Blues v Chiefs

macandcheese

@JK

Blues should consider moving Plummer to Inside Centre
Got a kicking game & a big frame

Perofeta to Full Back with Otere Black Backing up Barrett

taniwharugby

@macandcheese BB is 'due' back for the Jags game.

macandcheese

@taniwharugby

That's a shame

His 1st game back vs Canes in Eden Park would have been amazing

taniwharugby

@macandcheese yep, from a marketing POV, that should have been the one.

Guess when he negotiated when he was due back that wasnt a consideration...plus the Jags game isnt even at EP either!

Crucial

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK said in Blues v Chiefs:

Blues halves are still as weak as piss.

Can't say Im too optimistic about the season ahead. When is BB available for a run in blue?

Beaudie is due back in April

Doubt he makes a big impact this season
Chiefs

Blues first 11 games include 2 games in SA vs Bulls/Stormers, Crusaders twice Hurricanes twice & Jaguares They'll do well to win 3 games

1st game after bye for Blues is in Christchurch then a home game again Canes

This is one of the problems with the current system. I don't know exactly how the draw is done but the lower ranked teams from the previous year seem to get a hard road the following year making it even harder to get the momentum required to get out of the cellar.
I get that there are some games probably etched in for marketing reasons and that the conference system doesn't help kiwi teams (the need to play each other twice) but the travel always comes early for the lower ranked teams and the travel is against the 'better' overseas franchises.
We have yet to see any lower team make great gains during the conference era.
From a pure marketing and interest pop this is a major failing. Seeing an underdog climb out of the swamp is a highlight in sporting comps and gathers great interest and publicity. Protecting and nurturing teams that have already won gets boring.

macandcheese

Yeah

The game will be in Whangarei

It's absurd that BB 1st game is in a provincial location against a team even one as good as Jaguares that will not be as enticing as a "grudge" game vs Canes in Eden Park

I know what game Sky would love to have as BB 1st game back

macandcheese

@Crucial

SR not designed to allow teams to rise quickly form "worst to first" ala NFL for example

For a team like Blues to play eight NZ derbies is brutal
Hence they're stuck in a vicious cycle

Thankfully from next year SR reverts to Round Robin Format - 13 games with 2 byes that'll enhance the quality of the Comp

Round Robin format will suit NZ teams as they'll have fewer derbies

Jaguares will also benefit as they'll have 3 fewer road games every 2 years Even then they've won 7 out of last 9
games in AUS/NZ

Bovidae

@mariner4life

A reminder that Rotorua is in the BOP as well.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/119130728/super-rugby-kaleb-trask-stunned-to-start-for-chiefs-ahead-of-idol-aaron-cruden

KiwiMurph

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK said in Blues v Chiefs:

Blues halves are still as weak as piss.

Can't say Im too optimistic about the season ahead. When is BB available for a run in blue?

Beaudie is due back in April

Doubt he makes a big impact this season
Chiefs

Blues first 11 games include 2 games in SA vs Bulls/Stormers, Crusaders twice Hurricanes twice & Jaguares They'll do well to win 3 games

1st game after bye for Blues is in Christchurch then a home game again Canes

I think all this makes this weekend's game very important for the Blues. They seem to specialise in losing in a close entertaining NZ derby to start the season.

They need to find a way to get over the hump this weekend.

A home NZ derby and probably not a bad time to play the Chiefs - with such a tough early schedule Blues need to find a way to win this weekend.

JK

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK

Blues should consider moving Plummer to Inside Centre
Got a kicking game & a big frame

Perofeta to Full Back with Otere Black Backing up Barrett

Please no....I struggle with having even one of Perofeta, Black and Plumber on the field. All are mediocre at best

Crucial

@JK said in Blues v Chiefs:

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK

Blues should consider moving Plummer to Inside Centre
Got a kicking game & a big frame

Perofeta to Full Back with Otere Black Backing up Barrett

Please no....I struggle with having even one of Perofeta, Black and Plumber on the field. All are mediocre at best

....and not a solution for the Blues biggest weakness, which in my eyes is getting a team on board with having a 10 direct them around the park.
College rugby in the region breeds 10s that shovel the ball more than necessary and midfields that want the ball every time to run into someone, get up and do it all again.

KiwiMurph

@Crucial said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK said in Blues v Chiefs:

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK

Blues should consider moving Plummer to Inside Centre
Got a kicking game & a big frame

Perofeta to Full Back with Otere Black Backing up Barrett

Please no....I struggle with having even one of Perofeta, Black and Plumber on the field. All are mediocre at best

....and not a solution for the Blues biggest weakness, which in my eyes is getting a team on board with having a 10 direct them around the park.
College rugby in the region breeds 10s that shovel the ball more than necessary and midfields that want the ball every time to run into someone, get up and do it all again.

The Blues biggest weakness is 9. It's as clear as day.

taniwharugby

@KiwiMurph a quality 10 can make an average 9 look good (I know, I had a former professional 10 play outside me when I was playing 9 for a few games, man I thought I had cracked it...) similarly a quality 9 can make an average 10 look good, but right now, Blues have neither (in the quality camp)

Hooroo

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

@Crucial said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK said in Blues v Chiefs:

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK

Blues should consider moving Plummer to Inside Centre
Got a kicking game & a big frame

Perofeta to Full Back with Otere Black Backing up Barrett

Please no....I struggle with having even one of Perofeta, Black and Plumber on the field. All are mediocre at best

....and not a solution for the Blues biggest weakness, which in my eyes is getting a team on board with having a 10 direct them around the park.
College rugby in the region breeds 10s that shovel the ball more than necessary and midfields that want the ball every time to run into someone, get up and do it all again.

The Blues biggest weakness is 9. It's as clear as day.

I thought it was the boardroom?

KiwiMurph

@Hooroo said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

@Crucial said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK said in Blues v Chiefs:

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK

Blues should consider moving Plummer to Inside Centre
Got a kicking game & a big frame

Perofeta to Full Back with Otere Black Backing up Barrett

Please no....I struggle with having even one of Perofeta, Black and Plumber on the field. All are mediocre at best

....and not a solution for the Blues biggest weakness, which in my eyes is getting a team on board with having a 10 direct them around the park.
College rugby in the region breeds 10s that shovel the ball more than necessary and midfields that want the ball every time to run into someone, get up and do it all again.

The Blues biggest weakness is 9. It's as clear as day.

I thought it was the boardroom?

There have been significant changes in the boardroom over the last 18 months.

Crucial

@taniwharugby said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph a quality 10 can make an average 9 look good (I know, I had a former professional 10 play outside me when I was playing 9 for a few games, man I thought I had cracked it...) similarly a quality 9 can make an average 10 look good, but right now, Blues have neither (in the quality camp)

Yeah, it is fair to say that the halves together are an issue, and a good player in either position can lift the game of the other. Of the two though the 10 is more important.
.
Blues should ave snapped up Taumeteine before the Canes did. He was showing good signs but was caught in the log jam of 9s at the Chiefs. He would have seen more time at the Blues as well.

Toddy

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

@macandcheese said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

@JK said in Blues v Chiefs:

Blues halves are still as weak as piss.

Can't say Im too optimistic about the season ahead. When is BB available for a run in blue?

Beaudie is due back in April

Doubt he makes a big impact this season
Chiefs

Blues first 11 games include 2 games in SA vs Bulls/Stormers, Crusaders twice Hurricanes twice & Jaguares They'll do well to win 3 games

1st game after bye for Blues is in Christchurch then a home game again Canes

I think all this makes this weekend's game very important for the Blues. They seem to specialise in losing in a close entertaining NZ derby to start the season.

They need to find a way to get over the hump this weekend.

A home NZ derby and probably not a bad time to play the Chiefs - with such a tough early schedule Blues need to find a way to win this weekend.

That's why I find the dropping of Akira a bit odd. All good and well not running him into the ground this year but surely you want your best players on the park for a first up derby game.

KiwiMurph

@Toddy it will certainly be criticised if they lose.

Hooroo

Dmac out of the opener with and Abductor strain!

booboo

@Bovidae said in Blues v Chiefs:

@mariner4life

A reminder that Rotorua is in the BOP as well.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/119130728/super-rugby-kaleb-trask-stunned-to-start-for-chiefs-ahead-of-idol-aaron-cruden

I believe Trask is/was a school buddy of my nephew so I hope he goes well.

The Silver Fern

Blues v Chiefs