Blues 2020

[Dice]

@Bones TBH, he's a much better fullback now than when he was here. He was a much better winger than fullback when he was still in NZ.

Reminds me of a recent interview that Pat Lam had with Jim Kayes where he said that Eddie Jones told him that if Piutau and Luatua were eligible for England, he'd select both of them for England.

[Bones]

@MN5 take your pick, but 8:35 was fun.

[MN5]

@Bones said in Blues 2020:

@MN5 take your pick, but 8:35 was fun.

pffffffft. Had to kick, Joeli wouldn't have needed to.

Easy to forget how good Jeff was, always tough to compare with Jonah and Cully.

[Bovidae]

@MN5 said in Blues 2020:

I watched highlights of the Blues vs Natal on facebook today .Vidiri was a big, solid and FAST unit and the way he went round Andre Joubert like he didn't exist without a hand being laid on him was off the charts in a way Wilson or Umaga couldn't have replicated......

Vidiri's acceleration was something to behold for a big man, and very noticeable watching him live.

[MN5]

@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:

@MN5 said in Blues 2020:

I watched highlights of the Blues vs Natal on facebook today .Vidiri was a big, solid and FAST unit and the way he went round Andre Joubert like he didn't exist without a hand being laid on him was off the charts in a way Wilson or Umaga couldn't have replicated......

Vidiri's acceleration was something to behold for a big man, and very noticeable watching him live.

Another to add to the list of AB outside backs who shone brightly but briefly.

[mariner4life]

@MN5 said in Blues 2020:

@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:

@MN5 said in Blues 2020:

I watched highlights of the Blues vs Natal on facebook today .Vidiri was a big, solid and FAST unit and the way he went round Andre Joubert like he didn't exist without a hand being laid on him was off the charts in a way Wilson or Umaga couldn't have replicated......

Vidiri's acceleration was something to behold for a big man, and very noticeable watching him live.

Another to add to the list of AB outside backs who shone brightly but briefly.

Did nothing in black, was cooked by the time his stand down came through

And if you ever run down Goldie like that again...

[taniwharugby]

@mariner4life yep, sadly Joelis best years were while in international isolation.

[Dice]

Fan voted All Time Blues XV + 2nd XV.

As voted by you! Presenting our All-Time Greatest Blues XV!! (and as an extra bonus the 2nd XV)

Some interesting things about the voting:

• 10,000 votes were cast across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Member emails.
• Sir Michael Jones makes BOTH teams. Winning the Openside by public demand and coming second in the Blindside voting.
• The closest fought positions were Loosehead Prop and Halfback. Each spot coming down to 25 votes or less.
• Rupeni Caucaunibuca’s inclusion on the right wing comes at the request of the public (Like ‘Iceman’) receiving more votes than the other choices.
• Carlos Spencer, Zinzan Brooke and Tony Woodcock dominated their respective positions, receiving more than 80% of the votes for their place in the team.

What do you think? Who was unlucky? Who would you switch? Which team wins head to head? Who would you choose as captain and coach?

The winner of the signed jersey will be announced next week!

[Bovidae]

Akira but no Rieko. The Blues have had some great wingers.

[African Monkey]

Michael Jones is in both teams. Swap him out in the 2nd XV with Gus Collins. Was no fan of Lee Stensness but he did more for us than SBW, would also probably have Cashmore ahead of Piutau.

[Bovidae]

@African-Monkey Yep, SBW shouldn't be in there. His best years were with the Chiefs and Crusaders. But he has plenty of fans.

[African Monkey]

@Bovidae Yeah, he got the young people's votes that's for sure, despite barely playing for us and being a big waste of money. I think TJ Faiane has probably contributed more to the Blues than SBW as well....

[Snowy]

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2020:

Michael Jones is in both teams. Swap him out in the 2nd XV with Gus Collins.

Can see why though. He was our best 7 and our second best 6. Gus comes in 3rd for sure.

[Bovidae]

How about Blowers? A short career but he was an integral part of that team.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae Reichlemann played a bit at 6 too IIRC too, he was a bloody good player.

But id have Gus in behind the Iceman, but Iceman cant be in 2 teams either...

[nzzp]

Speaking of backrowers...

could be 28 when he gets back ... could fill a role for us at 6 (Blues and who knows at the higher level). Will be very interesting to see how he adapts back to NZ. Everyone who went to Europe prior to that came back wrecked for teh NZ game.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12328130

[Duluth]

@nzzp said in Blues 2020:

Speaking of backrowers...

If he did come back when he’s 30/31 I’d pick him at lock

[nzzp]

@Duluth Kaino was 32 when he played in 2015 RWC and was excellent.

If Steven came back next year, he'd be turning 30 in April (also, Happy Birthday Steven Luatua - 29 today!). Not sure if he'd be right for a lock - he's shorter than Jerome!

[Duluth]

@nzzp

Loads of loosies at the Blues not as many locks

I've always been sceptical of Kaino being listed as 1.96. Luatua is listed between 1.94 and 1.96 (apparently he was taller at the Blues and AB's than other teams)

I'm reasonably sure Luatua is taller than Kaino regardless of what the stats say

There's plenty of successful shortish locks in SR. Plus with Robinson at 6 there would be plenty of lineout targets

[Bovidae]

For reference (Ardie unavailable).