Blues v Waratahs

Tim

@Duluth Choat is probably the best value off the bench? Defence is particularly good.

Duluth

I'd go with Choat's defence. I think they'll pick Segner though. They are both playing well so I don't really care

Tim

I'm guessing they will stick with Jordan Lay at loosehead, and James Lay as bench tighthead? It would be good to see Tu'ungufasi get a start at tighthead. Still think we are lacking output from our frontrow a bit, even if the scrum is good now. Hope Funaki gets bench time. Robinson offers height off the bench, but Choat is pretty integral to this team. Final back reserve is an interesting one. Lam or Sullivan? Haven't been impressed by Kneepkens.

1 Jordan Lay
2 Riccitelli
3 Laulala
4 Tuipulotu
5 Darry
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu

9 Christie
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 Plummer
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Perofeta

16 Vikena
17 Tu'ungufasi
18 James Lay
19 Suafoa
20 Choat
21 Funaki
22 Heem
23 Lam

Duluth

@Tim said in Blues v Waratahs:

Lam or Sullivan

If you've guessed everything else right I would say Sullivan. Heem covers 11-14 and there isn't good fullback cover
(Otherwise a fullback injury would probably result in multiple changes BB to 15, Plummer to 10, Heem to 12)

Plus I want Sullivan to get some time so we can start him at 15 vs the Drua in Fiji the following week. His kicking distance will be useful

Duluth

There’s some photos around of training. RTS still has plenty of wrapping on his hand so he won’t be available. Papali’i wasn’t wearing the same jersey as the likely starters, I wonder if he has a niggle?

NTA

@mariner4life said in Blues v Waratahs:

This should be an absolute bloodbath

That's being generous

Duluth

@NTA

But you also claimed the Chiefs v Tahs game would "be a fucking slaughter". It wasn't a slaughter, it was more of an arm wrestle. Chiefs probably got dragged down to the Tahs level.. but still it was competitive

Predicting the worst each week so you can get surprised by an OKish performance?

Nepia

@Duluth said in Blues v Waratahs:

@NTA

Predicting the worst each week so you can get surprised by an OKish performance?

Something I've practiced as a Warriors fan for many years.

NTA

@Duluth said in Blues v Waratahs:

But you also claimed the Chiefs v Tahs game would "be a fucking slaughter". It wasn't a slaughter, it was more of an arm wrestle.

From memory the chiefs didn't field nearly their best team, and those out there didn't put in nearly their best performance.

Don't think the blues will be as bad at home

mariner4life

They are 2-5

Defensively they have given up 31 and 40 to the Brumbies, and 34 to both the Rebels and the Canes

Their for-and-against is really bolstered by getting to play the Drua in Melbourne, and their home game against the Force.
They've played two games against NZ sides and scored 14 and 17 points

Against the Blues (a team i think has the ability to put on points faster than any other side in teh comp) i expect them to concede a pretty high score. And i don't have faith in them to put on more than 20.

Evidence so far points to a 20 point loss

NTA

@mariner4life might depend on the injury toll as to how bad it is; if this is Round 9 then we hopefully see a few back...

Players unavailable for selection:
Angus Bell – Toe (Season)
Charlie Gamble – Shoulder (Round 9+)
Hugh Sinclair – Shoulder (Round 9)
Langi Gleeson – Calf (Round 9)
Mosese Tuipulotu – Knee (Round 9)
Sateki Latu – Neck (Round 9)
Tane Edmed – Back (Round 9)
Tiaan Tauakipulu – Knee (Round 10)
Will Harrison - ACL (Season)

Crucial

@NTA said in Blues v Waratahs:

@mariner4life might depend on the injury toll as to how bad it is; if this is Round 9 then we hopefully see a few back...

Players unavailable for selection:
Angus Bell – Toe (Season)
Charlie Gamble – Shoulder (Round 9+)
Hugh Sinclair – Shoulder (Round 9)
Langi Gleeson – Calf (Round 9)
Mosese Tuipulotu – Knee (Round 9)
Sateki Latu – Neck (Round 9)
Tane Edmed – Back (Round 9)
Tiaan Tauakipulu – Knee (Round 10)
Will Harrison - ACL (Season)

Lachlan Swinton - Brain (Finals)

ACT Crusader

@mariner4life they should’ve won that Brumbies game, but nonetheless they still shipped a lot of points. I think they are going to get pumped with all their injuries.

Crucial

@ACT-Crusader said in Blues v Waratahs:

@mariner4life they should’ve won that Brumbies game, but nonetheless they still shipped a lot of points. I think they are going to get pumped with all their injuries.

Yeah, @NTA cant count. This is Round/Week 8

KiwiMurph

@Crucial said in Blues v Waratahs:

@NTA said in Blues v Waratahs:

@mariner4life might depend on the injury toll as to how bad it is; if this is Round 9 then we hopefully see a few back...

Players unavailable for selection:
Angus Bell – Toe (Season)
Charlie Gamble – Shoulder (Round 9+)
Hugh Sinclair – Shoulder (Round 9)
Langi Gleeson – Calf (Round 9)
Mosese Tuipulotu – Knee (Round 9)
Sateki Latu – Neck (Round 9)
Tane Edmed – Back (Round 9)
Tiaan Tauakipulu – Knee (Round 10)
Will Harrison - ACL (Season)

Lachlan Swinton - Brain (Finals)

Apparently Porecki and Holloway are both out injured.

Gleeson may play (calf).

antipodean

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Waratahs:

@Crucial said in Blues v Waratahs:

@NTA said in Blues v Waratahs:

@mariner4life might depend on the injury toll as to how bad it is; if this is Round 9 then we hopefully see a few back...

Players unavailable for selection:
Angus Bell – Toe (Season)
Charlie Gamble – Shoulder (Round 9+)
Hugh Sinclair – Shoulder (Round 9)
Langi Gleeson – Calf (Round 9)
Mosese Tuipulotu – Knee (Round 9)
Sateki Latu – Neck (Round 9)
Tane Edmed – Back (Round 9)
Tiaan Tauakipulu – Knee (Round 10)
Will Harrison - ACL (Season)

Lachlan Swinton - Brain (Finals)

Apparently Porecki and Holloway are both out injured.

Gleeson may play (calf).

Langi appears to be in that space where young promising talent keep getting injured as their bodies have yet to adapt to the demands of professional footy.

Duluth

@mariner4life said in Blues v Waratahs:

Defensively they have given up 31 and 40 to the Brumbies

25-31 and 36-40

That second game in Canberra was impressive.

I said earlier that I think the Blues should win relatively comfortably but I think the Tahs can be awkward particularly if they get momentum early.

Only one side has beaten them comfortably so far (the Hurricanes). The other matches were losing bonus points, or the Chiefs match where the gap was 3 points with a few minutes left.

So far, they've been hard to put away. I hope we thrash them

Duluth

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/team-naming-v-waratahs

1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Nepo Laulala
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
5 Sam Darry
6 Anton Segner
7 Adrian Choat
8 Hoskins Sotutu
9 Finlay Christie
10 Beauden Barrett – 150 Super Rugby Games
11 Caleb Clarke
12 Harry Plummer – 50 Blues Games
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Mark Telea
15 Stephen Perofeta

Reserves:
16 Soane Vikena
17 Jordan Lay
18 James Lay
19 Cameron Suafoa
20 Akira Ioane
21 Sam Nock
22 Bryce Heem
23 Zarn Sullivan

Duluth

Players not considered: Alex Hodgman (shoulder, season), AJ Lam (hamstring), Dalton Papalii (ribs), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hand)

Duluth

Plenty of power coming off that bench

Good to see the injury list shrinking

The Silver Fern

Blues v Waratahs