Blues 2020
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Regardless of how the future plays out, Collins looks back at his time with the Blues with some fondness and dismisses criticism of the Auckland franchise's culture.
"Auckland's interesting because you've got such a wide area from where people would have to travel in from for training, whereas in Dunedin everything is obviously five minutes away," he said.
"So, there's obviously restrictions but at my time at the Blues the management found ways around it.
"In the past the Blues used that as excuse. There's a lot of comments about the culture not being good enough but I never found that at all. I loved the culture up there, turning up at training. I'm part of the Highlanders now but I still want the Blues to do well at some stage."
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Player who has never experienced another Super Rugby culture defends culture of Super Rugby team in which he was treated very favourably.
@KiwiMurph Yes, but he communicated it well.
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:
That does not seem like a good appointment Waratahs would be glad to get rid of him
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:
That does not seem like a good appointment Waratahs would be glad to get rid of him
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Here's some background on the Blues new CEO:
Hore, 47, originally from Canterbury, was previously CEO of Ospreys Rugby Club in Wales and before then, was High Performance Manager for New Zealand Rugby. He has a deep background in rugby as director of physical conditioning and player development for the Welsh Rugby Union and conditioning coach for the Crusaders.
https://blues.rugby/former-ospreys-and-waratahs-head-takes-over-at-blues/
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From BOP Mafia Twitter - thoughts?
Congratulations to Baden Wardlaw, the Bay Steamers lock, who has been signed by @BluesRugbyTeam - not linking to the Herald article as it is behind the paywall #SteamTeamHe is 1.98m, 115kgs and 29 years old, but hey Alex Ainley was 33 when he debuted for the Highlanders. I have noticed his play and he does go well for the Steamers, seems physical and accurate in his core roles. His tackle stats are at 94%. The interest for me - is he replacing Scrafton who's gone or have they released Goodhue or Pierce? I hope they keep Pierce myself.
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From BOP Mafia Twitter - thoughts?
Congratulations to Baden Wardlaw, the Bay Steamers lock, who has been signed by @BluesRugbyTeam - not linking to the Herald article as it is behind the paywall #SteamTeamHe is 1.98m, 115kgs and 29 years old, but hey Alex Ainley was 33 when he debuted for the Highlanders. I have noticed his play and he does go well for the Steamers, seems physical and accurate in his core roles. His tackle stats are at 94%. The interest for me - is he replacing Scrafton who's gone or have they released Goodhue or Pierce? I hope they keep Pierce myself.
@Daffy-Jaffy From what I was told, Pierce was kept ahead of Scrafton.
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From BOP Mafia Twitter - thoughts?
Congratulations to Baden Wardlaw, the Bay Steamers lock, who has been signed by @BluesRugbyTeam - not linking to the Herald article as it is behind the paywall #SteamTeamHe is 1.98m, 115kgs and 29 years old, but hey Alex Ainley was 33 when he debuted for the Highlanders. I have noticed his play and he does go well for the Steamers, seems physical and accurate in his core roles. His tackle stats are at 94%. The interest for me - is he replacing Scrafton who's gone or have they released Goodhue or Pierce? I hope they keep Pierce myself.
The Blues could certainly use players who do the dirty work in their pack so happy to see how he will go.
Having more players who have come up the via the hard path rather than star schoolboys on the fast track is probably not a bad thing either!
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@Daffy-Jaffy From what I was told, Pierce was kept ahead of Scrafton.
How much have you seen of Pierce this year? I haven't watched much NPC, but he looked good in what I saw.
That would make four locks (Tuipulotu, GPT, Pierce, Wardlaw) with one to sign. Olmstead?
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How much have you seen of Pierce this year? I haven't watched much NPC, but he looked good in what I saw.
That would make four locks (Tuipulotu, GPT, Pierce, Wardlaw) with one to sign. Olmstead?
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
How much have you seen of Pierce this year? I haven't watched much NPC, but he looked good in what I saw.
That would make four locks (Tuipulotu, GPT, Pierce, Wardlaw) with one to sign. Olmstead?
Josh Goodhue ?
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
How much have you seen of Pierce this year? I haven't watched much NPC, but he looked good in what I saw.
That would make four locks (Tuipulotu, GPT, Pierce, Wardlaw) with one to sign. Olmstead?
Josh Goodhue ?
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How much have you seen of Pierce this year? I haven't watched much NPC, but he looked good in what I saw.
That would make four locks (Tuipulotu, GPT, Pierce, Wardlaw) with one to sign. Olmstead?
@Tim Olmstead would be good. Goodhue doesn't do it for me either. Whetton may stay with the Highlanders as they lost Hemopo. I would like them to take a punt on Sam Caird from Northland. 22 years old, 202cm and 116kgs. He seems to play with good work rate and energy. The Northland fans might have some oil on him. If not maybe pick him up in the wtg. The other forward positions to fill -
1 looseshead - Lindenmuth, Cobb? ( I really like Harris from Auckland).
1 tighthead - Renata, Li?
2 hookers - Abel, Ekland, Tolai, Niuia?
1 openside - Hunt, Havili, Choat, Matich?
1 blindside - Roots, Suafua, Riedlinger-Kapa? ( would love to get Frizzel out of the Highlanders).
Should only be 3 weeks until the squads are named unless they wait a week until the cup final fever dies down. -
@Tim Olmstead would be good. Goodhue doesn't do it for me either. Whetton may stay with the Highlanders as they lost Hemopo. I would like them to take a punt on Sam Caird from Northland. 22 years old, 202cm and 116kgs. He seems to play with good work rate and energy. The Northland fans might have some oil on him. If not maybe pick him up in the wtg. The other forward positions to fill -
1 looseshead - Lindenmuth, Cobb? ( I really like Harris from Auckland).
1 tighthead - Renata, Li?
2 hookers - Abel, Ekland, Tolai, Niuia?
1 openside - Hunt, Havili, Choat, Matich?
1 blindside - Roots, Suafua, Riedlinger-Kapa? ( would love to get Frizzel out of the Highlanders).
Should only be 3 weeks until the squads are named unless they wait a week until the cup final fever dies down.@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Goodhue doesn't do it for me either. Whetton may stay with the Highlanders as they lost Hemopo. I would like them to take a punt on Sam Caird from Northland. 22 years old, 202cm and 116kgs. He seems to play with good work rate and energy. The Northland fans might have some oil on him. If not maybe pick him up in the wtg.
Pari Pari Parkinson? He signed with the Highlanders for 2018/19 but I don't think there's been any confirmation he's with them in 2020?
He has links to the Blues region, has worked with MacDonald before and seemed out of favour with the HighlandersThe Blues seem to have a long term bet on Pierce. He's played well for NH this year. They didn't use him much in 2019 but I think he should start alongside Tuipulotu initially
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How much have you seen of Pierce this year? I haven't watched much NPC, but he looked good in what I saw.
That would make four locks (Tuipulotu, GPT, Pierce, Wardlaw) with one to sign. Olmstead?
@Tim He played well against Auckland. Like you, I haven't watched as much M10 Cup this year due to the RWC, but we'll have to wait and see I guess.
