Blues 2017

[Duluth]

A couple of changes to that Blues A side.

Faiva and Pryor are not playing. Not sure if the players are injured or needed for the main side

Have the Hurricanes announced their A side?

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1. Namatahi Waa, Blues

2. Hame Faiva, Blues Joe Royal

3. Marcel Renata, Auckland

4. Josh Goodhue (c), Blues

5. Brandon Nansen, Blues

6. Dalton Papalii, Auckland Glen Preston

7. Kara Pryor, Blues Dalton Papalii

8. Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a, North Harbour

9. Richard Judd, Blues

10. Bryn Gatland, North Harbour

11. Caleb Clarke, Auckland

12. Matt Vaega, Blues

13. Rene Ranger, Blues

14. Jordan Hyland, Northland

15. Jordan Trainor, Blues

16. JP Sauni, Auckland

17. Emerson Tamura-Paki, Auckland

18. Afi Ielemia, Auckland

19. Glen Preston, North Harbour

20. Connor Collett, North Harbour

21. Lisati Milo-Harris, Auckland

22. D’Angelo Leuila, Auckland

23. Tamati Tua, Auckland

24. Salesi Rayasi, Auckland

25. Epineri (Ratu) Uluiviti, Northland

[Chester Draws]

Stuff reckons:
However, the level of stick the franchise cops for failing to unearth a Carlos Spencer-type player to lead them back to the promised land is unfair.

As if the Blues/Auckland unearthed Carlos!

He'd played two years at provincial footy at Horowhenua before being lured up North. He wasn't some hidden gem unearthed by clever scouting -- he'd long shown his class.

The Blues' problem isn't unearthing talented 1st 5s. It's winning enough games that good 1st-fives want to play for them.

[KiwiMurph]

@Chester-Draws It's a catch 22 - with it tough to win games with mediocre 10s.

At least Umaga has a plan with talented youngsters in the pipeline - that's the way to do it.

[Duluth]

Canes A on attack after an early penalty.

Blues forwards defend two 5m mail attempts and a few rucks a couple of metres out. Then Ranger gets stepped in midfield

7-0

[Duluth]

Gatland playing flat, Vaega with a big break, 30m run

Canes knock on so Blues have an attacking scrum 10m out

[Duluth]

Intercept, Trainor and Vaega making half breaks on counter attack

Haha evil bounce on a nothing kick wrong foots Trainor easy try for Canes A

14-0

[Duluth]

Loads of errors from both sides

Ranger penalised for hands, ref was clearly telling him to disengage

Blues A defend the maul again but a soft try a couple of phases later to the no 8

19-0

[Duluth]

Blues on attack

Ranger turns it over, kick down field, canes get possession on the 22

Ranger penalised for offside

Blues A vs Ranger at the moment

Canes maul penalised

[Duluth]

Blues almost get a TH on a Canes defensive scrum.. earn a penalty instead

Royal scores from the maul

Canes 19-7

[Tim]

Any mean mugs on display?

[Duluth]

Ranger does something good!

Catches a chip kick (from Gatland?) 30m out beats the last line

19-14

[mimic]

Would've been nice if they showed this on the rugby channel

[Duluth]

Classic hot and cold Ranger he looks sharp now

Gatland takes it to the line 20m out makes a half break offloads to Ranger who beats the fullback

Blues take the lead 21-19

[Duluth]

Ranger subbed off.. took a minor knock when he scored

Tua on

[Duluth]

Half time 21-19

Quality of both sides play much better in the 2nd quarter

Vaega looks dangerous and Gatland continues to improve

[Tim]

@Duluth Great to hear about Vaega.

He looked sharp in his 2016 Super Rugby appearances, and had good NPC. Hope to see him get some game time soon.

[Whites72]

@Duluth how has dalton popoali'i played? What is his best position? 6,7 or 8

[Duluth]

Royal charges down a clearing kick then Canes penalised for offside

Blues score from another maul. Not sure who got it

Blues ahead 28-19

[Duluth]

@Whites72

He's done lots of good work on defence, really accurate. Not much phase play in this game though

[Duluth]

Canes held up over the line after another maul attempt

They barge over a couple of phases after the scrum

Kirikiri with his second

28-26