Force v Blues
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<p>Blues team named</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's supposed to be pouring rain on Saturday in Perth - at least during the day - i'm not too sure how the Blues have managed to strike wet weather in Joburg and Perth in back to back weeks - rather unusual. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>1 - Prattley</p>
<p>2 - Parsons</p>
<p>3 - Charlie</p>
<p>4 - Tuipulotu</p>
<p>5 - Bekhuis</p>
<p>6 - Kaino</p>
<p>7 - Latimer</p>
<p>8 - Luatua</p>
<p>9 - Guyton</p>
<p>10 - West</p>
<p>11 - Li</p>
<p>12 - Francis</p>
<p>13 - Moala</p>
<p>14 - Duffie</p>
<p>15 - Nanai</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bench</p>
<p> </p>
<p>16 - McDonald</p>
<p>17 - Ofa T</p>
<p>18 - Mafileo</p>
<p>19 - Matenga</p>
<p>20 - Pryor</p>
<p>21 - Hall</p>
<p>22 - McGahan</p>
<p>23 - Sau</p> -
<p>And judging by our last outing in the wet this could be bad news for us.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="580781" data-time="1463642546">
<div>
<p>And judging by our last outing in the wet this could be bad news for us.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>We may go OK if we decide that tackling isn't in fact optional and play some smart footy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Optimistic supporter here :|</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="580785" data-time="1463643089">
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<p>NZ TAB has these odds:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Force 2.50</p>
<p>Blues 1.52</p>
<p>Draw 21</p>
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</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>That calls for loss insurance if I ever saw it. No downside, but fark betting against your team...</p> -
<p>Our bench just looks real ITM Cup-ish. It just shows how paper thin our depth is.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We need to build a team with at least 30 players who can be solid contributers when called upon. Trim the fat after this season and make no mistakes in signings like we did the last off-season.</p> -
<p>This could be a very ugly fixture.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="580794" data-time="1463650957">
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<p>Our bench just looks real ITM Cup-ish. It just shows how paper thin our depth is.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We need to build a team with at least 30 players who can be solid contributers when called upon. Trim the fat after this season and make no mistakes in signings like we did the last off-season.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Lol tell me about it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At least Tevita Li keeps his spot for the 11th straight week. He's been outstanding all season.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="580794" data-time="1463650957"><p>Our bench just looks real ITM Cup-ish. It just shows how paper thin our depth is.<br><br>
We need to build a team with at least 30 players who can be solid contributers when called upon. Trim the fat after this season and make no mistakes in signings like we did the last off-season.</p></blockquote>
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Bring back Benji I say..... [emoji3] -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mister G" data-cid="580846" data-time="1463697497">
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<p>Tana is finished and was finished after his disastrous selection against the Crusaders. That appalling selection drained any confidence from the team and created uncertainty, and he doesn't have skills to do anything about it.</p>
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</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>All of a sudden i'm feeling more confident in Tana and the team.</p> -
<p>he wont be finished, I would be surprised if he has any KPIs set on this season, for him it will be all about building for 2017, whether that will be any better remains to be seen...but Tana will be there next year, and possibly the year after.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mister G" data-cid="580846" data-time="1463697497"><p>Tana is finished and was finished after his disastrous selection against the Crusaders. That appalling selection drained any confidence from the team and created uncertainty, and he doesn't have skills to do anything about it.</p></blockquote>
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Can you teach me you to type out of my arse? It's an impressive skill you have there. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mister G" data-cid="580846" data-time="1463697497">
<div>
<p>Tana is finished and was finished after his disastrous selection against the Crusaders. That appalling selection drained any confidence from the team and created uncertainty, and he doesn't have skills to do anything about it.</p>
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</blockquote>
<p>Lol nice trolling.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="580855" data-time="1463697811">
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<p>he wont be finished, I would be surprised if he has any KPIs set on this season, for him it will be all about building for 2017, whether that will be any better remains to be seen...but Tana will be there next year, and possibly the year after.</p>
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</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Although it was a rancid troll, I do find it interesting to consider what Blues fans would consider a successful season. At this point, what's the verdict? I get the feeling that everyone has decided that happiness comes from low expectations (see <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice?language=en'>Barry Schwartz</a>), but last week's humping needs to be followed up with some better performances. They have been some strange, ongoing, selections too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They've already got more points (25 versus 20) and 2 more wins than all last year, but they'll probably be last in NZ by some distance, so what is a reasonable result?</p> -
Ignoring the fact it's a huge troll, in retrospect it wasn't the right decision by Umaga to rest all those players against the crusaders.<br><br>
Coming off a huge win against the defending champions he really needed to keep that momentum into the next game. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="581135" data-time="1463775880"><p>Ignoring the fact it's a huge troll, in retrospect it wasn't the right decision by Umaga to rest all those players against the crusaders.<br><br>
Coming off a huge win against the defending champions he really needed to keep that momentum into the next game.</p></blockquote>
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Retrospect us fine but you also need to see the big picture. This was a new coaching team trying to gel together a squad that had previous issues. My guess is that the mistake had been made pre season in declaring that most players that put in the effort would get an early crack to show what they had to offer. Looking at the draw they probably expected two very tough losses to start. The opening round win was unexpected but then T could hardly have reneged on a promise. Quickest way ever to lose respect. <br>
Yes, a mistake, but one made with an eye to the future. <br>
As for the season, they are already performing better than last year and giving home fans a reason to go to the game. Their draw has been tougher than others so far, and in the balance of things being in the toughest pool with current and recent champion teams doesn't help. <br>
The Highlanders didn't become what they are instantly. It took years and JJ made some big mistakes along the way. -
<p>Yeah who knows what happens behind closed doors , Tana may have delivered a message earlier saying below par performances wont be tolerated , reputations mean little blah blah , </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And now he has to reinforce that trying to set some culture and standards </p>
