Blues 2020
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@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.
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
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.
Yeah, there's a lot of 6 cover in the squad so that suggests Papali'i will be used at 7 often
I agree it's not his best position. For some reason his judgement is off and he pushes the refs too hard.. hopefully he fixes that quickly.
I've been saying for a year that I think he's the best blindside in NZ. I hope he still gets significant time in his best spot.It's more about Gibson fading a little IMO. If it's a choice between Robinson or Gibson in the starting xv, Gibson misses out.
That has implications for the captaincy
Last year it was co-captains: Tuipulotu and Gibson. No captain has been announced yet but I assume it will Tuipulotu on his own
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
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.
Yeah, there's a lot of 6 cover in the squad so that suggests Papali'i will be used at 7 often
I agree it's not his best position. For some reason his judgement is off and he pushes the refs too hard.. hopefully he fixes that quickly.
I've been saying for a year that I think he's the best blindside in NZ. I hope he still gets significant time in his best spot.It's more about Gibson fading a little IMO. If it's a choice between Robinson or Gibson in the starting xv, Gibson misses out.
That has implications for the captaincy
Last year it was co-captains: Tuipulotu and Gibson. No captain has been announced yet but I assume it will Tuipulotu on his own
@Duluth While I think the captaincy is good for P.T. i'm not sure he is that good a captain if you know what I mean. It seems to fire him up to play well but he may be not verbal enough with his team or so strategically aware . TJ.F has been mentioned as an option. Papalii has been seen as a leader since his school days but maybe too early yet?
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@Duluth While I think the captaincy is good for P.T. i'm not sure he is that good a captain if you know what I mean. It seems to fire him up to play well but he may be not verbal enough with his team or so strategically aware . TJ.F has been mentioned as an option. Papalii has been seen as a leader since his school days but maybe too early yet?
@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah Patty's always been a quiet guy in general which is why I was suprised he ever got the gig in the first place. I'd prefer TJ Faiane to have it tbh.
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@Duluth While I think the captaincy is good for P.T. i'm not sure he is that good a captain if you know what I mean. It seems to fire him up to play well but he may be not verbal enough with his team or so strategically aware . TJ.F has been mentioned as an option. Papalii has been seen as a leader since his school days but maybe too early yet?
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@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah Patty's always been a quiet guy in general which is why I was suprised he ever got the gig in the first place. I'd prefer TJ Faiane to have it tbh.
@African-Monkey said in Blues 2020:
@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah Patty's always been a quiet guy in general which is why I was suprised he ever got the gig in the first place. I'd prefer TJ Faiane to have it tbh.
They couldn't of picked a more introverted duo than Blake and Patty to be co-captains. Both seem to hate the camera and neither really talk all that much on the field.
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@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
Long term I’d prefer Papali’i over TJ
Maybe next year?
Pick Dalton so they keep him on the damn field
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BLUES UNDER 17’S SELECTED FOR 2020
The Blues Under 17 Development Squad for 2020 is:
Manase Mahunga – Aorere College
Faka’aongo Lea’aemanu – Auckland Grammar
Falcon Leasuasu – Auckland Grammar
Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo – Auckland Grammar
Gage Jackson – Auckland Grammar
Fionn McKenna – Auckland Grammar
Xavier Enesi Saifoloi – Botany
Lucas Payne – Dargaville HS
Iain Onosi – DeLaSalle
Lima Enosa – DeLaSalle
Joeseph Tunumafono Sale – DeLaSalle
Dylan Roxburgh – Howick College
Nicholas Snyman – Howick College
Matthew Monaghan – Huanui College
Kobe Walters – Kamo High School
Tony Tafa – Kelston Boys
Senta Luaki – Kelston Boys
Zyon Maiu’u – Kelston Boys
Corey Natano – Cassidy – Kelston Boys
Cephus Salaivao – Kelston Boys
Dominic Gagaeolo – Kelston Boys
Dorian Guagatao – Kelston Boys
Kobe Scutt – Kelston Boys
Sam Howling – Kelston Boys
Lucas Casey – Kerikeri HS
Sam Harper – Kerikeri HS
Francis Manuleleua – Kings College
Eric Vaafusuaga – Kings College
Che Clarke – Kings College
Chicago Doyle – Kings College
Zinzan Hansen – Massey High
Jerry Vibose – Massey High
Henare Leefe – Mt Albert Grammar
Jackson Meacham – Mt Albert Grammar
Tama Anderson – Mt Albert Grammar
Mike Kafoa – Otahuhu College
Mose Tuialii – Otahuhu College
Tony Malamala – Papatoetoe
Truman Cuff – Rosmini College
Josiah Unga – Sacred Heart
Kobe Kay – Sacred Heart
PJ Uiese – Sacred Heart
Adam Tamati – Sacred Heart
Ale Aho – St Kentigerns
Taine Kolose – St Kentigerns
Will Bason – St Kentigerns
Jade Stewart – St Kentigerns
Konrad Toleafoa – St Peters College
Ajay Faleafaga – St Peters College
Jeremiah Asi – St Peters College
John Steele – Takapuna Grammar
Hunter Rice – Takapuna Grammar
Mene Manase – Tangaroa College
Mounir Ramach – Te Kuru Kaupapa Maori o Taumarere
Righard Snyman – Westlake Boys
Will Evans – Westlake Boys
Chandler Cunningham-South – Westlake Boys
Caleb Falloon – Westlake Boys
Rupeti Tavui – Westlake Boys
Koha Mahanga – Whangarei Boys -
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
Is that every 16yo rugby player in Auckland?
Pretty sure he's too old.
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
Is that every 16yo rugby player in Auckland?
Pretty sure he's too old.
Former blues and crusaders lossie brendon o Connor has signed with the sunwolves for 2020
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
Is that every 16yo rugby player in Auckland?
Pretty sure he's too old.
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@Bones I just look old and lack top end pace, a bit of height and well, ability, otherwise...
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2020:
@Bones I just look old and lack top end pace, a bit of height and well, ability, otherwise...
Reckon you should contact Northampton they might be interested.
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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.
@Tim By the sounds of things, Rieko will be the first choice 13. Marchant probably has to play on the wing at first. Like you, I'd prefer it the other way around.
I wish we saw more of Narawa at fullback to see if he's a proper option there, but it was too small a sample to really say. In saying that, I don't want to break a talent like him, so play him on the wing to be safe.
I'd have Sotutu on the bench ahead of Gibson. I'm not sure Gibson adds much as a bench option. Sotutu's also on his last year of his contract and we have to play him if we want to keep him longer. The way we barely used him last season, we're already on the back foot to retain him.
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@Tim By the sounds of things, Rieko will be the first choice 13. Marchant probably has to play on the wing at first. Like you, I'd prefer it the other way around.
I wish we saw more of Narawa at fullback to see if he's a proper option there, but it was too small a sample to really say. In saying that, I don't want to break a talent like him, so play him on the wing to be safe.
I'd have Sotutu on the bench ahead of Gibson. I'm not sure Gibson adds much as a bench option. Sotutu's also on his last year of his contract and we have to play him if we want to keep him longer. The way we barely used him last season, we're already on the back foot to retain him.
I'm pissed that they signed Tony Lamborn
They could of signed mitch Jacobson instead -
I'm pissed that they signed Tony Lamborn
They could of signed mitch Jacobson instead@Jonty-lean totally agree, Mitch Jacobson would have been a much better fit, the other 7 who was a little stiff not to have picked up a contract was Slade McDowall from Otago..
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Some players to look out for in the Blues Colts or Dev Team:
Soane Vikena
Taufa Funaki
Zarn Sullivan
Lemeki Namoa
Rob CobbFreedom Vaha’akolo and AJ Lam are a couple of others.
@Tim always been impressed with AJ Lam..really strong in contact
