Stormers vs Blues

pakman

@Stargazer, thanks for write up. On reflection, I agree Stormers were very disappointing. One player who was symbolic for me was PSDT, World POF, who seemed pretty anonymous, despite the peroxide.

Blues did Stormers over at breakdown, which pointed to difference Papali'i made -- but were the Stormers just poor?

Rieko was well controlled by them. Not much X factor.

Karl T seemed to have edge when Stromers pushed straight. Louw sevral times was allowed to bore in on Eklund. The one time Karl T countered by lifting HE was pinged.

I thought Jaco had a good match, which is not something I say often about Saffar refs.

All said and done, the tour has forged something at the Blues, and long may it continue.

ACT Crusader

Great coaching

Balance of the side almost right. Agree with @KiwiMurph that the 9,10,15 combo looked the best of all the different ones that have played this season.

Ioane looks very short of a gallop.

Hooroo

Just seen on Facebook

5 weeks in and the circle has been completed.

The blues beat the stormers who beat the hurricanes who beat the sharks who beat the highlanders who beat the brumbies who beat the chiefs who beat the crusaders who beat the blues....

Kirwan

@Hooroo said in Stormers vs Blues:

Just seen on Facebook

5 weeks in and the circle has been completed.

The blues beat the stormers who beat the hurricanes who beat the sharks who beat the highlanders who beat the brumbies who beat the chiefs who beat the crusaders who beat the blues....

It's almost like this a close competition or something Hopefully the neagtive commentators will appreciate the comp instead of complaining all the time.

Hooroo

@Kirwan said in Stormers vs Blues:

@Hooroo said in Stormers vs Blues:

Just seen on Facebook

5 weeks in and the circle has been completed.

The blues beat the stormers who beat the hurricanes who beat the sharks who beat the highlanders who beat the brumbies who beat the chiefs who beat the crusaders who beat the blues....

It's almost like this a close competition or something Hopefully the neagtive commentators will appreciate the comp instead of complaining all the time.

Surprisingly close. Blues have finally turned a corner and it looks as though the Crusaders are coming back to the pack. Chiefs and Canes still doing what they do without looking amazing and then there is the Highlanders.

Only three really ropey teams in the comp. Highlanders, Sunwolves and Bulls

Dice

Crazy how much better we've become at defending the maul this season. It use to be automatic 5 pointers or penalties for opposition teams when they would go for a lineout drive inside our 22.

Zero tries from a maul through the first 5 games.

Kirwan

@Dice said in Stormers vs Blues:

Crazy how much better we've become at defending the maul this season. It use to be automatic 5 pointers or penalties for opposition teams when they would go for a lineout drive inside our 22.

Zero tries from a maul through the first 5 games.

And defended multiple against SA sides. Hats off to the forward coach, and overall selection.

Dice

@Kirwan said in Stormers vs Blues:

@Dice said in Stormers vs Blues:

Crazy how much better we've become at defending the maul this season. It use to be automatic 5 pointers or penalties for opposition teams when they would go for a lineout drive inside our 22.

Zero tries from a maul through the first 5 games.

And defended multiple against SA sides. Hats off to the forward coach, and overall selection.

Kudos to Coventry. I thought he had maybe lost his touch after last season, but the pack has mostly looked good this season. Getting the maul defense fixed is a minor miracle.

Tim

That tackle from Tuipulotu on the 4 min mark, with Robinson driving over the top. Brutal.

Tim

Throwing aside, Eklund put in one of the best performances from a hooker we've had in recent seasons. Good work rate and physical impact.

Tim

Really good to see Nock being more assertive and bossing and pushing his forwards around. Would love to see him back himself and have a run.

Daffy Jaffy

@Tim After all those years of bad injuries stopping his progress its good to see Ekland getting his chance at 27 years old. Throwing has always his work on but training full time must be helping. Young Tolai also impressed me with his energy and work rate when he came on, and he is a big unit for a Hooker at 119kgs.

Daffy Jaffy

@Tim Selection of the Half backs will be very interesting when Christie is available. I imagine that MacDonald had him pencilled in as his starter before he was injured. So maybe Ruru misses out.

Tim

@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah, I thought Tolai had a good NPC and was unlucky not to get a contract.

Tim

That tackle on Plummer at the end might need a look at by the judiciary.

Daffy Jaffy

@Tim I watched Tolai from the sideline last season at a Blues Development team game. He was very aggressive and busy and always looking for a tackle to make, a ruck to hit or for a hit up to carry.

Tim

Good performances from 2, 9, 10, and 15 - our recent problem areas. Got to give credit to the coaches for that.

OomPB

Blues were to good on saturday. The Stormers maybe needed this for their next phase of matches which will be challenging starting with the Sharks in two weeks time. They'll need to move forward now without PSdT.

OomPB

and good luck to the Blues. They are much better then most think they are.

African Monkey

@Dice I thought we conceded a few against the Chiefs didn't we? Either way I'm glad we're showing signs of improvement there as I haven't seen the last few games (I think I should stay away from watching more often) . It used to drive me nuts when sides would get automatic 5 pointers against us on the maul.

The Silver Fern

Stormers vs Blues