Blues 2019

Tim

@gt12 Yep, especially when you consider that Auckland's forward pack (led by a huge game from Tuipulotu) really dominated Ta$man's last year, playing against that structure.

Tim

@Tim I should add that the Auckland coaches also nailed the crucial "teach these fucking idiots how to set up options for exits" role too ...

African Monkey

@gt12 I agree with everything he said tbh. @Tim makes a good point though. Should we be playing with that structure if we don't have the right players to play with it? I do look forward to seeing MacDonald's recruitment in the off season as he virtually gets a free pass this year.

Steven Harris

This article highlights why Parsons should never have been re signed ,he’s like the bad stench that’s coming from a part of the house and it’s gonna take another 2 years to find..
What makes him harder to move on is the fact he’s on the leadership team which almost borders on nepotism with nobody else getting crack regardless of how he plays.
On the radio sport show he appears on,he spoke about the Blues having more depth and competition for places apart from hooker me thinks.
however the article does empathise there is an issue in terms of fitness when fatigue sets in,decision making becomes sloppy.

With Melani Nanai off contract next year,I would the Blues to have crack at a fullback who has got a big boot than can at least carve off good metres when clearing from the red zone..
The chiefs used James Lowes really well as kicking option when clearing the 22..one person that comes to mind is David Havili,with so much competition at the Crusaders in the back 3,I would love to see the Blues have a crack at Havili
Sean Stephenson has a big boot,but my concern is the flakyness of the Harbour player.

Duluth

@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:

With Melani Nanai off contract next year,I would the Blues to have crack at a fullback who has got a big boot than can at least carve off good metres when clearing from the red zone..

Two injuries haven't helped the kicking game from the back. The starting fullback was probably going to be Perofeta, with Trainor backing him up.

Trainor has been erratic until the 2018 season with Auckland.. he may have turned the corner

Dice

What's the deal with Trainor's injury? He's been out all season. His best shot to get into the game day team was these last couple of games with SBW and Telea out. Hopefully he gets an opportunity at some point, we need to see if he can kick on at this level.

KiwiMurph

@Dice I think it was multiple injuries. I think he got injured again after recovering from the first injury.

Tim

Now that Harris and Coltman are off the market, the following are still available:

Abel (Rebels)
Sosene-Feagai (Blues dev, Auckland)
Eklund (still playing?)
Tolai (Blues dev, Harbour)
Olsen (Northland)
Taukei'aho (Chiefs)
Makalio (Crusaders)
Funnell (Crusaders)
Pleasants-Tate (ehhhh, Southland)

Not interested in:

Niuia
O'Reilly

Any NPC players worth looking at? Will Apisai develop further?

Probably the three most promising are Abel, Taukei'aho, and Makalio. Either of Abel or Makalio starting, with Taukei'aho off the bench.

Canes4life

@Tim has Riccitelli been snapped up?

Tim

@Canes4life Yeah, all three Hurricanes hookers will be back next year.

taniwharugby

@Tim mate, your dreaming!

Parsons is likely to be starting next year again, at worst he will be the impact player off the bench...

Tim

Midfield is also going to be an issue next season. Faiane, Tele'a, and Ioane are the signed centre options, with Faiane and Plummer covering 12. I guess that Clarke may be able to play 13 too.

Who's available next year?

Tumua Manu (Chiefs)
Bailyn Sullivan (Chiefs)
Orbyn Leger (Chiefs)
Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs dev, Waikato)
Jack Goodhue (dreaming, Crusaders)
Braydon Ennor (Crusaders)
Rob Thompson (Highlanders)
Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Highlanders)
Jonah Lowe (Hurricanes)
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
Michael Little (probably on too much cash in Japan)
Thomas Aoake (Blues dev, Ta$man)
Tamati Tua (Northland, former Blues)
Scott Gregory (Northland, Blues dev)
Blake Hohaia (Northland)
Harrison Groundwater (Harbour)
Loketi Manu (Harbour)

Of the realistic options, Manu would be first choice. Would love to get Little to share 12 with Faiane, and Ennor to play at 13. Leger is still promising at 12. Scott Gregory is likely to be the U20 player that gets signed?

There's going to be a lot of promising midfield backs on display in the NPC. Matt Johnson might be up at Northland too. Really looking forward to that competition. Anyone know who's likely to play for Ta$man?

Tim

@Nogusta said in Blues 2019:

Zarn Sullivan brother of Chiefs Bailyn Sullivan.

I see he's playing for College Rifles now. Think he'll play for Auckland this year?

Dice

@Tim You need to let go of Little, Tim haha.

I'd love Tupaea here, but apparently he didn't want to come here. He'll likely be with the Chiefs next year.

Wouldn't be surprised if Manu still has a year left with the Chiefs. It'd be nice if we could get that Faiane-Manu combo next year though.

Tim

@Dice said in Blues 2019:

Wouldn't be surprised if Manu still has a year left with the Chiefs. It'd be nice if we could get that Faiane-Manu combo next year though.

Thought it was only a one year contract, but may be wrong!

Dice

It'll be interesting to see if Manu goes in for Samoa this year. If he does, that might mean we get to see how a Faiane-Telea midfield goes for Auckland.

Chris B.

@Tim said in Blues 2019:

Anyone know who's likely to play for Ta$man?

Well, Levi Aumua for one!!! (You ungrateful bastard!).

Havili and Nankivell will likely play alongside him - assuming Havili isn't with the ABs.

shack

@Tim we might have a good chance of signing Manu with the Chiefs needing to find a spot for Quin Tupaea.
Scott Gregory is a must. He has massive potential and looked really good for Northland last year.
I’m looking forward to seeing Tomas Aoake play for Harbour this year, hopefully he has a good season and can get selected for the Blues. He can cover center, wing and fullback which will be good value for us.
Could Nonu go again in 2020??

Nogusta

@shack pretty sure Scott Gregory will be signed for next year unless he sticks with 7s? Covers midfield and back 3 if needed. Blues are big on him. Has come right through their development programme right from U16s so should be a priority signing for them. Agree re Aoake.

Tim

James Parsons has plenty of professional rugby experience, having achieved the rare double of earning over 100 caps at both provincial and Super Rugby level. The last player to do this was Caleb Ralph, who hasn’t played Super Rugby in eight years.

It’s Parsons’ considerable experience that has seen him earn a pair of caps for New Zealand, against Scotland in 2014 and Australia in 2016. At 32 years of age, he’s also on par with Coles as being the oldest of New Zealand’s current crop of hookers.

Beyond experience, however, Parsons is simply a grafter, willing to do whatever job is required on the rugby field.

It’s therefore no major surprise to see Parsons show up as middle of the pack in many stats – he does a bit of everything but doesn’t particularly excel in any facet of the game. He touches the ball often – second only to Taylor – but doesn’t make a lot of ground when in possession, nor does he bust many tackles.

Parsons also makes the fewest tackles of New Zealand’s hookers – and is shrugged off by opposition more often. The Blues lineout also operates at only 84% when Parsons is throwing the ball into the lineout.

Overall, Parsons’ stats are fairly underwhelming. He tends to get involved in a wide range of areas of the game but is fairly ineffective at what he does. He’s been capped by New Zealand before and could be a worthy squad member, if only for his experience, but the other hookers at the All Blacks’ disposal have considerably more upsides.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/all-blacks-watch-how-are-new-zealands-hookers-faring-in-super-rugby

The Silver Fern

Blues 2019