Blues 2020
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Be interesting to see if Plummer is back next year.
He could look elsewhere but I'd assume the Blues would want to re-sign him.
Assuming Perofeta is the fullback, someone needs to be Blacks deputy. The other options are Page & Heighton?MacDonald mentioned most of the squad is sorted for next year. I wonder if the players Parsons is talking about are fringe/injured guys like Tucker, Hyland & Carter?
A semi regular player that might be going is GCT. He didn't make the North Island squad and is 28 years old.. might be time to look for an overseas deal?
@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
A semi regular player that might be going is GCT. He didn't make the North Island squad and is 28 years old.. might be time to look for an overseas deal?
Signed for 2021. Although, there was this detail in the press release:
Staying in NZ was a big call for 26-year-old Cowley-Tuioti who had initially looked to take up an option to play in France. Cowley-Tuioti was initially called into the Blues in 2015 as training cover and earned himself a fulltime place in 2016. “Gerard is a player that most teams would love to have,” said Tony Hanks, general manager high performance. “He might be a quiet guy around the club, but he is an outstanding contributor. He does the core roles at set-play well and brings physicality in his general play around the field.
“We know he was targeted by European clubs, and he deserves the opportunity, but we are delighted he has decided to remain with us for a couple more years. He is one of those players that our coaches can rely on to do his job week-in, week-out.”
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Isn't there speculation Eklund is leaving?
Overseas or another SR side?
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Isn't there speculation Eklund is leaving?
Overseas or another SR side?
@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Isn't there speculation Eklund is leaving?
Overseas or another SR side?
Not sure but I think he might be forced out by numbers with speculation for next year the 3 hookers are Parsons, Nuia and young gun Soane Vikena?
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The Blues have room to squeeze in a marquee signing or two for next year’s Super Rugby, and coach Leon MacDonald doesn’t mind saying he hopes it will be to play in a trans- Ta$man competition..
Chief executive Andrew Hore wasn’t giving much away when he was asked earlier this week about potential signings for 2021. But he did say: “There will be a couple I think who will be a bit of a surprise”.
MacDonald wasn’t naming names at this stage either, but confirmed new additions would be minimal in a group that will stay pretty steady.
“We’ve just got a handful,” he said of openings in his squad. “Most of our spots are taken, and the core of this group is going to stay together which is really exciting. There are some draft spots and a couple of extras to fill in, but not a lot..
Also Parsons is out for the rest of the year for concussion recovery.
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Chief executive Andrew Hore wasn’t giving much away when he was asked earlier this week about potential signings for 2021. But he did say: “There will be a couple I think who will be a bit of a surprise”.
Going back to this, Michael Little would be someone who fits that criterion ...
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A couple of things from Parsons:
Akira Ioane is benefiting from the strong squad, as he's not having to do it all himself.
Jacob Pierce is a "beast" in the scrums and loves it.
https://play.acast.com/s/aotearoa-rugby-pod/whatmakessamcanesogood-
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Loose forwards that Hall and Parsons suggested for the All Blacks squad:
Cane, Savea, Papalii, Ioane, Sotutu, Boshier. They rate them all, and the first two highly.
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Loose forwards that Hall and Parsons suggested for the All Blacks squad:
Cane, Savea, Papalii, Ioane, Sotutu, Boshier. They rate them all, and the first two highly.
Interesting they don't rate Frizzel, especially seeing Boshier in that list...
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Loose forwards that Hall and Parsons suggested for the All Blacks squad:
Cane, Savea, Papalii, Ioane, Sotutu, Boshier. They rate them all, and the first two highly.
Interesting they don't rate Frizzel, especially seeing Boshier in that list...
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Chief executive Andrew Hore wasn’t giving much away when he was asked earlier this week about potential signings for 2021. But he did say: “There will be a couple I think who will be a bit of a surprise”.
Going back to this, Michael Little would be someone who fits that criterion ...
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@Nogusta Hope not. We have enough at TH prop and we don't need Laulala.
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He must be ready to sit on the bench then, or Ofa is off overseas.
If that happens (Ofa leaving), I'll be really wild.
For the Chiefs, if fit, we could move Moli back to 3 and still have Ta'avou off the bench, so it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
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He must be ready to sit on the bench then, or Ofa is off overseas.
If that happens (Ofa leaving), I'll be really wild.
For the Chiefs, if fit, we could move Moli back to 3 and still have Ta'avou off the bench, so it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
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If the rumours about Nepo Laulala and Dillon Hunt are correct the Blues attracting players is a change in itself.Injuries are a major consideration in squad depth
This year Tom Robinson,Blake Gibson, Hoskins Sotutu,Stephen Perofeta ,James Parsons to name a few. -
He must be ready to sit on the bench then, or Ofa is off overseas.
If that happens (Ofa leaving), I'll be really wild.
For the Chiefs, if fit, we could move Moli back to 3 and still have Ta'avou off the bench, so it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
@gt12 said in Blues 2020:
For the Chiefs, if fit, we could move Moli back to 3 and still have Ta'avou off the bench, so it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
It looks like Moli, Ta’avao and Laulala are all off-contract this year. I'd be more worried that the Crusaders pick up Moli, given he has moved back to Ta$man.
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decent article below. Highlights how few squad holes we have to fill (at long long last)
