The Silver Fern

@JK Yep. I thought he was great with the limited opportunity he had. Some quality moments. Huge future ahead.

Shitty game.. move along

Have the Blues changed up their attack in the last 2-3 matches? The backs seem to be aligned deeper and there seems to be more forwards doing pick and goes or running lines very close to the breakdown.
As mentioned in the press conference it was working in the first half before the errors/frustration/whatever

@KiwiMurph Good to see Akira get a mention. His work on defence and breakdown was crucial.

@Daffy-Jaffy

Looks like plenty of pace there, in that video

Sullivan was the official Blues player of the match

Because RM and BB showed they can play well when their packs are going backwards, DMac stuggled badly in a low quality game.

As you say, up to him to prove that wrong.

@Duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

It didn’t affect the result but the TMO should be stood down for missing that huge knock on

Other ferners have even gone to the press about it.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/you-shouldnt-miss-something-as-blatant-as-that/

Blues picked Akira as player of the game too. I think our polls and their choice has lined up a lot this year

Kind of 2 things jump to mind anyway,
1 Shouldn't assume what was said etc, (to be honest I never thought anything of it until read these posts)
2 Hell even a bit of verbals is ok anyway, I mean Gregan's '4 more years" to Kelleher was even enjoyed by other ABs (admittedly because many thought Kelleher was piston wristed gibbon), but hell as my son used to say playing cricket and, if you let verbals worry you it was time to take up knitting..

@Machpants

I'd describe him more as more of a lock that can cover loose forward.

His ball carrying at lock is something the other lock possibilities can't match. Potentially a good bench option too, it would make it easier to carry a specialist openside on the bench

I've been saying for a while that his style of play reminds me of Hemopo

Maybe not this year though

Agh that was a tough watch. So many handling errors. So many stoppages. Highlight of the first 23 mins was the all to rare these days scything run from BB, cutting the defence to shreds. Thought he played well actually, made some good decisions, when to run, when to kick, when to take points. Choat ran/tackled himself to a standstill. Have been impressed with him over the last couple of games, would be interested to see his tackle stats. Suafoa also put in a good shift. And Plummer was pleasantly surprising, is beginning to put his stamp on that 12 Jersey with vision and distribution. That 51m kick was sweet. Roger who? Looked tough going in the heat, and one the Blues will be pleased to get out of the way without serious injury I think. Those vuvuzelas were bloody annoying.

@KiwiMurph said in Blues MOTM v Tahs:

Hard to pick 3.

Went Clarke, Zarn and Ricky.

Could have easily gone 3 others

Same. Lots of forwards I could have picked too.

No way Beauden was in the top 3 after that first half.

RR, Tuips, Zarn.

@TheMojoman said in Rebels v Blues:

@Bones said in Rebels v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Rebels v Blues:

Second week in a row where I've thought Blues haven't missed much with Plummer at 12.

Doesn't bode well for RTS' AB hopes.

I thought Plummer was a bit of a lynchpin really. Tidied up a lot and really helped keep the backline running smoothly.

The “glue man” all good back lines need. I do think Rieko looks better with RTS beside him though ie, straight running 2nd five who can bend the line and give him some more space to operate.

I think the jury is still out on that combination. I don't think it has looked comfortable. I'm not sure how many times it has happened and perhaps it was as a bench replacement last season(?), but the Heem/Ioane combo looked dangerous and a little more fluent.

@number9 said in Chiefs v Blues:

@Tim the coaches are distracted mate we will struggle against the Rebels.

Might be something to that!

I thought Perofeta and Segner were stand outs.

A bunch of others that were ok to goodish. I’m not a fan but I thought Plummer did some good things in straightening the attack. Sullivan looked steady. The winger with the longest name in SR and clearly one that TJ practiced all week, did some nice things in addition to the AFL specky try. Suafoa was massive in close. Choat was a real nuisance and won TO ball.

I think you'll have 6 of the starting backs for the NZ U20s from this game. The Hurricanes 9, 10 and 11, and the Blues 12, 13 and 15. Add Nordstrom to the right wing and that will be a lethal backline. The forward pack isn't so obvious.