Blues 2022
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Locks: James Tucker, Josh Goodhue, Sam Darry, Luke Romano
Lock/Loosie: Cameron Suafoa, Tom Robinson, Taine Plumtree
The hardest position to predict. Assuming everyone is fit, who should be the starting locks?
I assume Goodhue is almost certain to start. I'm hoping Romano is more there for injury cover/knowledge transfer
Goodhue/Tucker? An all Northland pair of Goodhue/Robinson might be worth a look?
@duluth said in Blues 2022:
Locks: James Tucker, Josh Goodhue, Sam Darry, Luke Romano
Lock/Loosie: Cameron Suafoa, Tom Robinson, Taine Plumtree
The hardest position to predict. Assuming everyone is fit, who should be the starting locks?
I assume Goodhue is almost certain to start. I'm hoping Romano is more there for injury cover/knowledge transfer
Goodhue/Tucker? An all Northland pair of Goodhue/Robinson might be worth a look?
Romano/Goodhue/Darry would be the 3 game day locks IMO. Start with Romano to give some stability to the set piece. He's almost a straight out swap for Patty.
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@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@duluth said in Blues 2022:
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@duluth I'm guessing, but I reckon they may have only locked together in one or 2 games back in 2019, games when both have been available usually had Tom at 6.
Only 5 NPC starts at lock for Robinson. He has 1 start at SR level too
So yes, there's not much evidence that it would work.
I hope they experiment with it though. The question is how the scrum goes. It would allow the four AB standard loosies to start, plus would make room for a guy like Plumtree to make the bench
He's pretty similar to Itoje in terms of size, isn't he?
Maybe he's need to add a bit of bulk, he might be 5 kgs light.
Anyway, I think the Blues have missed a trick by now trying it before, and if it came off it could be huge for the ABs, as he would be the obvious Scott Barrett replacement.
There is a big difference between being the size of a lock and actually playing lock TBH. Robinson may have the size but the temperament and comfort to play lock? I remember when they chucked Jerome Kaino in at lock against the Irish, didn't go well.
No I think keep him at Blindside, he'll have to rotate with Akira and/or come off bench. For Akira's long-term development at 6 he needs to play there regularly IMO. He faded away towards the end of the tour but again so did a few of them, you can't expect them to tour for almost 3 months and not get faded and fatigued.
@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@duluth said in Blues 2022:
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@duluth I'm guessing, but I reckon they may have only locked together in one or 2 games back in 2019, games when both have been available usually had Tom at 6.
Only 5 NPC starts at lock for Robinson. He has 1 start at SR level too
So yes, there's not much evidence that it would work.
I hope they experiment with it though. The question is how the scrum goes. It would allow the four AB standard loosies to start, plus would make room for a guy like Plumtree to make the bench
He's pretty similar to Itoje in terms of size, isn't he?
Maybe he's need to add a bit of bulk, he might be 5 kgs light.
Anyway, I think the Blues have missed a trick by now trying it before, and if it came off it could be huge for the ABs, as he would be the obvious Scott Barrett replacement.
There is a big difference between being the size of a lock and actually playing lock TBH. Robinson may have the size but the temperament and comfort to play lock? I remember when they chucked Jerome Kaino in at lock against the Irish, didn't go well.
No I think keep him at Blindside, he'll have to rotate with Akira and/or come off bench. For Akira's long-term development at 6 he needs to play there regularly IMO. He faded away towards the end of the tour but again so did a few of them, you can't expect them to tour for almost 3 months and not get faded and fatigued.
I think that's fair, but I'd put it to the player as a question: Would you try to take on playing in this position as well if it would increase your chances of a Black jersey?
I don't know whether he would be successful or not, but he is much more of a lock than Kaino (I don't think he ever played there except for that atrocity) and we would be able to see whether he can develop there or is just a six.
My rationale is funnily enough also similar yours in that Akira (and perhaps Paps) need as much time at 6 as possible, so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
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@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@duluth said in Blues 2022:
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@duluth I'm guessing, but I reckon they may have only locked together in one or 2 games back in 2019, games when both have been available usually had Tom at 6.
Only 5 NPC starts at lock for Robinson. He has 1 start at SR level too
So yes, there's not much evidence that it would work.
I hope they experiment with it though. The question is how the scrum goes. It would allow the four AB standard loosies to start, plus would make room for a guy like Plumtree to make the bench
He's pretty similar to Itoje in terms of size, isn't he?
Maybe he's need to add a bit of bulk, he might be 5 kgs light.
Anyway, I think the Blues have missed a trick by now trying it before, and if it came off it could be huge for the ABs, as he would be the obvious Scott Barrett replacement.
There is a big difference between being the size of a lock and actually playing lock TBH. Robinson may have the size but the temperament and comfort to play lock? I remember when they chucked Jerome Kaino in at lock against the Irish, didn't go well.
No I think keep him at Blindside, he'll have to rotate with Akira and/or come off bench. For Akira's long-term development at 6 he needs to play there regularly IMO. He faded away towards the end of the tour but again so did a few of them, you can't expect them to tour for almost 3 months and not get faded and fatigued.
I think that's fair, but I'd put it to the player as a question: Would you try to take on playing in this position as well if it would increase your chances of a Black jersey?
I don't know whether he would be successful or not, but he is much more of a lock than Kaino (I don't think he ever played there except for that atrocity) and we would be able to see whether he can develop there or is just a six.
My rationale is funnily enough also similar yours in that Akira (and perhaps Paps) need as much time at 6 as possible, so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
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@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
I'd have him as my captain too btw, I was going to write that, but then how do you play your three ABs? He has to be at least trialled at lock to see if it works.
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@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
I'm a big Pat T fan for the Blues, but Tom R spoke more tothe ref in the first half captaining than Pat did in a season. It was an area he just never developed unfortunately.
Maybe we'll channel our inner Chief and appoint co-captains? Tom and Beaudy?
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@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
MacDonald referred to him as the 'pre-season captain' who will drive standards while the AB's are away. He's clearly the favourite to be captain.
He's more likely to be captain if he spends time at lock too because surely they'll want to use all the loose forward resources.
If not, another option is Papali'i
VC I think will be R Ioane. In the leadership group, co-captained a game last year etc
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I had forgotten about the SR game Robinson had at lock so I looked it up
It was the first game of 2020 against the Chiefs. There were no injury reasons for the move - he started with Tuipulotu and Goodhue was on the bench.
I skimmed through the match thread and every comment about his game at lock was positive. People noted how the scrum was strong too
Weird that it never happened again
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The return of Kid game curtain-raisers -
'WAHU will be the brand behind our young kids who will play curtain-raisers ahead of the Blues games'
https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/the-blues-team-up-with-wahu -
@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@duluth said in Blues 2022:
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@duluth I'm guessing, but I reckon they may have only locked together in one or 2 games back in 2019, games when both have been available usually had Tom at 6.
Only 5 NPC starts at lock for Robinson. He has 1 start at SR level too
So yes, there's not much evidence that it would work.
I hope they experiment with it though. The question is how the scrum goes. It would allow the four AB standard loosies to start, plus would make room for a guy like Plumtree to make the bench
He's pretty similar to Itoje in terms of size, isn't he?
Maybe he's need to add a bit of bulk, he might be 5 kgs light.
Anyway, I think the Blues have missed a trick by now trying it before, and if it came off it could be huge for the ABs, as he would be the obvious Scott Barrett replacement.
There is a big difference between being the size of a lock and actually playing lock TBH. Robinson may have the size but the temperament and comfort to play lock? I remember when they chucked Jerome Kaino in at lock against the Irish, didn't go well.
No I think keep him at Blindside, he'll have to rotate with Akira and/or come off bench. For Akira's long-term development at 6 he needs to play there regularly IMO. He faded away towards the end of the tour but again so did a few of them, you can't expect them to tour for almost 3 months and not get faded and fatigued.
I think that's fair, but I'd put it to the player as a question: Would you try to take on playing in this position as well if it would increase your chances of a Black jersey?
I don't know whether he would be successful or not, but he is much more of a lock than Kaino (I don't think he ever played there except for that atrocity) and we would be able to see whether he can develop there or is just a six.
My rationale is funnily enough also similar yours in that Akira (and perhaps Paps) need as much time at 6 as possible, so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@duluth said in Blues 2022:
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@duluth I'm guessing, but I reckon they may have only locked together in one or 2 games back in 2019, games when both have been available usually had Tom at 6.
Only 5 NPC starts at lock for Robinson. He has 1 start at SR level too
So yes, there's not much evidence that it would work.
I hope they experiment with it though. The question is how the scrum goes. It would allow the four AB standard loosies to start, plus would make room for a guy like Plumtree to make the bench
He's pretty similar to Itoje in terms of size, isn't he?
Maybe he's need to add a bit of bulk, he might be 5 kgs light.
Anyway, I think the Blues have missed a trick by now trying it before, and if it came off it could be huge for the ABs, as he would be the obvious Scott Barrett replacement.
There is a big difference between being the size of a lock and actually playing lock TBH. Robinson may have the size but the temperament and comfort to play lock? I remember when they chucked Jerome Kaino in at lock against the Irish, didn't go well.
No I think keep him at Blindside, he'll have to rotate with Akira and/or come off bench. For Akira's long-term development at 6 he needs to play there regularly IMO. He faded away towards the end of the tour but again so did a few of them, you can't expect them to tour for almost 3 months and not get faded and fatigued.
I think that's fair, but I'd put it to the player as a question: Would you try to take on playing in this position as well if it would increase your chances of a Black jersey?
I don't know whether he would be successful or not, but he is much more of a lock than Kaino (I don't think he ever played there except for that atrocity) and we would be able to see whether he can develop there or is just a six.
My rationale is funnily enough also similar yours in that Akira (and perhaps Paps) need as much time at 6 as possible, so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
I mean Robinson has the tools - height/lineout capability, big motor/workrate, defensive game. He probably is the best of the flanker/lock combo's we've had in a while too. I haven't seen a flanker make a successful transition to lock yet. Jimmy Tupou was OK. Brad Thorn wasn't a natural flanker or 8 anyway. Luatua never really played lock at top level. Fifita was serviceable at Super Level but again, not a top level lock.
Maybe Robinson can make the transition?
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I am super keen to see RTS at 12 next year. Outside Barrett partnering Reiko Ioane.
I know the reports are positive and MacDonald is really talking him up. Proof will be in the pudding. I remember when Benji tried to transition..
Important thing for me is he has the physical tools to play direct and use his step. His league background should help him with post contact meters.
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I am super keen to see RTS at 12 next year. Outside Barrett partnering Reiko Ioane.
I know the reports are positive and MacDonald is really talking him up. Proof will be in the pudding. I remember when Benji tried to transition..
Important thing for me is he has the physical tools to play direct and use his step. His league background should help him with post contact meters.
@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
I know the reports are positive and MacDonald is really talking him up. Proof will be in the pudding. I remember when Benji tried to transition..
Benji tried to move to 10, which is much harder, without a history there.
RTS to 12 is probably easier, with mroe traffic there and easier decision making. More suited to 12, kinda like SBW.
Fingers crossed though eh!
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I'm not too worried about RTS on attack, but he might struggle at first on defense because he's barely played any frontline defense in league. Super Rugby can be quite brutal to midfielders who don't have their reads sorted.
I am excited to see him and Rieko together though, because if they click, it could be something special. The ceiling for that midfield is quite high.
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I am super keen to see RTS at 12 next year. Outside Barrett partnering Reiko Ioane.
I know the reports are positive and MacDonald is really talking him up. Proof will be in the pudding. I remember when Benji tried to transition..
Important thing for me is he has the physical tools to play direct and use his step. His league background should help him with post contact meters.
@themojoman We signed Benji when he was really struggling in the NRL, which wasn't a good sign for us. We were desperate though.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
Tom? Given he was captain in Patty's absence this year, you'd think high chance he is captain next year, meaning he will start more games than not, and with the Blues roster, I expect he will get time at lock.
I'm a big Pat T fan for the Blues, but Tom R spoke more tothe ref in the first half captaining than Pat did in a season. It was an area he just never developed unfortunately.
Maybe we'll channel our inner Chief and appoint co-captains? Tom and Beaudy?
@nzzp I agree. PT was too much of a teddy bear and never reached our expectations as a player or captain. I was surprise he was appointed captain except to maybe focus him and with the expectation that he would rise to the occasion. He is done and dusted as an AB in my opinion. Enjoy the sushi.
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@nzzp I agree. PT was too much of a teddy bear and never reached our expectations as a player or captain. I was surprise he was appointed captain except to maybe focus him and with the expectation that he would rise to the occasion. He is done and dusted as an AB in my opinion. Enjoy the sushi.
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@broughie a bit harsh.
He played well at times, but didn't string performances together. Good leader internally, but didn't dominate enough in games
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Teague Mcelroy training with the team.
