Blues 2021
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I know this signing was announced a few weeks ago but the Blues have scored a bit of a coup stealing Darry from Crusader land.
Decent prospect by all accounts, just that the locking queue in red and black is a bit long.
His mum is the nutritionist on the weetbix ads and his dad was a North Otago rep and good mates with Steve Hansen -
@Crucial it seems that Auckland is suddenly a credible (even attractive) destination for young players.
At long bloody last is all I can say.
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@Crucial yeah, but it's not just him. Our fringe players are a huge step up on last year, and the year before that.
Every team has stars, but it's the squad depth that often makes a difference when injuries start to kick in. That's where the recruitment is so effective, and where Canterbury have had an edge for so long. I think you're starting to see talented up and comping players moving from other regions into Auckland because they want to - the outside back from Naki (JRK), Hunt coming home. Hell, even Nepo coming back over the hill wouldn't have happened in the past.
Anyway, our traditional (of the last few years) weaknesses of 2/9/10/15 are still there, but they have moved from 'yawning chasm of pain' to 'solid, but not world class'. I'll take that, and there is plenty of upside out there too.
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So I wonder how Eklund works?
Is he in for the whole season replacing Vikena?
Or only part of the season?
@KiwiMurph Niuia over Eklund...
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ins and outs -
Vikena for Ekland
Lay - Lindenmuth
Laulala -Mafileo
Darry - Tucker
Plumtree - Carroll
Hunt - Lamborn
Lam - Marchant
R-Kneepkins - Duffie
Macilai-Tori - Hyland
Sullivan - Barrett
TBC? - Reidlinger-Kapa or
TBC? - Heighton
gone not replaced - Page. -
@Tim said in Blues 2021:
Depth in midfield is a big concern.
Probably looking at utilities providing cover? AJ Lam often plays 13 at club level. Plummer covers 12
Hopefully Tele'a's bad luck with injuries is over
@Duluth said in Blues 2021:
Probably looking at utilities providing cover? AJ Lam often plays 13 at club level. Plummer covers 12
Yeah was just going to say that too. Plummer will cover 12.
If there is one to be to be added, and it is a midfielder, who else is out there?
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@Duluth said in Blues 2021:
Probably looking at utilities providing cover? AJ Lam often plays 13 at club level. Plummer covers 12
Yeah was just going to say that too. Plummer will cover 12.
If there is one to be to be added, and it is a midfielder, who else is out there?
@Snowy Ray Nu'u, Tei Walden and Stacey Ili would be 3 guys I'd have a look at.
Ili is the least likely to be picked, because he's played for Samoa and is a bit older, but he's the most exciting option. He's a local boy though, and the brother of Tall Blacks player, Shea Ili.
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@Snowy Ray Nu'u, Tei Walden and Stacey Ili would be 3 guys I'd have a look at.
Ili is the least likely to be picked, because he's played for Samoa and is a bit older, but he's the most exciting option. He's a local boy though, and the brother of Tall Blacks player, Shea Ili.
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@Dice Had forgotten about Tei Walden. He's still in the 'Landers WTG though isn't he. I don't know how that contracting works?
@Snowy Unless I've missed something, it doesn't seem he's with the Highlanders at all.
https://thehighlanders.co.nz/media-centre/news/1052-highlanders-name-squad-for-2021
Not back from 2020: Jack Whetton (NSW), Dillon Hunt (Blues), Rob Thompson ( Japan) Bryn Gatland (Chiefs), Jesse Parete (Japan), Josh Iosefa-Scott, Zane Kapeli, Kirisi Kuridrani, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Nabura, Josh McKay
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@Snowy Unless I've missed something, it doesn't seem he's with the Highlanders at all.
https://thehighlanders.co.nz/media-centre/news/1052-highlanders-name-squad-for-2021
Not back from 2020: Jack Whetton (NSW), Dillon Hunt (Blues), Rob Thompson ( Japan) Bryn Gatland (Chiefs), Jesse Parete (Japan), Josh Iosefa-Scott, Zane Kapeli, Kirisi Kuridrani, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Nabura, Josh McKay
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New Blood -
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ins and outs -
Vikena for Ekland
Lay - Lindenmuth
Laulala -Mafileo
Darry - Tucker
Plumtree - Carroll
Hunt - Lamborn
Lam - Marchant
R-Kneepkins - Duffie
Macilai-Tori - Hyland
Sullivan - Barrett
TBC? - Reidlinger-Kapa or
TBC? - Heighton
gone not replaced - Page.@Daffy-Jaffy When looking at that, I think we've upgraded our roster this season.
Luteru Tolai would be the most unlucky one from last season's team to not be in the team again.
He's only 22, so hopefully we pick him up again after 2021 when Parsons and Niua should be off contract.
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@Bovidae Yeah, but he suffered that injury after it became clear that the Highlanders weren't going to re-sign him. So it's not due to his injury that he doesn't have a Highlanders contract.
@Stargazer I was meaning that the injury could be the reason that Walden wasn't picked up by another team (e.g., Chiefs, Blues).
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The Blues Podcast: Episode 5: Squad Naming with Leon MacDonald
https://bluesrugbyteam.buzzsprout.com/886006/6661013-episode-5-squad-naming-with-leon-macdonald
