Blues 2017

[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

[Duluth]

Some soft defence and the Canes are in under the posts

They lead 33-28