Blues 2022
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Suspect that a lot of All Blacks will be rested in the first round game against Moana Pacifica, in order to reduce their average minutes over the restricted period. Although there will be some pressure to play "stars" in the competition's inaugural match. Blues next games until their bye are against the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders, Crusaders, Highlanders, Moana Pacifica, and the Chiefs.
Possibilities:
Barrett and Rieko Ioane on the bench.
Resting Tu'inukuafe, Laulala, Papalii and/or Akira Ioane.
Robinson at lock.
Choat and Segner or Choat and Plumtree/Suafoa on the flanks?
Or perhaps Akira Ioane starting, with Segner off the bench?
RTS to get game time?Might see a 23 such as the following:
15 Sullivan
14 Telea
13 Heem
12 Tele'a
11 Clarke
10 Plummer
9 Christie
8 Sotutu
7 Choat
6 Plumtree
5 Goodhue
4 Robinson
3 Tu'ungafasi
2 Eklund
1 Hodgman16 Vikena
17 Lay
18 Renata
19 Romano
20 Ioane
21 Nock
22 Barrett
23 Rieko Ioane/RTS -
Suspect that a lot of All Blacks will be rested in the first round game against Moana Pacifica, in order to reduce their average minutes over the restricted period. Although there will be some pressure to play "stars" in the competition's inaugural match. Blues next games until their bye are against the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders, Crusaders, Highlanders, Moana Pacifica, and the Chiefs.
Possibilities:
Barrett and Rieko Ioane on the bench.
Resting Tu'inukuafe, Laulala, Papalii and/or Akira Ioane.
Robinson at lock.
Choat and Segner or Choat and Plumtree/Suafoa on the flanks?
Or perhaps Akira Ioane starting, with Segner off the bench?
RTS to get game time?Might see a 23 such as the following:
15 Sullivan
14 Telea
13 Heem
12 Tele'a
11 Clarke
10 Plummer
9 Christie
8 Sotutu
7 Choat
6 Plumtree
5 Goodhue
4 Robinson
3 Tu'ungafasi
2 Eklund
1 Hodgman16 Vikena
17 Lay
18 Renata
19 Romano
20 Ioane
21 Nock
22 Barrett
23 Rieko Ioane/RTS -
@tim said in Blues 2022:
ABs back at training.
Jeepers, looks like they’re at a funeral or someone dropped one.
Cheer up you fluffybunnies, you’re getting paid well to play a game you love !
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Remember this sweet Joeli try?
Like Goldie, Joeli had a knack of getting the bounce off his own chip kicks.
@dice said in Blues 2022:
Remember this sweet Joeli try?
Like Goldie, Joeli had a knack of getting the bounce off his own chip kicks.
I’m disappointed he didn’t just trample them
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Training in the sweltering summer heat ensures Tuivasa-Sheck is in great shape, though, and he is now expected to debut at No 12 in the Blues' first pre-season hit out against the Hurricanes in Mahurangi on February 5 and back that up the following week in the second trial match against the Chiefs in Te Puke.
Several of MacDonald's All Blacks contingent - Akira and Rieko Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Hoskins Sotutu – trained with the squad on Tuesday, despite being on leave.
Of the Blues' All Blacks only Sotutu, who had a light test workload in 2021, will feature during the pre-season. MacDonald confirmed his All Blacks will return on a managed minutes basis for the Blues' opening match against Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.
Beauden Barrett is in doubt for that game while he attempts to shake off the lingering concussion effects from the heavy head knock he sustained in the defeat to Ireland over two months ago, but MacDonald appears confident he will soon return.
All Blacks are not required to return to their respective franchises until the end of the month, having emerged from MIQ in mid-December.
"He's not with us at the moment he's taking a bit of extra time. He's fit, I know he's been looking after his body. It was a busy year for him last year and we'll start to see him come through the gates soon.
"It's hard to be concrete around anything with concussion but he's trending in the right direction. He's getting better, that's the main thing, and he's really positive in his own mind. It's a hard thing to predict so you don't want to get hung up on those sorts of things."
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Training in the sweltering summer heat ensures Tuivasa-Sheck is in great shape, though, and he is now expected to debut at No 12 in the Blues' first pre-season hit out against the Hurricanes in Mahurangi on February 5 and back that up the following week in the second trial match against the Chiefs in Te Puke.
Several of MacDonald's All Blacks contingent - Akira and Rieko Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Hoskins Sotutu – trained with the squad on Tuesday, despite being on leave.
Of the Blues' All Blacks only Sotutu, who had a light test workload in 2021, will feature during the pre-season. MacDonald confirmed his All Blacks will return on a managed minutes basis for the Blues' opening match against Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.
Beauden Barrett is in doubt for that game while he attempts to shake off the lingering concussion effects from the heavy head knock he sustained in the defeat to Ireland over two months ago, but MacDonald appears confident he will soon return.
All Blacks are not required to return to their respective franchises until the end of the month, having emerged from MIQ in mid-December.
"He's not with us at the moment he's taking a bit of extra time. He's fit, I know he's been looking after his body. It was a busy year for him last year and we'll start to see him come through the gates soon.
"It's hard to be concrete around anything with concussion but he's trending in the right direction. He's getting better, that's the main thing, and he's really positive in his own mind. It's a hard thing to predict so you don't want to get hung up on those sorts of things."
@tim said in Blues 2022:
Training in the sweltering summer heat ensures Tuivasa-Sheck is in great shape, though, and he is now expected to debut at No 12 in the Blues' first pre-season hit out against the Hurricanes in Mahurangi on February 5 and back that up the following week in the second trial match against the Chiefs in Te Puke.
Several of MacDonald's All Blacks contingent - Akira and Rieko Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Hoskins Sotutu – trained with the squad on Tuesday, despite being on leave.
Of the Blues' All Blacks only Sotutu, who had a light test workload in 2021, will feature during the pre-season. MacDonald confirmed his All Blacks will return on a managed minutes basis for the Blues' opening match against Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.
Beauden Barrett is in doubt for that game while he attempts to shake off the lingering concussion effects from the heavy head knock he sustained in the defeat to Ireland over two months ago, but MacDonald appears confident he will soon return.
All Blacks are not required to return to their respective franchises until the end of the month, having emerged from MIQ in mid-December.
"He's not with us at the moment he's taking a bit of extra time. He's fit, I know he's been looking after his body. It was a busy year for him last year and we'll start to see him come through the gates soon.
"It's hard to be concrete around anything with concussion but he's trending in the right direction. He's getting better, that's the main thing, and he's really positive in his own mind. It's a hard thing to predict so you don't want to get hung up on those sorts of things."
I wonder if they are only going to try 12? Pre season would give you a few opportunities to try other positions as well
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@tim said in Blues 2022:
Training in the sweltering summer heat ensures Tuivasa-Sheck is in great shape, though, and he is now expected to debut at No 12 in the Blues' first pre-season hit out against the Hurricanes in Mahurangi on February 5 and back that up the following week in the second trial match against the Chiefs in Te Puke.
Several of MacDonald's All Blacks contingent - Akira and Rieko Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Hoskins Sotutu – trained with the squad on Tuesday, despite being on leave.
Of the Blues' All Blacks only Sotutu, who had a light test workload in 2021, will feature during the pre-season. MacDonald confirmed his All Blacks will return on a managed minutes basis for the Blues' opening match against Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.
Beauden Barrett is in doubt for that game while he attempts to shake off the lingering concussion effects from the heavy head knock he sustained in the defeat to Ireland over two months ago, but MacDonald appears confident he will soon return.
All Blacks are not required to return to their respective franchises until the end of the month, having emerged from MIQ in mid-December.
"He's not with us at the moment he's taking a bit of extra time. He's fit, I know he's been looking after his body. It was a busy year for him last year and we'll start to see him come through the gates soon.
"It's hard to be concrete around anything with concussion but he's trending in the right direction. He's getting better, that's the main thing, and he's really positive in his own mind. It's a hard thing to predict so you don't want to get hung up on those sorts of things."
I wonder if they are only going to try 12? Pre season would give you a few opportunities to try other positions as well
@bayimports Probably keeping it simple for him rather than training in multiple positions?
I'm keen to see how he goes in the 12 jersey especially how well he can distribute.
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@bayimports Probably keeping it simple for him rather than training in multiple positions?
I'm keen to see how he goes in the 12 jersey especially how well he can distribute.
@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
@bayimports Probably keeping it simple for him rather than training in multiple positions?
I'm keen to see how he goes in the 12 jersey especially how well he can distribute.
He has quite a few try assists to his name but the distribution will be markedly different from what he is used to, but cant wait to see him play!
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Yeah I hope that RTS is the one in a million insta hit at Union!
@machpants I'm very excited to see what he does in union. RTS and RI in the midfield has the potential to be something special.
He's done everything right so far, reports on his preperation remind me of the SBW training ethic we always heard about.
