Blues v Hurricanes
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Yes I know
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@nzzp said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Akira had one of the worst games I've seen from him in ages -- but he didn't (and doesn't) get penalised for his off the ball stuff. It's largely disappeared from his game.
Also, I understand he had 24 carries last night. Twenty four!!! Clearly lazy
Believe me, I'm a fan. But that particular incident I think showed why he isn't getting selected.
No it doesn't.
Akira has never ever been penalised once for off the ball stuff.
It simply has not happened.
So who cares?
Never once? I would say that gives a pretty damn good indication. Why else wouldn't he be selected? He might have been considered lazy back in the day, but has had a great work rate the past couple of years. It has to be something about his attitude. There's no way Whitlock and Frizzel would have been selected over him otherwise.
Akira was the only player included in the recent foundation camp that had not played a test. That doesn't say he is on the outers to me.
That's a 41 player squad and of course he'll always be in the mix, particularly if there are injuries. But the fact he wasn't selected last year would indicate there's something Hanson and co aren't happy with. Again, I think the incident yesterday gives a good indication of what their concern is. He can hardly be accused of being lazy anymore.
The 'incident' you speak of
Jordie cunningly tried to goad Akira by pulling on his collar when Akira went for the ball. There was then some push and shove.
Nothing happened. Play then carried on.
Talk about a non event.
For the 4th time, I was merely saying it gives an indication of why Akira has never played a test in black. Or do you think it's because of his beep test times?
Now you are backtracking - you said
"And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game"
This is despite Akira never having been penalised for any niggle etc in any Super/Mitre 10/Maori game he has played.
I just cannot fathom this being a reason for his non-selection.
If ABs are worried about players doing something dumb then they need to focus their efforts on other players (SBW for one).
How is that a backtrack? And if that is not the reason why hasn't he been selected and a guy warming the bench for the Landers has?
They aren't competing for the same spot. Shannon F is a 6. Akira is an 8.
"Akira Ioane (born 16 June 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player. Ioane plays blindside flanker and number 8 for the Auckland rugby union team in the Mitre 10 Cup, for the Blues in the Super Rugby competition and was selected for the All Blacks in 2017, having previously represented New Zealand internationally in Sevens and the Māori All Blacks."
The last time Akira played 6 for the Blues I think was 2017 vs Sunwolves when Luatua was around. There have been nearly 2 seasons gone since then. Akira would have played 25 odd games for the Blues at 8 since then.
In addition - probably 25 more since then at 8 in Mitre 10 Cup for Auckland.
So thats his last 50 odd first class games at 8.
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When was his last start at 6?
@Duluth said in Blues v Hurricanes:
When was his last start at 6?
What does that matter? He can cover 6 and 8 so why not select him and have him in the squad rather than someone who can't start for the Highlanders? And why select Whitelock? You don't leave a player like that out unless there are other issues. Saying it's his positional play makes as much sense as that cråp about Isaac Ross having to improve his power.
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@Duluth said in Blues v Hurricanes:
When was his last start at 6?
What does that matter? He can cover 6 and 8 so why not select him and have him in the squad rather than someone who can't start for the Highlanders? And why select Whitelock? You don't leave a player like that out unless there are other issues. Saying it's his positional play makes as much sense as that cråp about Isaac Ross having to improve his power.
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
What does that matter?
It matters because he's a specialist 8
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The last time Akira played 6 for the Blues I think was 2017 vs Sunwolves when Luatua was around. There have been nearly 2 seasons gone since then. Akira would have played 25 odd games for the Blues at 8 since then.
In addition - probably 25 more since then at 8 in Mitre 10 Cup for Auckland.
So thats his last 50 odd first class games at 8.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
The last time Akira played 6 for the Blues I think was 2017 vs Sunwolves when Luatua was around. There have been nearly 2 seasons gone since then. Akira would have played 25 odd games for the Blues at 8 since then.
In addition - probably 25 more since then at 8 in Mitre 10 Cup for Auckland.
So thats his last 50 odd first class games at 8.
So with the personnel available they prefer him at 8 for the Blues now. That doesn't mean he can't play there for the ABs. His bench impact alone would be immense. Makes no sense.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
What does that matter?
It matters because he's a specialist 8
@Duluth said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
What does that matter?
It matters because he's a specialist 8
Except when he wasn't.
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@Duluth said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
What does that matter?
It matters because he's a specialist 8
Except when he wasn't.
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He was playing out of position. There was plenty of discussion about it at the time. He can do a reasonable job there but it negates his running game - his biggest asset
Weird thing to get so worked up over
@Duluth said in Blues v Hurricanes:
He was playing out of position. There was plenty of discussion about it at the time. He can do a reasonable job there but it negates his running game - his biggest asset
Weird thing to get so worked up over
What? I'm perfectly calm. What are you on about? Point to a single part of my last few posts where I got "worked up over" anything.
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There's no indication that ABs see Akira as a 6 or Shannon F as an 8.
As for Akira - coach Coventry gave an indication last year after he was named Blues forward coach that the ABs wanted to see a more rounded game from him - that the running game was obviously great last year but that he needed to balance it out a bit more.
That has improved this year (and Mitre 10 Cup last year).
He's hit more rucks, his tackling numbers have improved, his passing game has improved.
Now he is in the ABs frame again.
Nothing to do with niggle that he has never been penalised for.
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There's no indication that ABs see Akira as a 6 or Shannon F as an 8.
As for Akira - coach Coventry gave an indication last year after he was named Blues forward coach that the ABs wanted to see a more rounded game from him - that the running game was obviously great last year but that he needed to balance it out a bit more.
That has improved this year (and Mitre 10 Cup last year).
He's hit more rucks, his tackling numbers have improved, his passing game has improved.
Now he is in the ABs frame again.
Nothing to do with niggle that he has never been penalised for.
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@KiwiMurph It's a pity though that he hasn't shown any of that improvement for at least a month now.
@Stargazer said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph It's a pity though that he hasn't shown any of that improvement for at least a month now.
I disagree. Last night he was back to his earlier self.
He has played into the ground though - he'd be right up there for total minutes played in the comp i'd think?
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Was also great to see Scrafton get on the paddock, offered a lot of energy and chatter ( heard him really trying to pick the players up on a couple of occasions)
I don't understand why he has been missing out (unless there was another injury niggle?). He's clearly the second best lock IMO and he has plenty of experience.
Both the co-captains don't talk much. Although it was good to see Gibson put more pressure on the ref last night. I haven't watched the tv coverage, so don't know if it showed up on tv, but he was following Bryrant around at several stoppages.
When you look at a captains like Ben Smith they never leave the ref alone. I think it does have an influence.@Duluth said in Blues v Hurricanes:
I don't understand why he has been missing out (unless there was another injury niggle?). He's clearly the second best lock IMO and he has plenty of experience.
Off-field issues:grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
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@Stargazer said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph It's a pity though that he hasn't shown any of that improvement for at least a month now.
I disagree. Last night he was back to his earlier self.
He has played into the ground though - he'd be right up there for total minutes played in the comp i'd think?
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
He has played into the ground though - he'd be right up there for total minutes played in the comp i'd think?
If Fox sports is accurate he's 10th with 843mins from 11 games. The only other NZ forward in the top 20 is Blackwell (7th with 854mins)
I see Nanai has yet to be subbed 880min from 11 matches
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There's no indication that ABs see Akira as a 6 or Shannon F as an 8.
As for Akira - coach Coventry gave an indication last year after he was named Blues forward coach that the ABs wanted to see a more rounded game from him - that the running game was obviously great last year but that he needed to balance it out a bit more.
That has improved this year (and Mitre 10 Cup last year).
He's hit more rucks, his tackling numbers have improved, his passing game has improved.
Now he is in the ABs frame again.
Nothing to do with niggle that he has never been penalised for.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
There's no indication that ABs see Akira as a 6 or Shannon F as an 8.
As for Akira - coach Coventry gave an indication last year after he was named Blues forward coach that the ABs wanted to see a more rounded game from him - that the running game was obviously great last year but that he needed to balance it out a bit more.
That has improved this year (and Mitre 10 Cup last year).
He's hit more rucks, his tackling numbers have improved, his passing game has improved.
Now he is in the ABs frame again.
Nothing to do with niggle that he has never been penalised for.
How about Whitelock? And if there are workons then why not work on them within the squad? There are plenty of players selected for the ABs who are far from the finished product.
But we're going round in circles. If you think it's positional stuff, the fact that he's a specialist no. 8 etc then fair enough. I respectfully disagree and think it's his temperament they're concerned about. Btw, now that I think about it, wasn't he yellow carded in the Mitre 10 Cup final?
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
There's no indication that ABs see Akira as a 6 or Shannon F as an 8.
As for Akira - coach Coventry gave an indication last year after he was named Blues forward coach that the ABs wanted to see a more rounded game from him - that the running game was obviously great last year but that he needed to balance it out a bit more.
That has improved this year (and Mitre 10 Cup last year).
He's hit more rucks, his tackling numbers have improved, his passing game has improved.
Now he is in the ABs frame again.
Nothing to do with niggle that he has never been penalised for.
How about Whitelock? And if there are workons then why not work on them within the squad? There are plenty of players selected for the ABs who are far from the finished product.
But we're going round in circles. If you think it's positional stuff, the fact that he's a specialist no. 8 etc then fair enough. I respectfully disagree and think it's his temperament they're concerned about. Btw, now that I think about it, wasn't he yellow carded in the Mitre 10 Cup final?
@Rancid-Schnitzel That was for a collapsed maul when Canterbury were about to score.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel That was for a collapsed maul when Canterbury were about to score.
@African-Monkey said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel That was for a collapsed maul when Canterbury were about to score.
I thought it was because he entered from the side after having been warned first.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel That was for a collapsed maul when Canterbury were about to score.
@African-Monkey and as for his temperament he came back absolutely firing from the yellow card 10 minute break in that final and was a huge catalyst for the Auckland win.
Not a bad big game temperament i'd say.
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@African-Monkey and as for his temperament he came back absolutely firing from the yellow card 10 minute break in that final and was a huge catalyst for the Auckland win.
Not a bad big game temperament i'd say.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@African-Monkey and as for his temperament he came back absolutely firing from the yellow card 10 minute break in that final and was a huge catalyst for the Auckland win.
Not a bad big game temperament i'd say.
Wouldn't want it in a world cup play off game though? Would you?
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@African-Monkey and as for his temperament he came back absolutely firing from the yellow card 10 minute break in that final and was a huge catalyst for the Auckland win.
Not a bad big game temperament i'd say.
@KiwiMurph I didn't even think he was that bad last night apart from his work at the back of the scrum as it was metioned last night where Perenara made it difficult for him. No doubt Savea and Papali'i were the standout loosies but Akira toiled hard I thought.
