Hurricanes v Blues
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That starting Blues loose forward trio is really quite intimidating.
And then teh ginger maniac off the bench with Ofa. Some guys in yellow are getting whacked.
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However, MacDonald will be able to call on the services of Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuumgafasi during the game, giving him a luxury in propping depth that other Super Rugby coaches could only dream of and that’s not even mentioning All Black Alex Hodgman, who is recovering from an ankle injury and should be back by round.
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I wonder if its a tactic with the new rules for Canes to go with a lighter more mobile pack?
@kiwimurph said in Hurricanes v Blues:
I wonder if its a tactic with the new rules for Canes to go with a lighter more mobile pack?
shorter, lighter packs have been the secret Canes weapon for 26 years. Why stop now?
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@bovidae I'm quite surprised Nock is starting over Christie, only in that I thought Leon preferred Christie.
I do think Ruru offers more off the bench than Christie.
Some serious firepower out there though!
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Players not considered with injury: Soane Vikena (Pec), Ray Niuia (knee), TI Faiane (leg), Dillon Hunt (concussion), Finlay Christie (leg), Alex Hodgman (ankle), Blake Gibson (ribs), Jone Macalai (season-ending).
https://blues.rugby/debutants-and-all-blacks-combine-in-opening-line-up/
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However, MacDonald will be able to call on the services of Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuumgafasi during the game, giving him a luxury in propping depth that other Super Rugby coaches could only dream of and that’s not even mentioning All Black Alex Hodgman, who is recovering from an ankle injury and should be back by round.
@tim said in Hurricanes v Blues:
However, MacDonald will be able to call on the services of Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuumgafasi during the game, giving him a luxury in propping depth that other Super Rugby coaches could only dream of and that’s not even mentioning All Black Alex Hodgman, who is recovering from an ankle injury and should be back by round.
More marvelous reporting, first sentence "So stacked are the Blues with their props that Leon MacDonald has been able to put two off them on the bench for Saturday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa game against the Hurricanes."
So the blues are the only ones that can put props on their bench? Golden oldies scrums, here we come!
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@tim said in Hurricanes v Blues:
However, MacDonald will be able to call on the services of Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuumgafasi during the game, giving him a luxury in propping depth that other Super Rugby coaches could only dream of and that’s not even mentioning All Black Alex Hodgman, who is recovering from an ankle injury and should be back by round.
More marvelous reporting, first sentence "So stacked are the Blues with their props that Leon MacDonald has been able to put two off them on the bench for Saturday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa game against the Hurricanes."
So the blues are the only ones that can put props on their bench? Golden oldies scrums, here we come!
@machpants "two off them" as well. I wonder where they are 'off' to?
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Why do they start Savea over Rayasi?
I thought Rayasi is destined to be NZ's next star winger...
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Players not considered with injury: Soane Vikena (Pec), Ray Niuia (knee), TI Faiane (leg), Dillon Hunt (concussion), Finlay Christie (leg), Alex Hodgman (ankle), Blake Gibson (ribs), Jone Macalai (season-ending).
https://blues.rugby/debutants-and-all-blacks-combine-in-opening-line-up/
Blake Gibson (ribs)
The most consistently broken player in NZ? An endless stream of relatively small injuries. He must be so frustrated.
Huge opportunity for Choat with Hunt missing as well. I expect him to be in the full squad next year.. probably pushing Gibson out
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Why do they start Savea over Rayasi?
I thought Rayasi is destined to be NZ's next star winger...
@labcat Because they're a bunch of Julian Savea fanboys, and expect him to get more bums on seats and be a crowd favourite again. Stuck in the past. Reactions on their social media posts are very mixed ...
Rayasi was expected to be NZ's next star winger ... by some Aucklanders. :fishing_pole:
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Blake Gibson (ribs)
The most consistently broken player in NZ? An endless stream of relatively small injuries. He must be so frustrated.
Huge opportunity for Choat with Hunt missing as well. I expect him to be in the full squad next year.. probably pushing Gibson out
@duluth said in Hurricanes v Blues:
Blake Gibson (ribs)
The most consistently broken player in NZ? An endless stream of relatively small injuries. He must be so frustrated.
Huge opportunity for Choat with Hunt missing as well. I expect him to be in the full squad next year.. probably pushing Gibson out
No, he has nothing on the likes of Hugh Renton and Sam McNichol who seem to have been permanently injured over the last four or five seasons. Geoff Cridge also makes the list with an honourable mention.
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I wonder if its a tactic with the new rules for Canes to go with a lighter more mobile pack?
Kirifi isn't starting
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@tim said in Hurricanes v Blues:
For who can't be bothered to go through the entire article:Holland still expects Ardie Savea to play a lot at No 8, where he featured exclusively for the Hurricanes and All Blacks last year, but felt openside flanker was the best fit for round one. The Savea, Fifita, Flanders loose trio will counter the Blues’ bruisers and provides more lineout options, too. Holland said Kirifi, who was one of their standouts last year, was unlucky but this was horses for courses. “We’re aware of the threat the Blues have and how we counter them and meet them head on around physicality.” Last year’s regular No 6 Reed Prinsep will come off the bench, while hooker Dane Coles remains on ice as he regains full fitness from a calf strain. Asafo Aumua dons No 2 again.Umaga-Jensen on the bench raises some eyebrows after his electric form alongside Ngani Laumape in 2020. With Umaga-Jensen having stayed home for last Friday’s pre-season defeat to the Highlanders on paternity leave, Billy Proctor seized his chance and gets first crack at No 13. Said Holland: “Billy’s gone really well, he’s been awesome in the pre-season and really put the pressure on, and Pete missed a few days after becoming a father late last week. To be fair, Billy’s earned it and it’s going to be a good battle in that midfield this season.” -
@labcat Because they're a bunch of Julian Savea fanboys, and expect him to get more bums on seats and be a crowd favourite again. Stuck in the past. Reactions on their social media posts are very mixed ...
Rayasi was expected to be NZ's next star winger ... by some Aucklanders. :fishing_pole:
@stargazer said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@labcat Because they're a bunch of Julian Savea fanboys, and expect him to get more bums on seats and be a crowd favourite again. Stuck in the past. Reactions on their social media posts are very mixed ...
Rayasi was expected to be NZ's next star winger ... by some Aucklanders. :fishing_pole:
We'll happily have him too haha. What a waste not starting him.
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@canes4life interesting to see PUJ on the bench and wtf is Prinsep doing as reserve lock. I’d assume Fifita would move to lock....
@canes4life said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@canes4life interesting to see PUJ on the bench and wtf is Prinsep doing as reserve lock. I’d assume Fifita would move to lock....
Maybe one day (hopefully soon) we will all see why the coaches rate Proctor so highly. But I just don't see it. But the same with Blackwell. And Tiatia. I don't rate Prinsep but at least I can see why some might rate him
Barrett is covering 1st I assume. So who is the FB cover. Proctor, Goosen and I think PUJ (or was it his brother) have all played there during the NPC. Or Rayasi maybe.
and the two I will watch with interest is Flanders and Fifita. Falnders as its his first start but hoping for big things from him. And Fifita to see if he's got the fire back. I guess he starts though due to having a 1.90 lock in the team. And the need for more quality line-out options
