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Blues 2018

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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    wrote on last edited by
    #107

    How old is Salmon? Was he injured if both Halanukonuka and Lomax were played ahead of him?

    KiwiMurphK 1 Reply Last reply
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  • KiwiMurphK Online
    KiwiMurphK Online
    KiwiMurph
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by KiwiMurph
    #108

    @bovidae 21 years old. He was only an NPC rookie this year I believe.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • DiceD Offline
    DiceD Offline
    Dice
    wrote on last edited by
    #109

    Hopefully Dan Kirkpatrick can recapture his U20 form....

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  • DiceD Offline
    DiceD Offline
    Dice
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #110

    @tim said in Blues 2018:

    Likely XXIII:

    1. Hodgman
    2. Parsons
    3. Tu'ungafasi
    4. Tuipulotu
    5. Scrafton
    6. Kaino
    7. Gibson
    8. Ioane
    9. Pulu
    10. Perofeta
      -- now the speculation starts --
    11. Ioane
    12. Faiane
    13. SBW
    14. Nanai
    15. Duffie
      -- reserves are more predictable --
    16. Moulds
    17. Manu
    18. Tamoaieta
    19. Cowley-Tuioti
    20. Pryor/Papali'i/Taramai
    21. Nock
    22. Gatland
    23. Moala

    Key question for the starting line-up: when is Scrafton back from injury. We rely on him heavily for set piece proficiency and organisation. We need an able replacement for that role.

    I really like those tight-five replacements to put some heat on at set-piece in the 2nd half. It'd be great to have a ball-carrying 8 on the bench, especially with Kaino likely to have a lighter workload.

    Midfield combo will be a big selection question. A lot of talent outside them.

    Pulu's form may be the key. Really hoping for a big year from Nock.

    That is pretty close to being spot on.

    Papali'i ticks all the boxes for the backrow bench role. He plays all the backrow positions and is a good line-out option.

    That midfield was what I wanted to see this year, but it never got any time. I do wonder if Tana is willing to shift SBW out one.

    TimT 1 Reply Last reply
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  • sharkS Offline
    sharkS Offline
    shark
    wrote on last edited by
    #111

    This is a fantastic example of a quality 1st XV, on paper at least, but plenty of potential for disaster as soon as this XV is eroded away.

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  • Number 10N Offline
    Number 10N Offline
    Number 10
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #112

    @tim said in Blues 2018:

    Good to see Tua there. Looks like they've focused on work-rate for loose forwards. Could do with another ball carrier in there.

    Kirkpatrick is an absolute joke. Really hope he sees zero game time.

    Wider Training Group might be important for cover at 8, lock, wing, and when Kirkpatrick is dumped.

    Hope Gibson isn't out for long!

    I thought they had done away with the WTG ?

    They can just contract cover players for injury as and when required, and sign promising players to development contracts?

    TimT S 2 Replies Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Number 10 on last edited by
    #113

    @number-10 Yeah, should probably have said development squad.

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  • S Offline
    S Offline
    Steven Harris
    replied to Number 10 on last edited by
    #114

    @number-10

    Totally agree regarding Kirkpatrick,bloody average,we let Ihaia West go for this cart horse..?,would have taken Jade Te Rure from the Turbos,even Turbo fans have told me he's better than Otere Black..!
    And who the hell is Isaac Salmon..?..

    CrucialC 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Number 10N Offline
    Number 10N Offline
    Number 10
    wrote on last edited by
    #115

    Isaac Salmon is a tighthead for Ta$man

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Dice on last edited by
    #116

    @dice said in Blues 2018:

    Papali'i ticks all the boxes for the backrow bench role. He plays all the backrow positions and is a good line-out option.

    I didn't realise that he was 113kg. In that case, he should be a good option at 6 and 8 too. There's a big discrepancy between his Auckland and Blues stats though ...

    Blues: 193 cm, 113 kg.
    Auckland: 190 cm, 104 kg.

    DiceD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • CrucialC Offline
    CrucialC Offline
    Crucial
    replied to Steven Harris on last edited by
    #117

    @steven-harris said in Blues 2018:

    @number-10

    Totally agree regarding Kirkpatrick,bloody average,we let Ihaia West go for this cart horse..?,would have taken Jade Te Rure from the Turbos,even Turbo fans have told me he's better than Otere Black..!
    And who the hell is Isaac Salmon..?..

    Seriously? I didn't realise Blues fans were such whinge bags.

    All we ever hear is that not enough is done by the Blues to lure a 10 into the setup. They have grabbed Perofeta before anyone else did and talked Black into moving as well. It isn't Umagas fault that Black got badly injured after signing.
    I do agree that Kirkpatrick isn't the goods but he is there as a the stand in number three choice and is at least experienced.

    TimT C 2 Replies Last reply
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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    replied to Daffy Jaffy on last edited by
    #118

    @daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2018:

    I don't get the props? Apparently Salmon is a tight head which means we have 4 tight heads and 2 loose? Maybe Salmon can play both?.. It would be a shame to expect Tu'ungafaasi to switch when he is just starting to fulfill his promise at tight head. Unless that is in the AB selectors plans for him

    This is even more concerning than Kirkpatrick

    I can't find any record of Mafileo, Salmon & Tamoaieta ever playing LH. So Umaga will convert one of these guys to cover both sides or screw up Ofa's progress

    Daffy JaffyD TimT 2 Replies Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Crucial on last edited by
    #119

    @crucial Whatever other qualities he has, Umaga has made a lot of poor selections over the last two years. He normally takes half a season to settle on a decent XV.

    CrucialC 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    replied to Duluth on last edited by
    #120

    @duluth 3rd string front row depth is so important. More often than not one will be injured so 3rd choices will often be in the match day 23. I see both Tamoietea and Salmon as inexperience risks. Salmon was not even in Tasmans squad only came in for 6 games when they had two in the all blacks and two others injured. Hopefully they have inside oil on his potential. Also hope they can make some gains with Tamoietea's fitness and body shape like they did with Nematahi Waa when he was in the squad.

    DuluthD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • DiceD Offline
    DiceD Offline
    Dice
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #121

    @tim said in Blues 2018:

    @dice said in Blues 2018:

    Papali'i ticks all the boxes for the backrow bench role. He plays all the backrow positions and is a good line-out option.

    I didn't realise that he was 113kg. In that case, he should be a good option at 6 and 8 too. There's a big discrepancy between his Auckland and Blues stats though ...

    Blues: 193 cm, 113 kg.
    Auckland: 190 cm, 104 kg.

    I'm not sure if he's 113kg, but he did look pretty big in the NPC, just as big as Akira it seemed. I was surprised how big he got, as he looked like a twig early last year.

    I thought he looked real good in his cameos for Auckland. Won the gain line with and without the ball, and he has a high motor.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    replied to Daffy Jaffy on last edited by Duluth
    #122

    @daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2018:

    Also hope they can make some gains with Tamoietea's fitness

    ..and Mafileo's fitness

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Duluth on last edited by
    #123

    @duluth When Salmon was on the Ta$man reserve bench, Halanukonuka was on the bench too. IIRC, Halanukonuka is a specialist tighthead prop, so maybe Salmon switched to loosehead?

    F 1 Reply Last reply
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  • CrucialC Offline
    CrucialC Offline
    Crucial
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #124

    @tim said in Blues 2018:

    @crucial Whatever other qualities he has, Umaga has made a lot of poor selections over the last two years. He normally takes half a season to settle on a decent XV.

    What has that to do with a squad selection at late notice to cover an injury? Who is the other available 10 you would rather have?

    TimT 1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Crucial on last edited by
    #125

    @crucial It indicates that his selections are questionable, which is completely obvious from what I wrote.

    Beaver, Te Rure, and Marty MacKenzie are all better. I'd rather have Plummer too.

    CrucialC 1 Reply Last reply
    3
  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    wrote on last edited by
    #126

    You'll find out soon why they didn't sign MMac ...

    HoorooH 1 Reply Last reply
    0

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