Rebels v Blues

[Tim]

Players not considered with injury: Patrick Tuipulotu (neck), Dalton Papalii (knee). Season-ending: Jone Macalai, Dillon Hunt, James Lay, Emoni Narawa.

https://blues.rugby/team-excited-to-head-across-tasman-for-new-challenge/

[taniwharugby]

Shit, is this the first shot at back to back starts for Christie?

Pierce on the bench, is this his first start (if he gets off the bench) this year?

[Tim]

@taniwharugby Yes to both, I think.

[Tim]

Starting Renata at 3 (who is probably a better loosehead than tighthead) is a big call. Anyone know if a replacement has come in for Lay? Maybe Teague McElroy?

[KiwiMurph]

Pleasantly surprised with that team.

That backline looks much better balanced.

[ARHS]

@tim Dyer training with them?

[Tim]

@arhs Think both he and McElroy have been.

[Duluth]

Coventry might be coach for this match. MacDonald has a cold and may not travel

[Dice]

I might've given Perofeta a try off the bench. He might fit that bench role better.

Nice to see Pierce in there.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300306896/super-rugby-blues-hand-aj-lam-zarn-sullivan-crack-at-reds-leon-macdonald-off-sick

[Tim]

Should be some big impact off the bench:

Ofa Tuungafasi, Nerpo Laulala, Jacob Pierce, Akira Ioane, Sam Nock

[Crucial]

@tim said in Rebels v Blues:

Should be some big impact off the bench:

Ofa Tuungafasi, Nerpo Laulala, Jacob Pierce, Akira Ioane, Sam Nock

Here's hoping that the big impact isn't a high shoulder from Ofa.

[taniwharugby]

Gotta love how much these 'fans' must follow things...wondering where Pat T, Clark and Tuivasa are...

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Yeah, you see that all time on social media. I think a lot of fans only follow the franchises' social media accounts, but don't read any news or media releases (even when they include the links). I can understand that from fans from other countries (esp if English is not their first language), but don't quite get why people in NZ don't follow their team more closely.

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer the Tuivasa one made me laugh most, I mean thats pretty high profile that it is next year

[mariner4life]

@stargazer said in Rebels v Blues:

but don't quite get why people in NZ don't follow their team more closely.

because for the most part its really really boring

Pro teams' social media accounts are barren wastelands of tedium

[Stargazer]

Rebels
1 Cameron Orr, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Cabous Eloff, 4. Robert Leota, 5. Ross Haylett-Petty, 6. Joshua Kemeny, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Michael Wells (vc), 9. Joe Powell, 10. Matt To’omua (c), 11. Marika Koroibete, 12.Campbell Magnay, 13. Stacey Ili, 14. Frank Lomani, 15. Tom Pincus.

Reserves: 16. James Hanson, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Lucio Sordoni, 19. Steve Cummins, 20.Michael Icely, 21.James Tuttle, 22. Carter Gordon, 23 Lachlan Anderson.

https://melbournerebels.rugby/news/2021/05/13/team-announcement-vs-blues

[pakman]

@tim said in Rebels v Blues:

Starting Renata at 3 (who is probably a better loosehead than tighthead) is a big call. Anyone know if a replacement has come in for Lay? Maybe Teague McElroy?

I rate Renata better at TH. More important, is Nepo having a rest?

[taniwharugby]

@pakman also better having Goodhue locking behind him too.

Will be good to see Peirce get a crack too.

[Frye]

@pakman said in Rebels v Blues:

@tim said in Rebels v Blues:

Starting Renata at 3 (who is probably a better loosehead than tighthead) is a big call. Anyone know if a replacement has come in for Lay? Maybe Teague McElroy?

I rate Renata better at TH. More important, is Nepo having a rest?

Ofa and Laulala are on the bench. Also Akira.
Rebels are up against it