Blues 2017
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Campbell Burnes' opinion:
Super Rugby squads announced: All you need to know
The five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises announced their full squads for next season today. Campbell Burnes breaks down each squad.
There is some late Super Rugby reward for North Harbour's sterling title charge in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship.
No 8 Murphy Taramai, a former All Blacks Sevens and Wellington rep, who made every post a winner in 2016 by playing almost every minute for the union, has won a late, and fully deserved, call-up to a fulltime contract. The 24-year-old Taramai brings a high work-rate and carries well, as does lock/No 6 Brandon Nansen, who had his injury issues with North Harbour, but made an impact whenever he played.
They join new signings who had already been flagged in Sonny Bill Williams, Augustine Pulu, Otago's Michael Collins, Taranaki's Stephen Perofeta, Canterbury prop Alex Hodgman, Counties Manukau lock/loosie Jimmy Tupou and Steelers prop Pauliasi Manu, who returns to the franchise he should never have been forced to leave in 2012.
Others who had not been flagged include Waikato hooker Hame Faiva, whose play has matured nicely in 2016, Northland lock Josh Goodhue, and Taranaki wing Declan O'Donnell.
Midfielders Rene Ranger and TJ Faiane return from long-term injuries.
The unlucky man is North Harbour's inspirational skipper and lock/No 6 Chris Vui, who may have missed out to his bigger teammate Nansen.
If the Blues can stay fit, they will surely make the playoffs, but they cannot again finish bottom of the New Zealand conference for that to happen.
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@KiwiMurph Ranger has the skill set to play centre, but I don't think he has the mindset to do so, especially at Super level, which is where him on the wing with a freedom to roam and go hunting for work suits him best.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2017:
Happy with the Faiva pickup.
Yeah he's a good player.
I would have picked GPT in the squad though.. Moulds is a little lucky considering Umaga seemed reluctant to play him this year
I see Faiva is another Aucklander returning home. Born in Auckland played for Eden as a kid before going off to board at Wesley
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@Duluth GPT is in the Highlanders squad isn't he, because he was there last year do they still have first dibs, or did that go out with the other contracting changes?
Yeah I'm surprised Moulds is still there TBH, this is his third season now and despite putting up decent showings when he has had the chance, I'd say his minutes in 2 seasons is probably less than 100.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2017:
@Duluth GPT is in the Highlanders squad isn't he, because he was there last year do they still have first dibs, or did that go out with the other contracting changes?
Yeah I'm surprised Moulds is still there TBH, this is his third season now and despite putting up decent showings when he has had the chance, I'd say his minutes in 2 seasons is probably less than 100.
Not sure what the situation with GPT was. He was included in that list of unsigned players a week ago
I think Kirwan originally signed Moulds for 3 years? At least in his limited game time for Northland this year his throwing seemed better.
I have no problems with him in general play. -
Not sure, I thought it was only 2 years, but who knows, cant be bothered looking
Moulds certainly has the attributes to be a very good hooker, maybe this (2017) will be his year...
Maybe GPT was trying to negotiate a better deal with the Blues or someone else?? Blues had him in 2015 didn't they in the WTG.
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Happy with Hame Faiva joining us. He looked good in the Mitre 10 Cup I thought. I'm assuming he'll take the no.2 spot.
Interesting to leave Visinia out and give O'Donnell a conract but we all knew that Visinia was on the way out. Still think Visinia has a bit to offer any side if given the opportunity.
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@African-Monkey visinia may look at a overseas contract now I would think! It's a shame though as I think he is a decent winger
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2017:
Yeah I'm surprised Moulds is still there TBH, this is his third season now and despite putting up decent showings when he has had the chance, I'd say his minutes in 2 seasons is probably less than 100.
You haven't followed Blues selection for long have you? Ben Moulds was always being selected.
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@rotated sorry, I don't know if you are trying to be funny or not, but I don't get your humor if so?
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2017:
@rotated sorry, I don't know if you are trying to be funny or not, but I don't get your humor if so?
Sorry Matt Moulds. Brain fart. There is a balance to selection that is required and he helped to fulfill that.
Positions in the squad like third string hooker and halfback have historically been used to appease franchise partners with selections. The Northland captain is virtually assured of Blues selection.
Moulds and Nock to me are poor selections with zero prospects of blossoming into Super Rugby contributors.
edit: granted I barely remember the guys given name take my opinion with a pinch of salt.
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@rotated ah, I forgot about your token selections.
As for following, you are right I'm not a Blues 'fan' and yes Moulds did get selected on the bench but rarely got on the field, so maybe it's you that doesn't follow them that close?
I barely take your opinion with a grain of salt, let alone a pinch
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2017:
@rotated ah, I forgot about your token selections.
As for following, you are right I'm not a Blues 'fan' and yes Moulds did get selected on the bench but rarely got on the field, so maybe it's you that doesn't follow them that close?
I barely take your opinion with a grain of salt, let alone a pinch
I saw a bit of him a Mitre 10 Cup level and didn't rate him very strongly. Again it could be all in my head - and clearly you think it is - but it is curious how for yet another year we have the most Northland recruits - double all the other NZ franchises put together.
The fact this happens year on year indicates a distinct bias but I'm sure all selections are performance based and unrelated to Northland being a provincial partner.
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@rotated oh of course it's a clear bias, without a doubt, Northland weild such power amongst the Blues boards that they are compelled to select players who are so undeserving...sits up there with the bias of refs towards the ABS I reckon.
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@Bones said in Blues 2017:
@rotated wouldn't that also make it curious if you have the most Auckland recruits? And the hurricanes have the most Wellington recruits...
I don't think it's curious at all. Even in an "open market" since the draft was turfed the provinces still are clearly biased towards players (and coaches for that matter) from their franchise partners. Geographic proximity certainly plays a part too - Blues consistently have more Counties players than other non-Chiefs unions for example as Counties got on this great run.
The risks of being myopic are different for the Crusaders deferring to Canterbury reps than the Blues having a quota from the historically poor Northland.
But it's pretty clear if you follow Blues squads dating back to the Toeava exclusion that we will never see a Blues squad without at least 2-3 Taniwha, one will be the captain and the other ~two will always be 5th locks, 3rd hookers, 3rd halfbacks... We have four this year.
