The Silver Fern

Can't believe Dmac is dropped completely after last week.

Samisoni every day over Taylor for me.

I'd have Roigard over Christie too.

We can whinge about the reffing all we want, but, given stats, we should have won. Missing those kicks which would have put us in front was crushing.

Every podcast I've listened too (and there have been many) is talking about how the ABs need to counter the Boks.

There is next to 0 chat about the threats the ABs pose and what SA will have to do to deal with them.

Am I crazy or is this a bit weird?

It's being talked about like it's a given SA will be the ones applying the pressure all game.

@Canes4life my source is George.

Ratima on a dry track behind that pack partnered with DMac woulda been my go.

TJ and Christie don't do much for me.

I like the 15, for the most part, but, when Jordan & Roigard return it will be significantly better.

Too many changes but still a lot of quality in the 15.

No Roigard is the strangest omission. He's a known quantity what benefit is there to picking him over Roigard?

@Kiwiwomble Lol 100%. Every time George posts my brain hurts trying to decipher what he's saying.

/sarcasm

Maybe we'll play them against Moana, best we save Blackwell for the big games.

Late to this so just my brief thoughts:

• TJ is past it. He's so inaccurate now in everything he does. I don't know if he's overthinking it but he is so nervy / prone to error with the slightest bit of pressure at any ruck. It's sad how far he's fallen as he is one of the great Canes in his prime.
• Morgan took on the line too much for me. Promising player but not a smart way to play against MP.
• We needed to take the 3s. We obviously expected to thrash them turning down 3s we'd take against any other team.
• When Ardie plays he keeps us in games, but also can make us seem better than we are. He's that good.
• PUJ was good as usual. He needs to start in the midfield with Sullivan.
• Love has to start. He is streets ahead of Morgan & JGB.
• I want IWL back. He has size and a skill set. Partner him with Sangster.

Moorby fluffing that try was a massive turning point I felt. Reminded me of the Savea 2015 final drop.

Our handling was poor all night but that took the cake.

Huge shift by Sititi. Thought IWL was very good on a losing team too.

@Nepia might be his D? He's probably our best defensive 9.

But as he stunts the attack I don't see the point.

Roigard is a pretty good defender too and a much better attacking 9.

Yup I agree it's A team. Except, I'd start Roigard to give him more game time against a quality team. Smith can play 20 off the bench.

@stodders our reserve 9 has 43 minutes. Lol

@Canes4life one thing I really dislike is the use of away kits when it's not a jersey clash.

Seeing the Canes in black is weird.

Teams should be wearing their main kit for 90% of games as far as I'm concerned.

@Canes4life my source tells me Lomax may or may not play.

What's the point in TJ getting a shot? He's gone after this year.

@winger I don't really get this perspective. JGB is in a word, average.

Do we want the Canes to win the comp, or finish mid table at best?

The Canes have too many favourites. I have no doubt guys like Prinsep & Blackwell give their all at training, but, they're just not very good.

I think what Thorn did with the Reds is the right way - get rid of dead wood, and pick young guys who may amount to something. You won't always get it right but it's better than being a middling franchise like the Canes are becoming

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

A few tip offs that I've heard around the Canes side.

Tiatia to start at Fullback
Goosen on the right wing
Mafileo in the mix.
Aumua reserve hooker over Riccitelli
Kirifi, Evans and Savea to start. Flanders out of the 23 altogether as I think Prinsep is in the mix.

That is frustrating

@gt12 it's a complete mystery, the only thing Holland says on the matter is he loves the impact he brings from the bench. We know nothing otherwise.

I too wish our journos would probe this more, I mean he made the ABs, and played great, then since then he's been in & out of the team for 2 seasons.

The thing that's hard to fathom is that he's always excellent when he's on the field.

If Holland wasn't a complete dipshit and had any foresight we could develop a midfield of PUJ & Sullivan for the next 5 years. Sigh.

Canes selections really are something else.

Fix one problem, create another

Bringing in IWL. Awesome.

Wait - it's for Scrafton?? Sigh

If I had a billion bucks I'd buy a French club, and sign Prinsep, Proctor and Blackwell on 2 million dollar contracts