Blues 2021
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@duluth agreed, ALB needs to start at centre. Whether they go with the all round game of Havili or the power of Laumape remains to be seen. I expect injuries to still play their part before the ABs even take the field.
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I think the bigger issue with Reiko's game that is more likely to get exposed at Int level is on defence, I think his pace and option taking on attack would be fine, but defence is much harder to get sorted at the next level.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
I think the bigger issue with Reiko's game that is more likely to get exposed at Int level is on defence, I think his pace and option taking on attack would be fine, but defence is much harder to get sorted at the next level.
Yes his defence is more likely to be a problem than his attack. However he's defended well when partnered with an experienced 12 (TJ at the Blues and ALB & Goodhue at a higher level last year)
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
I think the bigger issue with Reiko's game that is more likely to get exposed at Int level is on defence, I think his pace and option taking on attack would be fine, but defence is much harder to get sorted at the next level.
Yes his defence is more likely to be a problem than his attack. However he's defended well when partnered with an experienced 12 (TJ at the Blues and ALB & Goodhue at a higher level last year)
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So the Blues really need a good 12.
The Blues should pick TJ when he’s fit
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
I think the bigger issue with Reiko's game that is more likely to get exposed at Int level is on defence, I think his pace and option taking on attack would be fine, but defence is much harder to get sorted at the next level.
Yes his defence is more likely to be a problem than his attack. However he's defended well when partnered with an experienced 12 (TJ at the Blues and ALB & Goodhue at a higher level last year)
@duluth and I think Reiko has shown he can adjust to a different defence pattern although, we know the mid-field is a tough place to defend, whereas I see Laumape more as a lone ranger type and seems to go missing a bit.
This is why I thnk the AB coaches tried to shoe horn Goodhue, as he is pretty strong defensively, and his defence at 12 wasnt really the issue, so obviously will be a good foil to whoever they slot in alongside him.
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@gt12 obviously he passes the ball, what I’m getting at is the effectiveness of his passes and setting up players around him, most importantly his wingers. The fact that Caleb Clarke (one of the most destructive wingers in the game at the moment) hasn’t really made a mark on this competition through lack of ball tells me something.
Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s a tactical decision by the Blues not to feed their wingers. Odd to me though when you have someone like Caleb out there waiting to cause havoc.
OR maybe I’m wrong again and it’s actually Caleb not looking for work. I just feel if the Blues are going to get to that next level they must get that area right in their game because both players are potent and the Blues could make the very best teams look silly if they can sort it.
@canes4life said in Blues 2021:
@gt12 obviously he passes the ball, what I’m getting at is the effectiveness of his passes and setting up players around him, most importantly his wingers. The fact that Caleb Clarke (one of the most destructive wingers in the game at the moment) hasn’t really made a mark on this competition through lack of ball tells me something.
Do you think Clarke went alright last year with Rieko inside him?
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@canes4life said in Blues 2021:
@gt12 obviously he passes the ball, what I’m getting at is the effectiveness of his passes and setting up players around him, most importantly his wingers. The fact that Caleb Clarke (one of the most destructive wingers in the game at the moment) hasn’t really made a mark on this competition through lack of ball tells me something.
Do you think Clarke went alright last year with Rieko inside him?
@nzzp said in Blues 2021:
@canes4life said in Blues 2021:
@gt12 obviously he passes the ball, what I’m getting at is the effectiveness of his passes and setting up players around him, most importantly his wingers. The fact that Caleb Clarke (one of the most destructive wingers in the game at the moment) hasn’t really made a mark on this competition through lack of ball tells me something.
Do you think Clarke went alright last year with Rieko inside him?
Thanks for that Mr Mexted.
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The Blues should pick TJ when he’s fit
@duluth yes
but perhaps also have a solid backup.. -
@nzzp said in Blues 2021:
@canes4life said in Blues 2021:
@gt12 obviously he passes the ball, what I’m getting at is the effectiveness of his passes and setting up players around him, most importantly his wingers. The fact that Caleb Clarke (one of the most destructive wingers in the game at the moment) hasn’t really made a mark on this competition through lack of ball tells me something.
Do you think Clarke went alright last year with Rieko inside him?
Thanks for that Mr Mexted.
@gt12 said in Blues 2021:
@nzzp said in Blues 2021:
@canes4life said in Blues 2021:
@gt12 obviously he passes the ball, what I’m getting at is the effectiveness of his passes and setting up players around him, most importantly his wingers. The fact that Caleb Clarke (one of the most destructive wingers in the game at the moment) hasn’t really made a mark on this competition through lack of ball tells me something.
Do you think Clarke went alright last year with Rieko inside him?
Thanks for that Mr Mexted.
As you know, I've been pumping Ioane for some time now
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The Blues should pick TJ when he’s fit
@duluth said in Blues 2021:
The Blues should pick TJ when he’s fit
I thought he was, but Leon seems to have gone off him.
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@duluth said in Blues 2021:
The Blues should pick TJ when he’s fit
I thought he was, but Leon seems to have gone off him.
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So with Clarke heading off to the Mount now - who out of Narawa/Lam/Kneepkens/Heem should get first crack for the SR TT!?
@nogusta said in Blues 2021:
So with Clarke heading off to the Mount now - who out of Narawa/Lam/Kneepkens/Heem should get first crack for the SR TT!?
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"My biggest nerves weren't around Japan or how Covid was going to go; it was more how the year went with the Blues this year. I wasn't as excited as when I first made the call to come to sevens. I felt like I wasn't playing my best; I was holding too many injuries and I didn't feel like myself during the 2021 Super season. That's where a lot of the nerves came from. Now I'm here it's a lot clearer that I'm excited to be back with all the boys."
Clarke revealed he tore several ankle ligaments in the Blues' opening match of the season against the Hurricanes on February 27. He played the next four matches before an MRI scan during the Blues' second bye week in April confirmed the extent of the injury.
"I spent the first bye week on crutches and then I was on heaps of anti-inflammatories to get my ankle running," Clarke said.
"I went through about four or five games and then they were like 'oh you tore some ligaments'. That was frustrating. The other part was the second year I didn't think it was going to be as hard as it was – trying to get off my wing and look for work and being pointed out by every team. That kind of stuff was really hindering. I don't feel like I got to show what I had in 2021
"We had a sevens training last Thursday and that was the first time I ran around without strapping on my ankle." -
"My biggest nerves weren't around Japan or how Covid was going to go; it was more how the year went with the Blues this year. I wasn't as excited as when I first made the call to come to sevens. I felt like I wasn't playing my best; I was holding too many injuries and I didn't feel like myself during the 2021 Super season. That's where a lot of the nerves came from. Now I'm here it's a lot clearer that I'm excited to be back with all the boys."
Clarke revealed he tore several ankle ligaments in the Blues' opening match of the season against the Hurricanes on February 27. He played the next four matches before an MRI scan during the Blues' second bye week in April confirmed the extent of the injury.
"I spent the first bye week on crutches and then I was on heaps of anti-inflammatories to get my ankle running," Clarke said.
"I went through about four or five games and then they were like 'oh you tore some ligaments'. That was frustrating. The other part was the second year I didn't think it was going to be as hard as it was – trying to get off my wing and look for work and being pointed out by every team. That kind of stuff was really hindering. I don't feel like I got to show what I had in 2021
"We had a sevens training last Thursday and that was the first time I ran around without strapping on my ankle." -
@kiwimurph yeah, has definitely been a lot easier to put down.
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Perofeta and Gibson playing for Ponsonby this weekend.
https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=1c96ad11-1fa0-44a9-ac7a-4d1e58d54519
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Ruru (University) is another SR player.
I wonder who the Blues emergency halfback cover is if someone twists an ankle before kickoff?
