Blues 2019
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@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Given that Faiane has shown great ability at 13 during NPC and SBW has shown nothing at 13 to date but is an AB 12 the 'planning' of Faiane at 12 confuses me.
Faiane was at 12 in the NPC (Manu was the 13). That’s his normal position
My bad. For some reason I recalled people saying he played out of position during NPC.
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
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I think I spotted young Harbour hooker Loteru Tolai at Blues training on a news clip. Apasai was injured last game and Parsons did not play that game so may also be carrying a knock. Loteru is a big unit for a hooker, listed at at 119kgs but only 20 years old.
@Daffy-Jaffy I wonder if Kurt Eklund and Jordan Olsen are around too?
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@Crucial They picked up two 13s with very little experience (Tele'a and Aumua). Hence how dissapointed many were that they lost Tumua Manu to the Chiefs.
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@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Given that Faiane has shown great ability at 13 during NPC and SBW has shown nothing at 13 to date but is an AB 12 the 'planning' of Faiane at 12 confuses me.
Faiane was at 12 in the NPC (Manu was the 13). That’s his normal position
My bad. For some reason I recalled people saying he played out of position during NPC.
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
Yes it’s a mess
TJ was probably not going to get selected, so they signed Nonu before the NPC.
They were probably planning on picking Manu but the Chiefs got interested.
Then TJ had a great NPC and demanded selectionSo now we have 3 good 12s and 2 unproven 13s
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Tanielu Tele’a was a key player for NZ U20s, but it's a huge ask for a 20 year old to play well at 13 at Super Rugby level.
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@Crucial They picked up two 13s with very little experience (Tele'a and Aumua). Hence how dissapointed many were that they lost Tumua Manu to the Chiefs.
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@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Given that Faiane has shown great ability at 13 during NPC and SBW has shown nothing at 13 to date but is an AB 12 the 'planning' of Faiane at 12 confuses me.
Faiane was at 12 in the NPC (Manu was the 13). That’s his normal position
My bad. For some reason I recalled people saying he played out of position during NPC.
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Given that Faiane has shown great ability at 13 during NPC and SBW has shown nothing at 13 to date but is an AB 12 the 'planning' of Faiane at 12 confuses me.
Faiane was at 12 in the NPC (Manu was the 13). That’s his normal position
My bad. For some reason I recalled people saying he played out of position during NPC.
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
Rieko? :grimacing_face:
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Strangely Manu is listed as a Utility back by the Chiefs but I would imagine that, with ALB being the only 'lock in' in the midfield he sees a better opportunity to be a regular 13 in the Tron. His chances to get regular 13 play in the Blues are pretty low.
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@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Given that Faiane has shown great ability at 13 during NPC and SBW has shown nothing at 13 to date but is an AB 12 the 'planning' of Faiane at 12 confuses me.
Faiane was at 12 in the NPC (Manu was the 13). That’s his normal position
My bad. For some reason I recalled people saying he played out of position during NPC.
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
Rieko? :grimacing_face:
@pakman said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Given that Faiane has shown great ability at 13 during NPC and SBW has shown nothing at 13 to date but is an AB 12 the 'planning' of Faiane at 12 confuses me.
Faiane was at 12 in the NPC (Manu was the 13). That’s his normal position
My bad. For some reason I recalled people saying he played out of position during NPC.
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
Rieko? :grimacing_face:
Nah. He can move there when he gets older and loses speed.
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@Tim said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Tanielu Tele’a was a key player for NZ U20s, but it's a huge ask for a 20 year old to play well at 13 at Super Rugby level.
ALB did OK.
@Crucial I think Tele'a will make an impact when he gets an opportunity. The thing with new young 'power' type players at this level is they often try to do too much leading to errors (miracle balls or loosing possession) after breaking or bending the line. That is what made ALB so good as a rookie with his line breaking then accurate option taking and quality passing marking him straight away as an AB prospect. Tele'a is very powerful and holds several Auckland strength records. Time will tell if he has other qualities. I saw that he started the last game on the wing which will help him get a go on the bench if he can cover wing and midfield.
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Tanielu Tele’a was a key player for NZ U20s, but it's a huge ask for a 20 year old to play well at 13 at Super Rugby level.
@Tim said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Tanielu Tele’a was a key player for NZ U20s, but it's a huge ask for a 20 year old to play well at 13 at Super Rugby level.
I've seen this posted on the Fern before and it's a myth. Tele'a was cited for a late, dangerous tackle and/or strike against an opponent's head in the second game of the tournament and suspended for the remainder of the tournament. He wasn't a key player at all, unless you mean it in a negative way.
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@Crucial I think Tele'a will make an impact when he gets an opportunity. The thing with new young 'power' type players at this level is they often try to do too much leading to errors (miracle balls or loosing possession) after breaking or bending the line. That is what made ALB so good as a rookie with his line breaking then accurate option taking and quality passing marking him straight away as an AB prospect. Tele'a is very powerful and holds several Auckland strength records. Time will tell if he has other qualities. I saw that he started the last game on the wing which will help him get a go on the bench if he can cover wing and midfield.
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial I think Tele'a will make an impact when he gets an opportunity. The thing with new young 'power' type players at this level is they often try to do too much leading to errors (miracle balls or loosing possession) after breaking or bending the line. That is what made ALB so good as a rookie with his line breaking then accurate option taking and quality passing marking him straight away as an AB prospect. Tele'a is very powerful and holds several Auckland strength records. Time will tell if he has other qualities. I saw that he started the last game on the wing which will help him get a go on the bench if he can cover wing and midfield.
Another GOTJ?
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@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
Yes it’s a mess
TJ was probably not going to get selected, so they signed Nonu before the NPC.
They were probably planning on picking Manu but the Chiefs got interested.
Then TJ had a great NPC and demanded selectionSo now we have 3 good 12s and 2 unproven 13s
@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
So the Blues have 3 12s and no 13s. Cool.
Yes it’s a mess
TJ was probably not going to get selected, so they signed Nonu before the NPC.
They were probably planning on picking Manu but the Chiefs got interested.
Then TJ had a great NPC and demanded selectionSo now we have 3 good 12s and 2 unproven 13s
I know there is a tendancy to paint everything that occured pre-MacDonald as absolute dogshit, including the recruitment for this season...
But even three years removed, you will have a tough time selling me the idea, that the ability to turn out the AB centre combination that played the winning 40 minutes of the last RWC final is somehow a "mess".
Good mess to have IMO.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Crucial I think Tele'a will make an impact when he gets an opportunity. The thing with new young 'power' type players at this level is they often try to do too much leading to errors (miracle balls or loosing possession) after breaking or bending the line. That is what made ALB so good as a rookie with his line breaking then accurate option taking and quality passing marking him straight away as an AB prospect. Tele'a is very powerful and holds several Auckland strength records. Time will tell if he has other qualities. I saw that he started the last game on the wing which will help him get a go on the bench if he can cover wing and midfield.
Another GOTJ?
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@pakman Is it bad that I read 'GOT' as 'Game of Thrones' - yes - April 14 Winter is here. But really what does 'GOTJ' mean?
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@Daffy-Jaffy George of the Jafas.
Oh. Jungle.
@Bones Ah got it thanks. I guess he meant' George Moala. I read somewhere that he is going really well in France.
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@Bones Ah got it thanks. I guess he meant' George Moala. I read somewhere that he is going really well in France.
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@Daffy-Jaffy haha nah probably not an actual George, although I may be wrong. Thinking...trains like Tarzan, plays like MMac.
@Bones Tele'a has hardly played any provincial rugby due to injury (and he is only just 20) so its a big ask to jump to playing super rugby at centre. Time will tell. There is some great experience inside him to learn from.
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@Tim said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Tanielu Tele’a was a key player for NZ U20s, but it's a huge ask for a 20 year old to play well at 13 at Super Rugby level.
I've seen this posted on the Fern before and it's a myth. Tele'a was cited for a late, dangerous tackle and/or strike against an opponent's head in the second game of the tournament and suspended for the remainder of the tournament. He wasn't a key player at all, unless you mean it in a negative way.
@Stargazer said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Tim said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Tanielu Tele’a was a key player for NZ U20s, but it's a huge ask for a 20 year old to play well at 13 at Super Rugby level.
I've seen this posted on the Fern before and it's a myth. Tele'a was cited for a late, dangerous tackle and/or strike against an opponent's head in the second game of the tournament and suspended for the remainder of the tournament. He wasn't a key player at all, unless you mean it in a negative way.
I believe he was a key player in the NZ U20s games in the 2018 Oceania Rugby Under 20s comp prior to the World Cup vs Fiji, Tonga and Australia.
