Blues 2017

Duluth

A couple of changes to that Blues A side.

Faiva and Pryor are not playing. Not sure if the players are injured or needed for the main side

Have the Hurricanes announced their A side?

Namatahi Waa, Blues
~~Hame Faiva, Blues~~ Joe Royal
Marcel Renata, Auckland
Josh Goodhue (c), Blues
Brandon Nansen, Blues
~~Dalton Papalii, Auckland~~ Glen Preston
~~Kara Pryor, Blues~~ Dalton Papalii
Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a, North Harbour
Richard Judd, Blues
Bryn Gatland, North Harbour
Caleb Clarke, Auckland
Matt Vaega, Blues
Rene Ranger, Blues
Jordan Hyland, Northland
Jordan Trainor, Blues
JP Sauni, Auckland
Emerson Tamura-Paki, Auckland
Afi Ielemia, Auckland
Glen Preston, North Harbour
Connor Collett, North Harbour
Lisati Milo-Harris, Auckland
D’Angelo Leuila, Auckland
Tamati Tua, Auckland
Salesi Rayasi, Auckland
Epineri (Ratu) Uluiviti, Northland

Chester Draws

Stuff reckons:
However, the level of stick the franchise cops for failing to unearth a Carlos Spencer-type player to lead them back to the promised land is unfair.

As if the Blues/Auckland unearthed Carlos!

He'd played two years at provincial footy at Horowhenua before being lured up North. He wasn't some hidden gem unearthed by clever scouting -- he'd long shown his class.

The Blues' problem isn't unearthing talented 1st 5s. It's winning enough games that good 1st-fives want to play for them.

KiwiMurph

@Chester-Draws It's a catch 22 - with it tough to win games with mediocre 10s.

At least Umaga has a plan with talented youngsters in the pipeline - that's the way to do it.

Duluth

Canes A on attack after an early penalty.

Blues forwards defend two 5m mail attempts and a few rucks a couple of metres out. Then Ranger gets stepped in midfield

7-0

Duluth

Gatland playing flat, Vaega with a big break, 30m run

Canes knock on so Blues have an attacking scrum 10m out

Duluth

Intercept, Trainor and Vaega making half breaks on counter attack

Haha evil bounce on a nothing kick wrong foots Trainor easy try for Canes A

14-0

Duluth

Loads of errors from both sides

Ranger penalised for hands, ref was clearly telling him to disengage

Blues A defend the maul again but a soft try a couple of phases later to the no 8

19-0

Duluth

Blues on attack

Ranger turns it over, kick down field, canes get possession on the 22

Ranger penalised for offside

Blues A vs Ranger at the moment

Canes maul penalised

Duluth

Blues almost get a TH on a Canes defensive scrum.. earn a penalty instead

Royal scores from the maul

Canes 19-7

Tim

Any mean mugs on display?

Duluth

Ranger does something good!

Catches a chip kick (from Gatland?) 30m out beats the last line

19-14

mimic

Would've been nice if they showed this on the rugby channel

Duluth

Classic hot and cold Ranger he looks sharp now

Gatland takes it to the line 20m out makes a half break offloads to Ranger who beats the fullback

Blues take the lead 21-19

Duluth

Ranger subbed off.. took a minor knock when he scored

Tua on

Duluth

Half time 21-19

Quality of both sides play much better in the 2nd quarter

Vaega looks dangerous and Gatland continues to improve

Tim

@Duluth Great to hear about Vaega.

He looked sharp in his 2016 Super Rugby appearances, and had good NPC. Hope to see him get some game time soon.

Whites72

@Duluth how has dalton popoali'i played? What is his best position? 6,7 or 8

Duluth

Royal charges down a clearing kick then Canes penalised for offside

Blues score from another maul. Not sure who got it

Blues ahead 28-19

Duluth

@Whites72

He's done lots of good work on defence, really accurate. Not much phase play in this game though

Duluth

Canes held up over the line after another maul attempt

They barge over a couple of phases after the scrum

Kirikiri with his second

28-26

The Silver Fern

Blues 2017