Reds v Blues
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="566246" data-time="1458522319">
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<p>I see Tana is critical of the ref - and fair enough the reffing was poor, however I wish Tana would focus on some things that are within his control, such as the decision making and general skills of the team. Hall put in a wasteful kick in an early attacking opportunity, West put in a number of aimless kicks, one of which lead to a Reds try, and Sau butchered a try by hogging instead of passing which was then followed up by a stone cold drop by Rieko Ioane. The Blues were generally very poor under the high ball too.</p>
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<p>Would singling out a bunch of young players mistakes in the media really help though? There was an article a few days ago on how Hansen would only single out senior players mistakes, with the idea that it'd set an example and avoid beating up on the younger guys:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11607679'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11607679</a></p>
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<p>Seemed like a smart idea to me.</p>
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<p>As for the ref whinge, if it were any other ref I'd agree with you but Lees is completely out of his depth and Sanzaar needs to wake the fuck up and realise that.</p> -
<p>I'm not sure about Luatua, I've watched all the games multiple times(bless me) and I can't see it. I think he's disappearing for large parts of the game as a 8. I thought he looked best at lock against the Canes where he was stuck in middle of the park and was forced to work, but at 8, he floats in and out of games and doesn't really do much ball carrying or tackling.</p>
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<p>In his games at 8, here are his stats:</p>
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<p>Against the Highlanders - 6 carries and 4 tackles</p>
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<p>Against the Crusaders - 2 carries and 8 tackles.</p>
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<p>Against the Reds - 3 carries and 4 tackles</p>
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<p>In his one game at lock against the Canes, he had 12 carries(more than all the 3 games he started at 8 combined) and 8 tackles.</p>
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<p>Obviously there are other things that aren't accounted for with stats, but from what I've seen, I wouldn't say they're enough to make up for his lack of input in these areas where you expect a 8 to have more input in.</p>
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<p>I think at lock, I think he can be a winner - he isn't that great a ball carrier anymore as a backrower, but as a lock, he'd be above most locks in that area. He's also looking quite good in the line-outs. The game at lock is a very small sample, but it was the most I've seen him involved in a match for awhile.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="566303" data-time="1458530649">
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<p>Would singling out a bunch of young players mistakes in the media really help though? There was an article a few days ago on how Hansen would only single out senior players mistakes, with the idea that it'd set an example and avoid beating up on the younger guys:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11607679'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11607679</a></p>
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<p>Seemed like a smart idea to me.</p>
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<p>As for the ref whinge, if it were any other ref I'd agree with you but Lees is completely out of his depth and Sanzaar needs to wake the fuck up and realise that.</p>
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<p>I didn't say he had to single individuals out, but he could have addressed it as a team issue - the Blues camp talked all week in buildup about decision making and nailing opportunities - something they failed to do vs the Canes the week prior. Well guess what - it was more of the same vs the Reds. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gary" data-cid="566371" data-time="1458558849">
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<p>The way the Blues are playing I'm a bit worried about this weekend - they could be the first team to go down to the Bye.</p>
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<p>check the calendar - you're a year or two late </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="566309" data-time="1458532909">
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<p>I didn't say he had to single individuals out, but he could have addressed it as a team issue - the Blues camp talked all week in buildup about decision making and nailing opportunities - something they failed to do vs the Canes the week prior. Well guess what - it was more of the same vs the Reds. </p>
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<p>What makes you think he hasn't addressed things? You seem to think Tana is absolving the team of responsibility and blaming the ref.</p>
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<p>He has said they need to get better, has also said they need to be smarter adjusting to the ref if his rulings on the night are unexpected.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="566400" data-time="1458586812">
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<p>What makes you think he hasn't addressed things? You seem to think Tana is absolving the team of responsibility and blaming the ref.</p>
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<p>He has said they need to get better, has also said they need to be smarter adjusting to the ref if his rulings on the night are unexpected.</p>
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<p>As a fan all I can judge is the information provided and he didn't address these in his post match press conference from all the quotes I could find. I'm not saying he's not addressing them in private but it doesn't provide much confidence when the Blues put in a very sloppy performance away from home, faltering in the exact areas which were highlighted in the buildup meanwhile the comments in the post match were directed towards the refereeing.</p>
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<p>I have sympathy as the ref seems out of his depth but the ref and adjusting to the ref doesn't explain the Blues poor decision making, poor game plan, failing to take opportunities and poor skill level which have been a consistent problem in away games for the last four or so seasons, the exact areas which the Blues highlighted in the buildup to the game as important areas in a very winnable game. I would much rather Tana talk about those issues as they are within the Blues control. In addition, the coach of a losing team criticising the refereeing often doesn't hold much weight, regardless of accuracy.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="566261" data-time="1458525232">
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<p>I, for one, welcome our new 'up the guts' overlords.</p>
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<p>Seriously, we lost to the goddamn reds that year they won the championship. Same thing - go wide, get smoked. Smash it up in tight, go forward. I don't know why we don't just stuff the ball up our jumpers and grind out wins. Wins are freaking wins, just get them however you get them. </p>
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<p>Akira Ioane is a must start in every game for this gameplan. I just realized last night that whenever Akira's on the field, we string a lot more phases together with the forwards and become more patient. I think it's a default mode when Akira is playing, because it was the same for Auckland last year. He demands the ball a lot near the ruck and makes sure we keep the ball in the tight more.</p>
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<div>Akira has the most carries of any Blues forward and he's only started ONE game. Only Moala has more carries in the team and Moala has played more than twice the minutes. When your 8 is getting that many carries in such limited minutes, it means you're likely going up the guts more when he's on the field, which in this case is true.</div>
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<div>I'm not sure why it took me so long to notice this, but it's clear as day that we play more steady on attack when he's on the park. His style of play and thirst for touches simply stabilizes our play.</div> -
<p>maybe he is simple and needs a simple gameplan ;)</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="566690" data-time="1458701428"><p>Surely the reason he hasn't been used more is that he was late back to camp from being with the Sevens? Apart from that with Kaino at captain there is always going to be starting role swaps with Luatua and Ioane.</p></blockquote>
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Yeah, although given the previous analysis of Luatua's work (which appears best at lock right now), it seems pretty clear where these guys should be playing.
