Reds v Blues
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<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.
