Blues v Drua

[Duluth]

1. Jordan Lay (4)
2. Ricky Riccitelli (6)
3. Nepo Laulala (18)
4. James Tucker (5)
5. Sam Darry (11)
6. Tom Robinson (39)
7. Adrian Choat (12)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (30)
9. Taufa Funaki (4)
10. Beauden Barrett (11)
11. AJ Lam (14)
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (4)
13. Reiko Ioane (80)
14. Mark Telea (32)
15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (5)

16. Soane Vikena (9)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (35)
18. Marcel Renata (25)
19. Luke Romano (7)
20. Anton Segner (3)
21. Lisati Milo Harris (0)
22. Tanielu Tele’a (18)
23. Jock McKenzie (1)

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/blues-refocus-for-super-round

[nzzp]

@Duluth good team considering the situation. Shows the depth in the squad

[george33]

@nzzp great team I counted 12 none starters who would probably b in 23 and that not counting plummer depth amazing now and beauden captain nice

[Duluth]

Hopefully JRK has a big impact. I'd like to see him force his way into the top XV

Ideally my back three would be:
11 Clarke
14 JRK
15 Sullivan

A power wing, a second fullback. Also I think the Blues play better with Sullivans long boot at the back

[george33]

@Duluth yeah nice combo but still like mark talea there his workrate huge

[Bovidae]

JRK hasn't lived up to the hype so far. Still very young though.

[Kirwan]

@Bovidae said in Blues v Drua:

JRK hasn't lived up to the hype so far. Still very young though.

How could you make that determination from how little he's played?

[nzzp]

Sullivan still injured?

[george33]

@nzzp looked ok of bench last week

[KiwiMurph]

@Bovidae said in Blues v Drua:

JRK hasn't lived up to the hype so far. Still very young though.

He looked pretty darn sharp in his last (only?) start at fullback vs Moana Pasifika in the midweek game.

[TheMojoman]

JRK looks a real prospect. I really hope the Blues don't let him go and he hits straps elsewhere. He hasn't played enough to breakout but I think if they continue to nurture him we've got a potential superstar.

Team vs Drua will still be too strong, expect a 15-20pt win.

[chimoaus]

Any word on why Sullivan is not featuring? I want to see more of him.

[antipodean]

https://twitter.com/BluesRugbyTeam/status/1516957384387702784

[Dan54]

Ok folks I asked this elsewhere. What do you think the chances are that we will see the Blues 10-12-13 axis in some tests this year?

[Machpants]

@Dan54 said in Blues v Drua:

Ok folks I asked this elsewhere. What do you think the chances are that we will see the Blues 10-12-13 axis in some tests this year?

0. RTS is no where near a test option, not for big tests if any. So he may sneak in versus Italy sort of thing. If he was here last year he may have got a run. But then you won't see Beaudy and/or Ioane in 10 and 13. I can't believe people are suggesting a guy for the and on the back of one and a half games of super. SBW had two years in France in Porto rugby before he came to NZ, and eventually ABs

[Duluth]

@Dan54 said in Blues v Drua:

Ok folks I asked this elsewhere. What do you think the chances are that we will see the Blues 10-12-13 axis in some tests this year?

It's possible. NZR has invested on bringing him over so they'll give him every chance

I think he'll be involved with the AB's this year if he remains fit. Potentially as apprentice training with the squad. Then maybe get a Test later in the year

Maybe things go faster than that? The Blues have 7-9 games left. If the partnership with Ioane goes well, particularly in playoff games, then he could make the full squad straight away

[george33]

@Dan54 Christie,Barrett,rts,reiko,Clarke mayb 1 more

[KiwiMurph]

@Machpants said in Blues v Drua:

@Dan54 said in Blues v Drua:

Ok folks I asked this elsewhere. What do you think the chances are that we will see the Blues 10-12-13 axis in some tests this year?

0. RTS is no where near a test option, not for big tests if any. So he may sneak in versus Italy sort of thing. If he was here last year he may have got a run. But then you won't see Beaudy and/or Ioane in 10 and 13. I can't believe people are suggesting a guy for the and on the back of one and a half games of super. SBW had two years in France in Porto rugby before he came to NZ, and eventually ABs

There's a lot of tests this year so it's possible.

Of course RTS needs to stay on the park to have any chance.

My main worry would be his defence - from what i've seen so far he has a bad habit of constantly going high when he tackles (perhaps picked up from his league days?) which size wise he struggles to pull off at Super level let alone test level.

I'll be an interested spectator in person this weekend to see how that axis goes.

[Dan54]

@Machpants said in Blues v Drua:

@Dan54 said in Blues v Drua:

Ok folks I asked this elsewhere. What do you think the chances are that we will see the Blues 10-12-13 axis in some tests this year?

0. RTS is no where near a test option, not for big tests if any. So he may sneak in versus Italy sort of thing. If he was here last year he may have got a run. But then you won't see Beaudy and/or Ioane in 10 and 13. I can't believe people are suggesting a guy for the and on the back of one and a half games of super. SBW had two years in France in Porto rugby before he came to NZ, and eventually ABs

Let me be clear I am not advocating it, just wondering if as Duluth says he strings a few games together and goes well, not all tests this year will be played for this year ie eye on WC, so wonder if temptation is to look at it , and have a full super season next year to see if combo tightens up even more.
I am a man who loves rugby and likes to think on all possiblities!

[KiwiMurph]

On the program for the weekend Zarn is bracketed with Jock in 23.

https://www.flipsnack.com/tahs2015/srp-r10/full-view.html