Hurricanes v Blues
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Looks like it's going to be a tough season for the Canes and Ardie should be on the phone to Cane to ask how to deal with a donut at seasons end (looks like the Chiefs have tried to lighten the load for Cane this year).
Looking forward to seeing how Flanders goes this year. He looks to have used the off season well and bulked up a bit.
Excited to see AIoane this year too. Appeared to get his head straight last year and was fizzing by year end. He looks like he's going to hit the ground running this year and deliver on his potential. Hopefully anyway as the AB's are screaming out for a unit in the forward pack.
Maybe this year will be Billy's year......
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I think PUJ being benched is more because of him recently having a baby in the last week and missing out on crucial training sessions. Wouldn’t read too much into it.
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That's probably my favorite loose forward combination we can field. You just don't see backrows that big being fielded in NZ. They're like a bigger version of The Bouncers.
Happy to see Choat in there. Even though he's in there because of injuries, he deserves to be there on merit anyway.
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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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@dan54 Rayasi looked fairly involved in the Mitre 10 Cup.
@canes4life Not exactly the same level. Sam Caird had a standout Mitre 10 Cup for Northland but his Waratahs debut last weekend was one to forget.
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@canes4life Not exactly the same level. Sam Caird had a standout Mitre 10 Cup for Northland but his Waratahs debut last weekend was one to forget.
@kiwimurph I didnt watch, does he look like he has put on any bulk?
Has the athletic ability, but always thought he'd need to add 5kg or so to make the step up.
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@kiwimurph I didnt watch, does he look like he has put on any bulk?
Has the athletic ability, but always thought he'd need to add 5kg or so to make the step up.
@taniwharugby Yeah didn't looked like he had added any weight. Although it was so hot and humid that in some ways i'm sure the players were thankful for not as much bulk!
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@labcat Apparently Holland has talked of Rayasi's work rate, and getting involved a bit more.
@dan54 said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@labcat Apparently Holland has talked of Rayasi's work rate, and getting involved a bit more.
That is fair. Rayasi is great when he has the ball but doesn't do a lot off the ball (a criticism of a lot of wingers). I watched Rayasi closely in the Maori-Moana Pasifika game and he looked disinterested if the ball wasn't going his way.
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Was really looking forward to seeing Zarn Sullivan's progress this year. Disappointed that he's not even on the bench. Is he injured?
@akan004 said in Hurricanes v Blues:
Was really looking forward to seeing Zarn Sullivan's progress this year. Disappointed that he's not even on the bench. Is he injured?
He wasn't listed as injured
I guess he was squeezed out because of the 6/2 bench
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On that 6/2 split, what happens if Perofeta gets injured? Clarke, Telea & Tele'a don't really offer fullback cover.
Would it be Plummer dropping back and Tele'a coming in to 12?
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@canes4life Not exactly the same level. Sam Caird had a standout Mitre 10 Cup for Northland but his Waratahs debut last weekend was one to forget.
@kiwimurph thought Caird was very poor until the last couple of games in mitre10 2020.
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@kiwimurph thought Caird was very poor until the last couple of games in mitre10 2020.
@muddyriver probably around the time his signing was announced...season started with him sharing time with Temo.
But last few games he was excellent, particularly the semi v Otago.
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I think these are the main selection questions for the Blues for this match
- Who starts between Hodgman & Tu’inukuafe
- Which loose forward misses out on the 23, one of Sotutu/Ioane/Robinson?
- Who are the two halfbacks (although I suspect Christie is the starter)?
- Plummer v Tele'a
- Who starts and who is on the bench between Sullivan and Perofeta
