Blues 2022

[Chris]

So is Zarn Sullivan out of the 23 for the Blues now.
Hard to drop Perofeta after his performance v Chiefs he was outstanding.

[Dice]

@chris said in Blues 2022:

So is Zarn Sullivan out of the 23 for the Blues now.
Hard to drop Perofeta after his performance v Chiefs he was outstanding.

He'll likely be on the bench next week if Plummer's out injured.

[Nogusta]

@chris most probably. With BB starting at 10 you'd think Kneepkens would now fill the 23 spot covering wing and fullback as opposed to Lam who only covers wing. You'd think Tamati Tua/Tele'a and maybe Evans vying for 2 spots at 12 and 22? Then there's Bryce Heem? Or is he injured?
Interesting week coming up!

[Chris]

Any Blues Fans on here concerned about BB having what I think was a shocker against the Chiefs, and looking really gun shy from contact.
Or is the feeling its first game back he will improve.

[Chris]

@nogusta said in Blues 2022:

@chris most probably. With BB starting at 10 you'd think Kneepkens would now fill the 23 spot covering wing and fullback as opposed to Lam who only covers wing. You'd think Tamati Tua/Tele'a and maybe Evans vying for 2 spots at 12 and 22? Then there's Bryce Heem? Or is he injured?
Interesting week coming up!

Bryce Heem was good last SR season he maybe worth a bench spot.

[African Monkey]

@chris Hoping it was rustiness but yes, it was terrible viewing watching him yesterday. Will get a better indication next week.

[Chris]

@african-monkey said in Blues 2022:

@chris Hoping it was rustiness but yes, it was terrible viewing watching him yesterday. Will get a better indication next week.

I hope it’s only that.At worst it would be a sad way to end your career.

[Crucial]

@chris said in Blues 2022:

Any Blues Fans on here concerned about BB having what I think was a shocker against the Chiefs, and looking really gun shy from contact.
Or is the feeling its first game back he will improve.

You'd think he has been doing full contact training sessions though. Surely that would have shown out in those.

[Dice]

Some great takes by Caleb.

[Chris]

@crucial said in Blues 2022:

@chris said in Blues 2022:

Any Blues Fans on here concerned about BB having what I think was a shocker against the Chiefs, and looking really gun shy from contact.
Or is the feeling its first game back he will improve.

You'd think he has been doing full contact training sessions though. Surely that would have shown out in those.

You would think so,But it did look like he was gun shy.

[Machpants]

@chris said in Blues 2022:

Any Blues Fans on here concerned about BB having what I think was a shocker against the Chiefs, and looking really gun shy from contact.
Or is the feeling its first game back he will improve.

He was obvs very close to not making the 23, since he was bracketted, so I am imagining he’ll improve. Maybe he should’ve waited another week - some stern contact training required this week

[TheMojoman]

@chris said in Blues 2022:

So is Zarn Sullivan out of the 23 for the Blues now.
Hard to drop Perofeta after his performance v Chiefs he was outstanding.

Perofeta should get a lock on fullback now. He offers a bit more in attack and I haven't seen enough in his general kicking but it would have to be pretty good to match Sullivan.

[Kirwan]

@themojoman said in Blues 2022:

@chris said in Blues 2022:

So is Zarn Sullivan out of the 23 for the Blues now.
Hard to drop Perofeta after his performance v Chiefs he was outstanding.

Perofeta should get a lock on fullback now. He offers a bit more in attack and I haven't seen enough in his general kicking but it would have to be pretty good to match Sullivan.

With BB starting sure, but with Plummer we looked to missing Sullivans longer kicking game.

[Duluth]

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/03/super-rugby-pacific-roger-tuivasa-sheck-s-shoulder-injury-not-as-bad-as-feared-harry-plummer-out-for-season.html

After coach Leon MacDonald described the injuries as "serious" Tuivasa-Sheck has pulled up better than expected, and will only face weeks on the sidelines - better than first feared.

But Plummer hasn't been as lucky in his diagnosis, and will require surgery that ends his 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

[Kirwan]

@duluth That's a shame, he's been very useful for us. Good news regarding RTS.

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/BluesRugbyTeam/status/1502077815210258433

[Dice]

RTS on Tana's podcast.

It's a few weeks old but it's a good listen.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NWR1PWUIeElKLJqiPzkeA?si=elcIG_qNRvWG1Putff9pPA

[Tim]

From instagram, it looks like Ioane has had his cast removed and is back on the watt bike.

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/NewshubSport/status/1506147456979173376

[Tim]

Assuming Barrett is out, what will the 23 be?

I like having Choat off the bench against the Highlanders. Got to imagine that the Highlanders will really target the breakdown to give themselves a chance. Two loose forwards on the bench? Papalii, Sotutu, Robinson, and Plumtree all look pretty fit though. Do we have a good jackler we can put on the bench?

Pretty much an unchanged side from the last game, but would like to see Romano have a game off.

1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Laulala
4 Darry
5 Goodhue
6 Robinson (if fully fit)/Plumtree
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu
9 Christie
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 Heem
13 Ioane
14 Telea probably still first choice, but would be a good opportunity to try Lam or Kneepkens
15 Sullivan

16 Vikena (more impact off the bench)
17 Lam (looked decent in his first game)
18 Tu'ungafasi (should he get a start?)
19 Tucker (looked good last game, could push for a start?)
20 Choat
21 Nock
22 Tele'a/Tua/Evans
23 A back or another loose forward?