SF - Blues v Brumbies
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No Tuipulotu but it sounds like Darry and McWhannell should be back. Start them with Beehre on the bench?
If Heem is fit does he come in for Lam?
Do we know what Suafoa’s injury was?
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Are Heem and Lam normally 2nd 5 options (sorry not a great follower of Blues rugby).
If not it's been pretty impressive that they've got 2 "part timers" to slot into the position with minimal disruption to their backline.
Means the attack pattern is well understood and executed by the players, kudos to the coaching group.
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Are Heem and Lam normally 2nd 5 options (sorry not a great follower of Blues rugby).
If not it's been pretty impressive that they've got 2 "part timers" to slot into the position with minimal disruption to their backline.
Means the attack pattern is well understood and executed by the players, kudos to the coaching group.
@Windows97 Heem has played a lot of 12 over the last few years (though not a natural 12) however Lam has adapted very quickly only first slotting into 12 in recent weeks (whilst also chopping between centre and wing). Agreed on coaching.
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Are Heem and Lam normally 2nd 5 options (sorry not a great follower of Blues rugby).
If not it's been pretty impressive that they've got 2 "part timers" to slot into the position with minimal disruption to their backline.
Means the attack pattern is well understood and executed by the players, kudos to the coaching group.
@Windows97 said in SF - Blues v Brumbies:
Are Heem and Lam normally 2nd 5 options (sorry not a great follower of Blues rugby).
If not it's been pretty impressive that they've got 2 "part timers" to slot into the position with minimal disruption to their backline.
Means the attack pattern is well understood and executed by the players, kudos to the coaching group.
Yeah it's a simple thing, basically hard and straight. There are not many complicated moves for the inside backs to get right or wrong. Good to see an NZ team play this way at long last.
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Start Darry and McWhannell. Heem to start, Lam on the bench.
Bloody close to dropping Perofeta too.
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Blues team from the big win earlier in the year:
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Ricky Riccitelli
Marcel Renata
Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
Laghlan McWhannell
Akira Ioane
Dalton Papali’i
Hoskins Sotutu
Taufa Funaki
Harry Plummer
Caleb Clarke
Bryce Heem
Rieko Ioane
Mark Tele’a
Cole Forbes
Reserves:
Kurt Eklund
Joshua Fusitu’a
Angus Ta’avao
Sam Darry
Adrian Choat
Sam Nock
Lucas Cashmore
AJ Lam
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The opta match pack from the super.rugby site
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From that data it looks like if the Blues can defend like they have all season and stop Wright making metres, they'll win.
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https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/team-naming-semifinal
1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Marcel Renata
4 Sam Darry
5 Josh Beehre
6 Akira Ioane
7 Dalton Papali’i (c)
8 Hoskins Sotutu
9 Finlay Christie
10 Harry Plummer
11 Caleb Clarke
12 AJ Lam
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Mark Tele’a
15 Stephen Perofeta16 Kurt Eklund
17 Joshua Fusitu’a
18 Angus Ta’avao
19 James Thompson
20 Adrian Choat
21 Taufa Funaki
22 Corey Evans
23 Cole ForbesPlayers not considered: Patrick Tuipulotu (knee), Bryce Heem (calf), Jordan Lay (ankle, season), Zarn Sullivan (knee)
