Blues 2020
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@rotated Tend to disagree about the midfield. Last season SBW hardly played and we ran Nonu and Faiane (out of position at 13) into the ground due to using Tele'a on the wing and not trusting Aumua (rightly so, basically a prop in the 13 jersey and the worst defender at centre I've seen in a long time). Hopefully we can use TJ in his best position this season. The potential issue is they have picked one less midfielder so may use Plummer at 12 if TJ needs rest or is injured. He has the game to play there. Marchant is a class player and has a kicking game so may be able to play 12 but i've not seen him there. Him and Ioane in the centres together could be exciting, especially if they get to run outside Barrett. As for the rest of the squad -
The new hookers are more dynamic than Apisai and Moulds.
Props are the same as last season. Would like to have seen Jarrod Adams in the mix, hopefully in the wtg.
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
Loosies largely the same . Riedlinger-Kapa and Lamborn must be more use than the two food bills they replaced who never played at all last season (Tupou and Brown) They will need openside cover in the wtg though.
Christie had a good npc in a dominant Ta$man team, still must be an upgrade on the erratic Pulu.
Nanai and Clarke are losses but Narawa and Telea bring pace and promise, just lack experience.
After Trainor, who did not play, and the much loved on here Collins (who I see is named in the midfield for the Highlanders where he always belonged so will probably thrive there) Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Here ends my sermon of optimism from a slow night shift. No doubt it will be destroyed by about round 3 - amen.@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Maybe Narawa as well? He looks like an extremely good winger but he did finish the BOP season as a fullback
There's a lot of 10's (even allowing for Barrett's late return) so they must be covering other positions.
I see Heighton is called a "early season replacement player" on the Blues website. Does anyone know who is injured?
I'm guessing Perofeta, because it's always Perofeta -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Maybe Narawa as well? He looks like an extremely good winger but he did finish the BOP season as a fullback
There's a lot of 10's (even allowing for Barrett's late return) so they must be covering other positions.
I see Heighton is called a "early season replacement player" on the Blues website. Does anyone know who is injured?
I'm guessing Perofeta, because it's always Perofeta -
@Duluth Maybe he was originally covering Barrett's early absence until the SBW thing happened then they made him full-time.
@Daffy-Jaffy That makes sense.. the profiles were probably done prior tot he SBW deal
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
I think Tucker basically replaces Tupou as the loose forward who can play lock
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Forwards look similar to last year with some better depth. The two biggest questions IMO are who starts at hooker and who partners Tuipulotu?
I would have Eklund start at Hooker. A good solid hard worker. Niuia is perfect for an impact role off the bench.
Hopefully Parsons drops back into a mentor/injury cover role.I would give Pierce the first opportunity in the second row after a strong NPC. His stats seem incorrect the Blues website, Harbour lists him as 2.02 and 112kg which seems about right.
He's already more abrasive than GCT and Goodhue even though he's still adding muscle to his frame -
@rotated re: the midfield - Coach Leon confirmed this morning on Radio sport that once they knew SBW was leaving the plan B was to use Plummer to cover 12 as there were no suitable midfielders available. They then chose to bring in the promising young 10/15 Jack Heighton to learn and develop from being around Barrett etc. He also said that Marchant covers centre wing and fullback. So its good to have another fullback option.
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@rotated re: the midfield - Coach Leon confirmed this morning on Radio sport that once they knew SBW was leaving the plan B was to use Plummer to cover 12 as there were no suitable midfielders available.
When was that? Leon was flagging SBW was gone as early as June, and anyone with foresight would have seen that he was moving on before the season started. Even if he re-signed how could any faith be put in his fitness?
Speaking of Rangi I did enjoy him on the Breakdown trying to play off the Barrett signing as though the move was at least in part because he was so impressed with playing the Blues last season.
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I'd assume that if he's living in Remuera then it'll be College Rifles not that it matters haha.
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Six locks explained?
The absence of several others is also likely to be keenly felt. Tough lock Scott Scrafton has signed with the Hurricanes and the Blues may lack a bit of depth in his area early in the season, with All Black Patrick Tuipulotu a possibility to start a little later and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti recovering from a shoulder injury.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12284607
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Six locks explained?
The absence of several others is also likely to be keenly felt. Tough lock Scott Scrafton has signed with the Hurricanes and the Blues may lack a bit of depth in his area early in the season, with All Black Patrick Tuipulotu a possibility to start a little later and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti recovering from a shoulder injury.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12284607
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@Tim why didn't they sign Geoff cridge
@Jonty-lean I think they have better players signed to be honest.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@rotated re: the midfield - Coach Leon confirmed this morning on Radio sport that once they knew SBW was leaving the plan B was to use Plummer to cover 12 as there were no suitable midfielders available.
When was that? Leon was flagging SBW was gone as early as June, and anyone with foresight would have seen that he was moving on before the season started. Even if he re-signed how could any faith be put in his fitness?
Speaking of Rangi I did enjoy him on the Breakdown trying to play off the Barrett signing as though the move was at least in part because he was so impressed with playing the Blues last season.
@rotated said in Blues 2020:
When was that?
Radio sport Wednesday morning after 7:30am sports news. I tried to sort a link for you but the 'week on demand' page isn't working for me. Won't load anything before Thursday. You could try it yourself here -
https://www.radiosport.co.nz/on-demand/week-on-demand/#panel4 -
Six locks explained?
The absence of several others is also likely to be keenly felt. Tough lock Scott Scrafton has signed with the Hurricanes and the Blues may lack a bit of depth in his area early in the season, with All Black Patrick Tuipulotu a possibility to start a little later and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti recovering from a shoulder injury.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12284607
@Tim I think I read on here from Steven Harris that Sam Caird will be training with the team as injury cover, I guess that's for C/T. Interestingly MacDonald said on the radio that Tucker can also play 6 and 8 so that explains why he was grouped with the back rowers on some team lists I saw.
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So what's your first choice XXIII?
- Karl T
- Parsons
- Ofa T
- Tuipulotu
- Pierce
- Robinson
- Papalii
- Ioane
- Christie
- Barrett/Plummer
- Ioane
- Faiane
- Marchant
- Narawa
- Perofeta
Reserves:
- Niuia
- Hodgman
- Renata (Thought he went well in NPC in the scrum)
- Tucker/GCT
- Gibson
- Nock
- Tele'a/Plummer
- Duffie/Telea
Hooker and Lock are hard to pick, as are the lock and loose forward reserve. Hopefully there's a healthy level of rotation. Uncertainty over fullback. Wouldn't be surprised to see Marchant and Ioane swap places.
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@rotated said in Blues 2020:
When was that?
Radio sport Wednesday morning after 7:30am sports news. I tried to sort a link for you but the 'week on demand' page isn't working for me. Won't load anything before Thursday. You could try it yourself here -
https://www.radiosport.co.nz/on-demand/week-on-demand/#panel4@Daffy-Jaffy MacDonald said that they wanted Sione Havili, but he chose the Crusaders. Bugger.
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@rotated said in Blues 2020:
When was that?
Radio sport Wednesday morning after 7:30am sports news. I tried to sort a link for you but the 'week on demand' page isn't working for me. Won't load anything before Thursday. You could try it yourself here -
https://www.radiosport.co.nz/on-demand/week-on-demand/#panel4@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@rotated said in Blues 2020:
When was that?
Radio sport Wednesday morning after 7:30am sports news. I tried to sort a link for you but the 'week on demand' page isn't working for me. Won't load anything before Thursday. You could try it yourself here -
https://www.radiosport.co.nz/on-demand/week-on-demand/#panel4Appreciate that. Thanks!
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@Daffy-Jaffy MacDonald said that they wanted Sione Havili, but he chose the Crusaders. Bugger.
@Tim Once that happened I would have chased Mitch Jacobson or Slade McDowell before Lamborn. I was surprised neither was picked by their local team. i guess they wanted experience. Re: your team above, The more I look at the balance of the back rowers picked I think you are right that they will use Papalii at 7. I don't think its his best position but it gets all the best players on the park together.
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So what's your first choice XXIII?
- Karl T
- Parsons
- Ofa T
- Tuipulotu
- Pierce
- Robinson
- Papalii
- Ioane
- Christie
- Barrett/Plummer
- Ioane
- Faiane
- Marchant
- Narawa
- Perofeta
Reserves:
- Niuia
- Hodgman
- Renata (Thought he went well in NPC in the scrum)
- Tucker/GCT
- Gibson
- Nock
- Tele'a/Plummer
- Duffie/Telea
Hooker and Lock are hard to pick, as are the lock and loose forward reserve. Hopefully there's a healthy level of rotation. Uncertainty over fullback. Wouldn't be surprised to see Marchant and Ioane swap places.
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@Daffy-Jaffy MacDonald said that they wanted Sione Havili, but he chose the Crusaders. Bugger.
@Tim Meh, not as fussed about missing out on him as a lot of others are on here. Lamborn's ok as backup.
Still too many glaring holes for me especially in the backs. 9 as usual, depth at 12 and 15 could become problem positions for us. I'd assume that Plummer/Groundwater could see a bit of gametime should Faiane go down. Fullback worries me. Think we're screwed there when Perofeta and Duffie inevitably get injured. Maybe Narawa's worth a look there?
