Blues 2023

Tim

Kind of hard to think of available props for the WTG with so many players in the US and Japan.

Daffy Jaffy

@Tim said in Blues 2023:

All Blacks will probably be absent for quite a few games this year?

I read somewhere that the rule is, the AB players are not allowed to play more than 5 games in a row.

Tim

@Daffy-Jaffy

Thanks dude.

I guess with their post EOYT break and the AB training camp, they'll be coming back into fitness a bit later too?

Daffy Jaffy

@Tim I would be tempted to leave most AB's out for the Force game in round 5, but that's tough on the fans (and maybe the gate takings) as it's a home game.

taniwharugby

@Tim ridiculous that someone like Perofeta has to sit out any super rugby after his massive workload in the ABs.

Stargazer

@taniwharugby The question is whether all ABs are subject to these rest rules to the same degree. I could imagine Perofeta and RTS being allowed to play more games than - say - BB and Rieko.

Stargazer

https://twitter.com/CountiesRugby/status/1616164513291862016

Steven Harris

Caught up with former All Black Alister Robinson at the just completed NZ Waka Ama Club Sprints held at Lake Karapiro .
Alister gave me a great update on Tom , many of us were worrried during the NPC especially in and around his unavailabilty for the Taniwha in last years Bunnings NPC there was much speculation that Tom may have to pull the pin with head knocks symtoms constantly being mentioned , talking to Alister the news is all good, Tom had a ruptured ear drum which at the time which was’nt diagnosed , he has since had an operation is back to 100% .

Dan54

@Steven-Harris Mate that is the kind of news we want to hear!

TheMojoman

@Tim said in Blues 2023:

All Blacks will probably be absent for quite a few games this year? Although Tuipulotu has been training with team earlier than other ABs, so he might be available for the full season.

What would a Blues team look like without ABs, but with Tuipulotu there?

1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Renata
4 Tucker/Darry/Robinson
5 Tuipulotu
6 Robinson/Suafoa/Plumtree
7 Choat/Segner
8 Suafoa/Plumtree/Segner
9 Nock
10 Plummer/Sullivan
11 Lam
12 Tele'a/Evans
13 Heem
14 Kneepkens/Tele'a
15 Sullivan/Kneepkens/McKenzie

16 Vikena
17 James Lay/Fusitua
18 James or Jordan Lay/Ahio?
19 Darry/Tucker/Robinson
20 Segner etc
21 Funaki
22 McKenzie
23 Evans etc

Halfback and First Five suffer a lot, as would tighthead prop. Loose forwards not too bad with three ABs out. Would like to see Funaki develop to be ahead of Nock this year. Also Vikena overtaking Eklund. Obviously staggering AB absences will be important. e.g. Barrett/Perofeta, and Tu'ungufasi/Laulala.

Two more questions:

Will Barrett play 15?

Will Tu'ungufasi play loosehead?

That is still a strong match day squad. Great to see our depth coming through.

I suspect Beaudy will play 10 & interchange with Perofeta. Actually helps Stevie IMO being able to alternate seamlessly between the two. He’s battling Damian McDonald for a place in RWC as it’s hard to see AB’s taking both.

KiwiMurph

@TheMojoman said in Blues 2023:

He’s battling Damian McDonald for a place in RWC as it’s hard to see AB’s taking both.

If both are fit DMac easily beats out Perofeta. Perofeta has barely played for the ABs (and played poorly when he did). DMac's experience easily takes it.

Dan54

@TheMojoman said in Blues 2023:

@Tim said in Blues 2023:

All Blacks will probably be absent for quite a few games this year? Although Tuipulotu has been training with team earlier than other ABs, so he might be available for the full season.

What would a Blues team look like without ABs, but with Tuipulotu there?

1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Renata
4 Tucker/Darry/Robinson
5 Tuipulotu
6 Robinson/Suafoa/Plumtree
7 Choat/Segner
8 Suafoa/Plumtree/Segner
9 Nock
10 Plummer/Sullivan
11 Lam
12 Tele'a/Evans
13 Heem
14 Kneepkens/Tele'a
15 Sullivan/Kneepkens/McKenzie

16 Vikena
17 James Lay/Fusitua
18 James or Jordan Lay/Ahio?
19 Darry/Tucker/Robinson
20 Segner etc
21 Funaki
22 McKenzie
23 Evans etc

Halfback and First Five suffer a lot, as would tighthead prop. Loose forwards not too bad with three ABs out. Would like to see Funaki develop to be ahead of Nock this year. Also Vikena overtaking Eklund. Obviously staggering AB absences will be important. e.g. Barrett/Perofeta, and Tu'ungufasi/Laulala.

Two more questions:

Will Barrett play 15?

Will Tu'ungufasi play loosehead?

That is still a strong match day squad. Great to see our depth coming through.

I suspect Beaudy will play 10 & interchange with Perofeta. Actually helps Stevie IMO being able to alternate seamlessly between the two. He’s battling Damian McDonald for a place in RWC as it’s hard to see AB’s taking both.

It's pretty unlikely that Rangi would rest all test players at same time isn't it? Be fairly poor coaching if he does.

Daffy Jaffy

https://twitter.com/MoanaPasifika_/status/1617459114191486976/photo/1

Daffy Jaffy

The Saturday 11/02 pre-season game v Canes that could not be played at Mahurangi Rugby Club due to pitch damage is now at Waitamata RFC.
The second game is v Chiefs at Pukekohe Friday 17/02.