Blues 2024
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@Canes4life You could say before this year Frizell had his chance and failed to deliver.
I don't see the need in writing people off.
Yes there's a lot of competition but there's also a lot of uncertainty in a lot of the contenders.
Can Grace stay fit, can Blackadder stay fit, will Finau suffer second season syndrome, can the Canes loosies thrive under a new coach etc etc you get the idea
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2024:
@Canes4life You could say before this year Frizell had his chance and failed to deliver.
I don't see the need in writing people off.
Yes there's a lot of competition but there's also a lot of uncertainty in a lot of the contenders.
Can Grace stay fit, can Blackadder stay fit, will Finau suffer second season syndrome, can the Canes loosies thrive under a new coach etc etc you get the idea
The difference with Frizell was, he was largely the first choice 6 once Ryan came in, and they were obviously working on something in the background. Considering it was a World Cup year, if they still liked Ioane, they would have picked him. I don't really see why you would go back to a guy who will be 29, and has never really cracked it despite having plenty of chances.
The six loose forwards for the WC (replace Frizell with Finau) get first look and then if you are picking another one on top of that, I think it would make more sense for a younger project player - Grace, Lio-Willie, Gardiner, Flanders etc.
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Grace hardly effective at NPC level, Blackadder has been found out at test level ,but with Razor who would no , probably C Drummond at 9
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@frugby I understand where you are coming from I just think writing him off completely is a little strong.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2024:
@frugby I understand where you are coming from I just think writing him off completely is a little strong.
I agree with this. Still think it's very unlikely he'll be back in the ABs, but with multiple injuries it's possible. In 2024 anyway.
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Darry, Plummer and Suafoa have re-signed. Choat a year extra.
https://twitter.com/BluesRugbyTeam/status/1715247389265772859
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@KiwiMurph I agree with @frugby, A Ioane won't be an AB again. I'm surprised he stayed in New Zealand. There are plenty of talented loosies coming through that Razor will pick ahead of him I feel. Ioane had his chance and failed to deliver.
@Canes4life said in Blues 2024:
@KiwiMurph I agree with @frugby, A Ioane won't be an AB again.
I can see how from a Canes perspective Akira is just too tall to be a forward.
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Grace hardly effective at NPC level, Blackadder has been found out at test level ,but with Razor who would no , probably C Drummond at 9
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@KiwiMurph I agree with @frugby, A Ioane won't be an AB again. I'm surprised he stayed in New Zealand. There are plenty of talented loosies coming through that Razor will pick ahead of him I feel. Ioane had his chance and failed to deliver.
@Canes4life Nothing wrong with staying in NZ. Yeah, I think he doesn't fit into the way that Ryan likes to play, but it's a good thing seeing guys like Akira staying in NZ. No need to hate on the guy for staying on and who knows, maybe he will earn a recall even though I'd be surprised to see it.
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There aren't many good 8s in NZ, Akira will have a chance.
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Grace hardly effective at NPC level, Blackadder has been found out at test level ,but with Razor who would no , probably C Drummond at 9
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Behind Savea : Jacobson, Grace, Sotutu, Ioane. Uncapped : Parker, Lio Willie, Suafoa, Lakai, Flanders, Michaele-Tuu.
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Behind Savea : Jacobson, Grace, Sotutu, Ioane. Uncapped : Parker, Lio Willie, Suafoa, Lakai, Flanders, Michaele-Tuu.
@cgrant said in Blues 2024:
Behind Savea : Jacobson, Grace, Sotutu, Ioane. Uncapped : Parker, Lio Willie, Suafoa, Lakai, Flanders, Michaele-Tuu.
Sotutu out of favour, Grace perpetually injured, Ioane has a chance.
Isn't Suafoa more a 6 and Lakai quite small for an AB 8? Is Flanders a specialist 8? -
@cgrant said in Blues 2024:
Behind Savea : Jacobson, Grace, Sotutu, Ioane. Uncapped : Parker, Lio Willie, Suafoa, Lakai, Flanders, Michaele-Tuu.
Sotutu out of favour, Grace perpetually injured, Ioane has a chance.
Isn't Suafoa more a 6 and Lakai quite small for an AB 8? Is Flanders a specialist 8?@nostrildamus
Lakai is very small ,probably put him in the Jordon Taufua category
I have a bit of time for Devon Flanders ,in the modern game especially with scrum rules he is so quick off the back
Work rate is out the gate can also be used as a line-out option ,very intelligent player
Hoping that Razzor reverts back to a specialist number number 8Have a bit of time for Cameron Sufua ,just gives you gain line every time ,hands can be a bit suspect and lateral tackling needs a bit of looking at.
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@nostrildamus
Lakai is very small ,probably put him in the Jordon Taufua category
I have a bit of time for Devon Flanders ,in the modern game especially with scrum rules he is so quick off the back
Work rate is out the gate can also be used as a line-out option ,very intelligent player
Hoping that Razzor reverts back to a specialist number number 8Have a bit of time for Cameron Sufua ,just gives you gain line every time ,hands can be a bit suspect and lateral tackling needs a bit of looking at.
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2024:
@nostrildamus
Lakai is very small ,probably put him in the Jordon Taufua category
I have a bit of time for Devon Flanders ,in the modern game especially with scrum rules he is so quick off the back
Work rate is out the gate can also be used as a line-out option ,very intelligent player
Hoping that Razzor reverts back to a specialist number number 8Have a bit of time for Cameron Sufua ,just gives you gain line every time ,hands can be a bit suspect and lateral tackling needs a bit of looking at.
yes 8 will be interesting, they have some gainline busters, I imagine they will want someone good in the lineout with 2 of our locks leaving..
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@cgrant said in Blues 2024:
Behind Savea : Jacobson, Grace, Sotutu, Ioane. Uncapped : Parker, Lio Willie, Suafoa, Lakai, Flanders, Michaele-Tuu.
Sotutu out of favour, Grace perpetually injured, Ioane has a chance.
Isn't Suafoa more a 6 and Lakai quite small for an AB 8? Is Flanders a specialist 8?@nostrildamus said in Blues 2024:
Is Flanders a specialist 8?
Yes, the Canes just haven't used him there enough, because he's a good blindside, too, and they had Ardie at 8.
During the NPC, he always plays at 8, with MMT moving to 6. I hope that, with Ardie not there in 2024, he'll become the incumbent no. 8 for the Canes. The main thing is that he's playing though.
