Blues vs Hurricanes

pakman

@foobaNZ

Ofa looks much more like Moody and Franks at the moment... This is a huge game for him IMO.

Ofa can play both sides, unlike those two, excellent scrummagers though they are. And he also does a decent chunk of the hard carrying. More pace left in his legs than Joe.

pakman

@Chris said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@foobaNZ said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

I dunno about the Blues being stronger in the forwards. Tight 5 I'd say the Canes edge it.

If I combined the 5:

Numia
Riccitelli
Lomax
Tuipulotu
IWL

Loosies are interesting. You could argue Blues are better man for man but it's pretty damn close.

Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu
Brad Shields (c), Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose

If you factor in the loosie reserves then Canes have a big advantage there. Could be telling.

Darry over IWL for me Darry has come on strong this season much more physical and is holding his form.
IWL form has fallen away over the last few weeks.

IWL is really competing with Patty T as TH lock/4. The match up between Darry and Delany is potentially for a place in AB squad, although there is a fair chance JR will make a Strange choice.

pakman

@gt12 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@antipodean said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@gt12 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@foobaNZ

Ofa looks much more like Moody and Franks at the moment... This is a huge game for him IMO.

So only one dumb penalty this fixture?

That would be a great game for him at the moment. He looks very average. I hate having him at LH and I think he has gone backwards since the move.

With Tamaiti back and EDG nailed on, I’m expecting Numia to be third LH.
Lomax and Newell are also locked in, so for me Ofa is pencilled in as third TH.

antipodean

@pakman said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@Chris said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@foobaNZ said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

I dunno about the Blues being stronger in the forwards. Tight 5 I'd say the Canes edge it.

If I combined the 5:

Numia
Riccitelli
Lomax
Tuipulotu
IWL

Loosies are interesting. You could argue Blues are better man for man but it's pretty damn close.

Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu
Brad Shields (c), Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose

If you factor in the loosie reserves then Canes have a big advantage there. Could be telling.

Darry over IWL for me Darry has come on strong this season much more physical and is holding his form.
IWL form has fallen away over the last few weeks.

IWL is really competing with Patty T as TH lock/4. The match up between Darry and Delany is potentially for a place in AB squad, although there is a fair chance JR will make a Strange choice.

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Bovidae

@pakman said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

With Tamaiti back and EDG nailed on, I’m expecting Numia to be third LH.

I would not be surprised if Bower is one of the LH props.

pakman

@Bovidae said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@pakman said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

With Tamaiti back and EDG nailed on, I’m expecting Numia to be third LH.

I would not be surprised if Bower is one of the LH props.

In fact that crossed my mind, but would be harsh on Numia.

Canes4life

@pakman yeah Numia has been the form tight head of the comp. His scrummaging has been awesome and he's probably more effective around the field than Bower. Numia would be a great impact prop off the bench in the last twenty. Him and Aumua coming on with 20 odd to go when the game opens up would be a weapon for us.

pakman

@Canes4life Agree, except he packs on left side!

Canes4life

@pakman said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life Agree, except he packs on left side!

Yeah loosehead I meant.

Canes4life

A good interview with Clark Laidlaw on SENZ previewing Saturday's game. He seems like such a level headed coach who backs his players 100%. Really glad we chose Laidlaw, I think he's a perfect match for the Canes with his sevens background and his ability to bring all his learnings from coaching the NZ sevens side over the last few years. Challenging all the players no matter the level of their experience makes the team take account for their actions on and off the field. He's really helped the likes of Aumua, Walker-Leawere, Proctor etc take their game to a new level.

You can find the interview here - https://www.sen.com.au/programs/senz-super-rugby/

mikey07

Anyone else find it weird that James O’Reilly is coming off the bench for HOBM instead of off the bench for the Canes?

Higgins

@mikey07 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

Anyone else find it weird that James O’Reilly is coming off the bench for HOBM instead of off the bench for the Canes?

Maybe he has only paid 50% of his annual subscription fee so HOB-M might be digging their heels in and allowing him no more than 50% of the 80 minutes?

Bones

@Higgins said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

HOB-M

No

Canes4life

Proctor and Delany out for the Canes. Farrk

Sullivan comes in to centre, Higgins to the bench.

Winger

@Canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

Proctor and Delany out for the Canes. Farrk

Sullivan comes in to centre, Higgins to the bench.

Proctor especially is a big loss

I wonder about Sullivan. I'd prefer Higgins at centre.

Canes4life

@Winger would have gone Higgins, Sullivan has hardly played this year.

Machpants

Jesus

Canes4life

What’s going on with Delany? He’s been pulled before kick off two weeks in a row.

Winger

@Canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

What’s going on with Delany? He’s been pulled before kick off two weeks in a row.

This is where rugby needs improvement. Why not tell the fans what the issue is.

BerhamporeNinja

No way no Billy snd Lomax

The Silver Fern

Blues vs Hurricanes