Blues 2021

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim Last season they carried 5 locks and 8 loosies. So presuming they keep that balance and that Hunt replaces Lamborn and Darry - Tucker, that means both Carrol and W.K's spots should be available. They seemed to like Carrols efforts after his late inclusion last season. He often covered 6/lock on the bench and even started at 6 vs the Canes I think. Papalii's preference for playing 7 should leave a spot for W-K, or another blindside. Unless they now see Papalii as a 6. That leaves Choat unlucky, WTG or elsewhere. He deserves a spot somewhere though. Of course Lamborn could also still be in contention for a 7/6 spot?

[Steven Harris]

Had it confirmed to me last night that Zarn Sullivan has been signed by the Blues ,.

[Steven Harris]

@Daffy-Jaffy I would actually have Choat ahead of Gibson , gets more turnovers and is less injury prone ..

[ARHS]

@Steven-Harris pleased to hear that. Another Papamoa boy made good

[African Monkey]

@Steven-Harris Could be the starting fullback next season.

[Steven Harris]

@African-Monkey I am thinking that as well, got the best kicking game of any of the other options not to mention as seen last night , he really can knock them over from a fair way out if required to kick for goal ..

[African Monkey]

@Steven-Harris Yup, and we also don't really have many options there with Perofeta being the only other option I can think of and he's also very injury prone. As you said, he has a huge kick and seems good under the high ball.

[Crucial]

@nzzp said in Blues 2021:

@Tim that is some loose forward trio Edit: group.

Amazing how with decent governance, decent administration and decent coaching players suddenly are interested in playing for Auckland!

It's way more a case of decent results and chance at results. Players these days want titles or finals on their Cvs for value.

All those things can add to results but then you can also have all of those and if you just can't quite get results it can stall or you can be undesirable. See the Chiefs. Governance and admin still good, one the world's best coaches but it hasn't gelled and will now take a while before they are back to having players knocking the door down.

[Dice]

With two FB spots sorted, we probably need one more FB option. Narawa? Raumaitayuki-Kneepkens?

Josh Moorby, Caleb Makene and Josh McKay could be other options to bring in.

[African Monkey]

@Dice I always thought McKay would be worth a punt. Doesn't seem to be any rumours of us getting any outside backs?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@African-Monkey AJ Lam and Jacob Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens have been reported on here as signed. Perofeta, Sullivan and Narawa should cover fullback pretty effectively. One or two Midfield backups for Faiane, Ioane and Tele'a will be interesting with no obvious standout options in the region now that Tua is unavailable.

[Stargazer]

@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2021:

Had it confirmed to me last night that Zarn Sullivan has been signed by the Blues ,.

Good to see another Napier boy getting a SR contract.

[KiwiMurph]

Funny how since Blues have ditched Hanks they have suddenly started making signings that make sense.

[Stargazer]

[nzzp]

@Stargazer that's bloody good news. They are going well as a unit.

[Nepia]

@Stargazer Rangi is clearly on a box or step.

[Bovidae]

A sign of the times when a prop is taller than backs and a loose forward.

[Hooroo]

@Nepia said in Blues 2021:

@Stargazer Rangi is clearly on a box or step.

If he is, he has the shortest and most comical shins I have ever seen.

[Tim]

Time to take a stab at the squad, based on some players possibly being signed early on (e.g. Choat missing out):

Props

Tu'inukuafe
Hodgman
N Mayhew
O Tu'ungafasi
Laulala
Renata

Hookers

Parsons
Eklund
Niuia (may be replaced by Tolai until recovered from injury)

Locks

Tuipulotu
Pierce
Goodhue
Cowley-Tuioti
Darry

Loose forwards

Gibson
Hunt
Papalii
Robinson
Sotutu
A Ioane
Riedlinger-Kapa

Halfbacks

Nock
Christie
Ruru

1st Five Eighths

Black
Perofeta
Plummer
Heighton

Midfield

Faiane
T Tele'a
R Ioane
TBC

Outside Backs

Clarke (may be absent for Olympics Sevens)
M Telea
Narawa
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Sullivan

Tei Walden may be available for a midfield pick, provided he has recovered from his achilles tendon (?) injury. AJ Lam can cover centre, and possibly Clarke too. Would prefer to see Choat in the loose forwards.

38 players, looks like we had more last year due to cover for Clarke and Barrett, which included Marchant. Also had 8 loose forwards rather than 7, so maybe room for Choat yet.

Out:

Lindenmuth
Mafileo
Carroll
Lamborn
Tucker
Barrett
Marchent
Hyland
Duffie
Page

In:

N Mayhew
Laulala
Darry
Hunt
TBC (midfield)
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Sullivan

Auckland - 8 forwards, 8 backs, 16 total
North Harbour - 6 forwards, 1 back, 7 total
Northland - 2 forwards, 1 back, 3 total
Counties - 2
BOP - 3
Ta$man - 3
Canterbury - 1
Taranaki - 2

[Tim]

Match XXIII

Big decision over fullback, maybe right wing, but that's about it. Expect plenty of rotation in the forwards

1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Laulala
4 Tuipulotu
5 Pierce
6 A Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu

9 Nock (MacDonald may favour Christie though)
10 Black
11 Clarke
12 Faiane
13 R Ioane
14 M Telea
15 Sullivan (tight contest with Perofeta)

16 Parsons
17 Tu'inukuafe
18 Tu'ungafasi
19 Cowley-Tuioti/Goodhue
20 Robinson/Gibson/Hunt
21 Christie
22 Plummer
23 T Tele'a

With A Ioane showing he can attack a lineout at test level, there should be a lot of good options on either side of the lineout throw.

Interestingly/sadly, there's only three players in that 23 from the Auckland team that played in the NPC final, and only one in the starting 15.