Blues 2019
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If Tuipulotu is heading offshore,one player I would be chasing is Mitchell Dunshea ,former NZ under 20 lock in 2015,he is currently in the Crusaders squad,but gets very little game time because Whitelock ,Romano,Barrett and Quinn’s Strange are all ahead in the pecking order.
Dunshea is a machine,has a huge workrate and a massive engine,was outstanding for Canterbury in the 2015 ITM Cup ,in fact probably their best player during that season,sat out all 2016 & 2017 with a serious foot injury,stands at 6,5 and has good bulk,plays for Lincoln University
Not overly experienced,but one that could develop into a permanent fixture.
I do believe the Blues are well versed with some good young locks in Scott Scrafton,Gerad Tuioti Mariner and Josh Goodhue,and if Tuipulotu is part of the plan,it would still be great to have another quality lock in the stable..Not entirely convinced about Ben NeeNee..,
@steven-harris Pretty sure Dunshea played No. 8 for the Barbarians vs the Lions and made a good fist of it. I'd have liked to have seen him get time either there or at blindside flanker for the Crusaders. He would be an excellent pick-up, but I hope we can keep him - despite being an injury magnet. He's still only 22.
One of Jack Stratton or Ere Enari is likely to be available. Similarly Billy Harmon or Jed Brown. Bidwell-Curtis or Ethan Blackadder. All useful if they're required.
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Posted on fb by an ex ferner.
https://thaicastle.co/2018/04/30/justin-marshall-named-as-blues-head-coach/“I’m going to put the BOOMFA back in Blues! Oh me oh my you are gonna enjoy this yes boy!”
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It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
@nzzp that's a lot to ask for bro
Be lucky if you even get 1/3!!
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It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor. -
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor.@duluth heard through good source,they were going to announce Umagas extension after the Jaguaries game,but they were hoping to announce it on a victory to soften the blow..I think we can safely assume the announcement might be put on hold for a while..which is just madness..announce him already and at least you can start planning for 2019..
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@duluth heard through good source,they were going to announce Umagas extension after the Jaguaries game,but they were hoping to announce it on a victory to soften the blow..I think we can safely assume the announcement might be put on hold for a while..which is just madness..announce him already and at least you can start planning for 2019..
I wonder what they will do if there are no more wins??
Not surprising. About the best that can be hoped for is a clean out of the assistants. Someone like Coventry can be the real coach and Umaga is just a figurehead.
Perhaps they can wheel out the pirate ship and Umaga can dress up as Bluebeard if he gets bored. -
I wonder what they will do if there are no more wins??
Not surprising. About the best that can be hoped for is a clean out of the assistants. Someone like Coventry can be the real coach and Umaga is just a figurehead.
Perhaps they can wheel out the pirate ship and Umaga can dress up as Bluebeard if he gets bored.@duluth give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
If they were going to announce it, you assume the paperwork is all signed, but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season and the blip (actually, continuation of norm) of the Jaguares has made them think about invoking said clause, so delaying any announcement for fear of even more egg on face?
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@duluth give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
If they were going to announce it, you assume the paperwork is all signed, but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season and the blip (actually, continuation of norm) of the Jaguares has made them think about invoking said clause, so delaying any announcement for fear of even more egg on face?
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
..and selecting.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season
Damn you. Don't give me hope.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
..and selecting.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season
Damn you. Don't give me hope.
@duluth gotta look for the positives, however hopeful....
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I wonder what they will do if there are no more wins??
Not surprising. About the best that can be hoped for is a clean out of the assistants. Someone like Coventry can be the real coach and Umaga is just a figurehead.
Perhaps they can wheel out the pirate ship and Umaga can dress up as Bluebeard if he gets bored.@duluth I am pissing myself with laughter..I”m sure they could find some sort of cheerleader role for J.K. As well
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@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor.@duluth said in Blues 2019:
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor.The Board is the most important component, and the least likely to change. A good Board appoints a good coach and ensures a good environment. After that, wati three years and we start to populate the team with talent.
The counter-argument is take a top franchise, add an arrogant and out of touch board, wait 15 years and then mop up the tears.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@tim plenty of smiles all around. We won last week boys, nothing to worry about....
Winning papers over a lot of cracks. It's also a habit.
Our weaknesses were there, but beating the Aus conference leaders away from home should be smile time
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@tim plenty of smiles all around. We won last week boys, nothing to worry about....
Winning papers over a lot of cracks. It's also a habit.
Our weaknesses were there, but beating the Aus conference leaders away from home should be smile time
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@tim plenty of smiles all around. We won last week boys, nothing to worry about....
Winning papers over a lot of cracks. It's also a habit.
Our weaknesses were there, but beating the Aus conference leaders away from home should be smile time
If beating Aussie teams meant anything these days then sure.
I'm not of the mind set that we should accept mediocrity, or being the joke team of the NZ conference, just because the Blues board and coaches do.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@tim plenty of smiles all around. We won last week boys, nothing to worry about....
Winning papers over a lot of cracks. It's also a habit.
Our weaknesses were there, but beating the Aus conference leaders away from home should be smile time
If beating Aussie teams meant anything these days then sure.
I'm not of the mind set that we should accept mediocrity, or being the joke team of the NZ conference, just because the Blues board and coaches do.
@kirwan said in Blues 2019:
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@tim plenty of smiles all around. We won last week boys, nothing to worry about....
Winning papers over a lot of cracks. It's also a habit.
Our weaknesses were there, but beating the Aus conference leaders away from home should be smile time
If beating Aussie teams meant anything these days then sure.
I'm not of the mind set that we should accept mediocrity, or being the joke team of the NZ conference, just because the Blues board and coaches do.
I don't disagree, but in our current state, a win is a win. We have beaten both conference leaders away from home, with injuries. We suck, but it's a small highlight in a dire season.
