Moana Pasifika v Blues

[Duluth]

@tim

Michael Curry was the other lock that played in the preseason. Don't know much about him

[Tim]

@duluth That's right. Lock/loose forward formerly from Ta$man?

[Tim]

Karl Tu'inukuafe is supposed to return in April, so may be a bench option soon.

[taniwharugby]

@tim said in Blues 2022:

Actually, I think Allan Craig was with the squad?

think he had been bought in for development purposes and had been training with the squad.

[Crucial]

Perofeta may well be your number one 10 for the rest of the season. May need to plan accordingly.

[Nepia]

@tim said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Didn't realise that we were playing MP again on Sunday. Definitely a full b-team then.

I assume this post was pre the Wellington v Moana Pacific match?

[Tim]

@nepia yes

[Machpants]

@nepia said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

@tim said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Didn't realise that we were playing MP again on Sunday. Definitely a full b-team then.

I assume this post was pre the Wellington v Auckland Moana Pacific match?

Fixed it for you

[Nepia]

@machpants said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

@nepia said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

@tim said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Didn't realise that we were playing MP again on Sunday. Definitely a full b-team then.

I assume this post was pre the Wellington v Auckland Moana Pacific match?

Fixed it for you

I don't think Moana Pacific is dominated by the Auckland province to the detriment of its playing roster.

[Dice]

Looks like these are some of the guys that will be playing against us.

Motuga and Lam look good to go.

Kata and Leuila in there as well.

I didn't know Xavier Cowley-Tuioti was with MP.

[booboo]

@tim said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Who are looking at for the 2nd XV against MP? I'm guessing that there will be some clues in the preseason squads.

1 Fusitua/Lay/McElroy
2 Riccitelli
3 Lay/Ahio
4 Darry
5 Suafoa
6 Plumtree
7 Choat/Segner
8 Ekuasi

9 Nock
10 Perofeta
11 Lam
12 Evans
13 Tua
14 Tele'a
15 Kneepkens

16 Vikena
17 McElroy/Fusitua
18 Renata/Ahio
19 ?
20 Segner/Choat
21 Milo-Harris/Funaki
22 Sullivan/Jock McKenzie (with cricket?)
23 Telea

Do you want to go that 2nd string?

[ARHS]

@dice It will be great to see how Leuila and Kata go

[Higgins]

@tim said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Who are looking at for the 2nd XV against MP? I'm guessing that there will be some clues in the preseason squads.

1 Fusitua/Lay/McElroy?

Jeez, competition for medal play in the Blues squad looks like it has just got a lot more one sided. Even a burgler 36 handicapper would still struggle in the stableford format as well.

[Duluth]

@booboo said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Do you want to go that 2nd string?

Blues don't really have a choice. It'll probably be something like that

3 days between games. It's only marginally better for Pasifika so they won't have many backing up either

Chiefs did fine with a 2nd xv, Hurricanes should've had a big lead by half time in their game. So the 2nd xv shouldn't be a big deal in a midweek fixture where MP will also be compromised. The important thing is not to play as dumb as the Canes did

[Kirwan]

@duluth Some of our second string are gunning for starting places - and Tucker and the Plumtree's show that if you perform you get rewarded (Just saying Robinson....)

That should help the attitude.

[Winger]

@duluth said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

@booboo said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Do you want to go that 2nd string?

Blues don't really have a choice. It'll probably be something like that

3 days between games. It's only marginally better for Pasifika so they won't have many backing up either

Chiefs did fine with a 2nd xv, Hurricanes should've had a big lead by half time in their game. So the 2nd xv shouldn't be a big deal in a midweek fixture where MP will also be compromised. The important thing is not to play as dumb as the Canes did

Like take the easy three points? And the blues seem to have better depth.

[Duluth]

@winger said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Like take the easy three points?

Exactly

MP was infringing constantly that made phase play difficult but gave plenty of shots at goal. I think it was 11 penalties after 35mins?

[taniwharugby]

@duluth was it last year the same thing happened, but v the 'saders?

Canes knocked back kicks, lost a close battle, next week the Blues played, took all thier kicks and won.

[KiwiMurph]

This is the sort of game the Blues should be playing Romano in.

With second stringers in due to the short turnaround Blues will be short on experience and what's left of Romano's physical game should suit playing MP.

Moana Pasifika should be aiming to rattle the Blues early and try and get the inexperienced players to doubt themselves.

[Kirwan]

@kiwimurph said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

This is the sort of game the Blues should be playing Romano in.

With second stringers in due to the short turnaround Blues will be short on experience and what's left of Romano's physical game should suit playing MP.

Moana Pasifika should be aiming to rattle the Blues early and try and get the inexperienced players to doubt themselves.

With Plummer out and BB a bit banged up, might an opportunity to play Sullivan at ten just to see how he goes. I can't see Perofeta playing three games in a week, or have forgotten a ten pre-coffee this morning?