Olsen played really well when Moulds was injured so I’d be happy seeing him get the start and even captaincy, if required. But....... is he going to WC with Canada? -
@taniwharugby
Greg PT is back to playing post surgery recovery, so maybe he’s looking for a spot somewhere.
Then again Olsen played really well when Moulds was injured so I’d be happy seeing him get the start and even captaincy, if required. But....... is he going to WC with Canada?@Northlandallday had heard Canada had thier eye on a couple of Taniwha!
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@Duluth my spies are telling me that the Blues are currently involved in talks with Robbie Abel which is a good move in my opinion,very experienced at super level and good enough to push the Parsons project..I do like the idea of carrying a really good young promising hooker..
Both Moulds and Apisai will be gone come seasons end.@Steven-Harris if Blues are talking to Abel, then they’ve been turned down by their other options.
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@Steven-Harris if Blues are talking to Abel, then they’ve been turned down by their other options.
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@Northlandallday
Man you really don't rate him, eh.@Tim Abel’s good, it’s just not who I believe they were chasing.
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@Tim Abel’s good, it’s just not who I believe they were chasing.
@Northlandallday So who are they chasing?
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@taniwharugby
Greg PT is back to playing post surgery recovery, so maybe he’s looking for a spot somewhere.
Then again Olsen played really well when Moulds was injured so I’d be happy seeing him get the start and even captaincy, if required. But....... is he going to WC with Canada?@Northlandallday Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
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@Northlandallday Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019:
Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
That’s his 5th NPC side
BOP, NH, Auckland, Canterbury & Southland
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019:
Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
That’s his 5th NPC side
BOP, NH, Auckland, Canterbury & Southland
@Duluth said in Blues 2019:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019:
Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
That’s his 5th NPC side
BOP, NH, Auckland, Canterbury & Southland
Is he just searching for quality playing time?
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Not so sure that I agree that getting rid of Tuipolotu is a good idea. But, the rest of the argument is interesting - given that it basically revolves around getting rid of Parsons
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Not so sure that I agree that getting rid of Tuipolotu is a good idea. But, the rest of the argument is interesting - given that it basically revolves around getting rid of Parsons
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@gt12 May also need to realign tactics to make better use of a big, ball carrying pack.
Would be interesting to see the difference that the high workrate of Scrafton makes. Also, playing combinations of Hodgman/OfaT and KarlT/Renata.
@Tim Yep, essentially just saying that bringing in some structure (i.e., a bit of fucking coaching) can get them part way there. That's an improvement, but Panadol will also have to work out how to use some of the new pieces he has here, or he's no better than Hammett.
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@Tim Yep, essentially just saying that bringing in some structure (i.e., a bit of fucking coaching) can get them part way there. That's an improvement, but Panadol will also have to work out how to use some of the new pieces he has here, or he's no better than Hammett.
