Blues 2018
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@crucial As a paying customer since 1996 and having seen a decade of poor selection and recruitment from the Blues organisation,I think I reserve the right to whinge..!
I could write a book about the poor recruitment decisions this organisation has made.
In my opinion,Kirkpatricks ceiling is Mitre 10 cup,although given Garden Bachop turned out to be Lions starting first five,I do wonder..!
This same organisation back in 2009 picked Toby Morland who was the 2nd string halfback at Otago for the Blues.
Sitting in the Wider training squad was Aaron Smith,oh by the way,he was totally inexperienced...!.
But I guess we know how that turned out...! -
I'm always keen to criticise the poor selection by the Blues but i'm not going to bash them here for Kirkpatrick.
He is clearly a stop-gap with Otere Black returning next season and Harry Plummer potentially ready for a Super Rugby spot after 12 months of development.
In a years time the Blues will have options at 10 of Black, Perofeta, Gatland and probably Plummer (Gatland is on a one year deal so may or may not be around in 2019). That's about as good of a situation at number 10 for the Blues in a very very long time. I'm not buying that Te Rure (who no one has ever selected at Super Rugby level) is the answer.
Usually there are some glaring poor non-selections by the Blues (Fatialofa, Seu, Aso, Alaimalo etc etc) but this year I can't see one jumping out. The closest would be Vaega but he's been around the traps for a while and has been more there or thereabouts rather than a star.
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@kiwimurph This year, rather than being about recruiting "name" players, it's really about the younger Blues stepping up.
Hodgman (24) was one of the best props in the NPC, and could be an All Black. Ofa T (25) has made big steps, but needs to show regular set piece form. Tuipulotu (24) is back in the ABs, but needs to show consistent form. We all know about Akira Ioane (22), if he continues maturing then he could dominant week in, week out. Goodhue (22) needs to show consistent set piece ability, and demand minutes. It must be make or break for him this year.
In the backs, the obvious one is Nock (21) - can he show a commanding streak, and a running game? He hasn't so far. Big years from Faiane (22), and Nanai (24) would really make a difference to a team that had a lot of narrow losses.
It really is a young team.
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@kiwimurph Well, I suspect that Matty Johnson was picked over him. It's telling that no one else picked him, but given how well the Harbour backline went, it's a bit surprising.
Would you take Moala over him?
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@tim Agreed on the youngsters growing.
I think they need some strong leadership. They need the likes of Tuipulotu, Ofa, Scrafton in the forwards, Pulu, SBW and Duffie in the backs - to help Kaino and Parsons with the leadership - on and off the field.
I'm realistic - I expect another season just like the last two under Tana - but at least this season they have a real talent at 10 - and that's exciting.
Yes Moala is an interesting case - as some of the suggested 23s above note, I'd like to see him have a bench role where he can come off the pine and provide some impact. He's not quick enough for a winger but he doesn't have the distribution (vision or skills) for midfield. I'm hoping he gets pushed by the other midfielders for game time but not that confident in Tana to get the mix right.
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@kiwimurph If he can't make the playoffs, and finish 4th or higher in the NZ conference, then he will rightly be fired. Three years is plenty of time to put together a decent team. All future coaches must have a big win under their belt before applying.
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@tim I think Tana will be given plenty of latitude, not least because the Blues will be looking at stability given the chopping and changing of coaches over recent years, barring a major capitulation (losing to Sunwolves again...) and finishing in the bottom few, I cant see him getting the flick.
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@cgrant said in Blues 2018:
@tim said in Blues 2018:
Likely XXIII:
- Hodgman
- Parsons
- Tu'ungafasi
- Tuipulotu
- Scrafton
- Kaino
- Gibson
- Ioane
- Pulu
- Perofeta
-- now the speculation starts -- - Ioane
- Faiane
- SBW
- Nanai
- Duffie
-- reserves are more predictable -- - Moulds
- Manu
- Tamoaieta
- Cowley-Tuioti
- Pryor/Papali'i/Taramai
- Nock
- Gatland
- 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.
Tana Umaga will surely include Collins somewhere.
Yup. With Collins in there, I would go with:
- Nanai
- SBW
- Ioane
- Duffie
- Collins
Hopefully Collins will improve like Duffie.
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Maybe the selectors see in Ofa T a LHP rather than a THP as the cupboard is rather bare on the left side of the scrum (Moody, Hames and an ageing Crockett) while there are best THP than him (Franks, Laulala with Moli and Fidow developping well).
Hodgman should have a great year and I expect him to make the ABs very soon.
Salmon is a good prospect. He did well when Ta$man had their first choice THP injured. He's far more athletic than Tamoaieta and Mafileo who don't look suited to the rythm of SR. -
Reserve judgement on the last two until you see what training full time in a professional environment under close supervision by the trainers can do. You can see the super players are a fair way ahead fitness and physique-wise of the standard Mitre10 Cup players during that competition so give them a chance please.
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King Carlos returns!
Carlos Spencer will play in the Brisbane 10's as the Blues wild card selection. -
Blues Rugby
The official home of the Blues rugby team. Buy tickets and merchandise, get the latest news, view results and go behind-the-scenes with our players.
Blues assistant coaches Al Rogers and Dave Ellis delivered skills coaching before the players received positional coaching from former Blues Slade McFarland (#58), Eroni Clarke (#13), Aukusitino Junior Poluleuligaga (#135) and expert coaches Ben Afeaki, Steven Bates, Al Rogers and Daniel Halangahu.
Good to see Ben Afeaki back involved with rugby. Steven Bates works with the Harbour U19 team (as a "Technocal Advisor" according to his linkedin page). Harbour finished 3rd at the Jock Hobbs tournament.
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Scott Stevenson and Mils talk to James Parsons (recovering from shoulder surgery) on Rugby Pass's podcast.
Some interesting stuff about team culture at the Blues there. That loss to the Crusaders still hurts.
Download - Episode 66 | Podbean