Blues 2018

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Yes I was aware of that. It was Sowakula that I was thinking of.
It may depend on where they see Tupou as a lock or loose forward.
he may replace Nansen as 5th lock or more likely i think be in the loosies mix.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@taniwharugby I expect him to make it. He trained with them all last season. They only have SBW, Faiane and Moala at present. Tua would be 'like for like' replacement for Vaega. I wonder if they might also take a punt on young NZ u20 centre Loketi Manu as 5th midfeilder.
They also need 1 tight head and 1 loose head prop which will be important for depth on the bench.

[Bovidae]

Vaega might find a home at the Chiefs as there are probably spots for 2 other midfielders.

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2018:

young NZ u20 centre Loketi Manu

Are he and Tumua Manu related? They both play for College Rifles.

[taniwharugby]

@daffy-jaffy are apparently a few franchises having a look at Ross Wright who was very good this season at loosehead.

Namatahi Waa and Howard Sililoto both very good props, but both were injured in week 2 and 5 respecitively.

Waa has been in the Blues system for a couple of seasons too.

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Would expect to see Mike Tamoaieta selected at tighthead? With Marcel Renata in the WTS?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Tamoaieta started ahead of Mafaleo all season which says something, although I thought his fitness and scrummaging were found out a bit towards the end of the season by more experienced props. But with full time training and coaching he could be good. I like Renata's energy around the field and he is always near the top of tackle counts. However his scrummaging is a major work on and a risk at super level. This Maori tour should be good for him. Would love to get Fahamokoia out of Wellington for loose head. He would be great off the bench. Love those Tongan props. I heard a while ago that Angus Ta'avao did not have a contract. He would bring experience and his scrummaging has been more consistant since being with Taranaki.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Don't know that sorry, seems likely though.

[KiwiMurph]

@rocky-rockbottom Exactly this. I really hope this is true. He just straight up is not up to it.

[Tim]

If the Blues "past players" page is accurate, then the following 34 players are confirmed. Squads can be up to 38 + injury cover + WTG.

Props

Pauliasi Manu
Alex Hodgman
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Sione Mafileo

Hooker

James Parsons
Matt Moulds
Leni Apisai

Lock

Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott Scrafton
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Josh Goodhue

Loose Forward

Blake Gibson (7)
Jerome Kaino (6,8)
Akira Ioane (6,8)
Jimmy Tupou (6, lock)
Dalton Papali'i (6, 7)
Kara Pryor (7)
Murphy Taramai (6,7,8)

Halfback

Augustine Pulu
Sam Nock
Jonathan Ruru

1st 5

Stephen Perofeta
Otere Black
Bryn Gatland

Midfield

SBW
George Moala
Rieko Ioane
T.J. Faiane
Matty Johnson

Wing/Fullback

Matt Duffie
Melani Nanai
Michael Collins
Jordan Trainor
Caleb Clarke

Out

Charlie Faumaina
Steven Luatua
Ihaia West
Piers Francis
Rene Ranger
Sam Prattley
Billy Guyton
Declan O'Donnell
Branden Nansen
Matt Vaega

This leaves four players + 1st 5 injury cover to be named. The four are probably a loosehead prop, a tighthead prop, a lock, and a loose forward. Maybe another back in place of lock/loose-forward.

My guesses: Ross Wright (prefer Chris Eves) and Mike Tamoaieta for the props, and Marty McKenzie for replacement 10. Lock and loose-forward I have no idea. For lock I guess Robinson and Frizell might be options. Manihera or Moala-Liava'a at 8.

[Tim]

Likely XXIII:

1. Hodgman
2. Parsons
3. Tu'ungafasi
4. Tuipulotu
5. Scrafton
6. Kaino
7. Gibson
8. Ioane
9. Pulu
10. Perofeta
    -- now the speculation starts --
11. Ioane
12. Faiane
13. SBW
14. Nanai
15. Duffie
    -- reserves are more predictable --
16. Moulds
17. Manu
18. Tamoaieta
19. Cowley-Tuioti
20. Pryor/Papali'i/Taramai
21. Nock
22. Gatland
23. Moala

Key question for the starting line-up: when is Scrafton back from injury. We rely on him heavily for set piece proficiency and organisation. We need an able replacement for that role.

I really like those tight-five replacements to put some heat on at set-piece in the 2nd half. It'd be great to have a ball-carrying 8 on the bench, especially with Kaino likely to have a lighter workload.

Midfield combo will be a big selection question. A lot of talent outside them.

Pulu's form may be the key. Really hoping for a big year from Nock.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Tom Robinson may be the 5th lock and my choice for 1st/5 cover would be Jade Te Rure. Just compared Vaega and Johnson's stats for the Mitre 10 and Johnson's stack up pretty well. He made 12 clean breaks to Vaega's 15 with much less game time and in a struggling team. Defense seems to be Vaega's major work on at only 73% (missed 22 tackles), although Johnsons was not perfect at 82%.

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2018:

Tom Robinson

Ah, that's who I meant, not Bond.

[taniwharugby]

@tim although Bond would be a good option too, very good tight lock!

[Tim]

@taniwharugby With any luck, Goodhue will step up too.

[taniwharugby]

@tim yeah he started to really step up this year, missed a couple of easy tackles going for the big hits, but throws himself about and when our dysfunctional lineout was functioing, it was usually with him there.

[cgrant]

@tim said in Blues 2018:

Likely XXIII:

1. Hodgman
2. Parsons
3. Tu'ungafasi
4. Tuipulotu
5. Scrafton
6. Kaino
7. Gibson
8. Ioane
9. Pulu
10. Perofeta
    -- now the speculation starts --
11. Ioane
12. Faiane
13. SBW
14. Nanai
15. Duffie
    -- reserves are more predictable --
16. Moulds
17. Manu
18. Tamoaieta
19. Cowley-Tuioti
20. Pryor/Papali'i/Taramai
21. Nock
22. Gatland
23. Moala

Key question for the starting line-up: when is Scrafton back from injury. We rely on him heavily for set piece proficiency and organisation. We need an able replacement for that role.

I really like those tight-five replacements to put some heat on at set-piece in the 2nd half. It'd be great to have a ball-carrying 8 on the bench, especially with Kaino likely to have a lighter workload.

Midfield combo will be a big selection question. A lot of talent outside them.

Pulu's form may be the key. Really hoping for a big year from Nock.

Tana Umaga will surely include Collins somewhere.

[Tim]

@cgrant I was going to put him at 23, but then I felt a momentary hopefulness.

[Tim]

Ezekiel Lindenmuth is a possibility at loosehead.

[cgrant]

@tim
Still a bit too young but a fine prospect. Hodgman should have a great SR season and earn an AB call. His scrummaging has improved a lot since the BIL tour and he is one of the most effective props in NZ at clearing rucks.