Blues 2018
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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.
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@tim heard the Auckland Mitre 10 cup head coaching job which was supposed to be announced a couple of weeks back has been put on hold due to Auckland Rugby conducting a full audit across the whole organisation.
Apparently along with Nick White,Assistant Bevan Cadwallander and team Manager Lewis McLintock from this years management have all been gased.I had heard that former All Black,Canterbury & Crusaders prop Dave Hewitt had applied for the job.
Would not be bad option in my opinion,might bring some ethic from the Saders region. -
@steven-harris Wow. Hope they can make an announcement soon.
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@steven-harris That's interesting. Dave Hewitt is now the interim head coach of the Canadian national team.
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@steven-harris I would be shocked if a Cantab ever applied for a coaching gig with us.
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Blues leadership guided by Pulu for 2018 Super Rugby season
Halfback Augustine Pulu will captain the Blues in the 2018 Investec Super Rugby Championships.
Coach Tana Umaga said Pulu, along with previous captains Jerome Kaino and James Parsons, form part of the senior leadership group.
“Both James and Jerome are sidelined for some time from surgeries and I wanted our captain to take the reins on the paddock from day one of training.
“Of course both James and Jerome will continue to play invaluable leadership roles in this team and will be key contributors in all aspects.
“Augie has proven captaincy experience in the Mitre-10 Cup and will add a fresh spark to the team.”
Pulu has played 64 games in Super Rugby as well as representing New Zealand in Sevens at the Rio Olympics and has two All Black caps.
“It’s an honour to lead a club like the Blues. We have a good bunch of guys returning and some exciting new players coming in,” said Pulu. “With the help of the leadership group, I want to mould them into a strong team.
“I think we have made real progress in my time here and hope I can do my job as a player and as a captain for the Blues.
“We have to work so hard every day, on and off the field. I believe we can win the Super Rugby title – that’s my goal for the team.”
The Blues also announced that Ben Afeaki, the former New Zealand Maoris and All Black prop, has been appointed as scrum coach. He has enjoyed that role for North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Four young players, all part of the Blues Under-20s and selected for the New Zealand Under-20 training squad, join the Blues for 10 weeks fulltime training as part of the Interim Training Contract scheme. They are Rob Cobb, Hoskins Sotutu, Harry Plummer and Tanielu Tele’a.
There are a further nine players who have joined as replacements for injured or for All Blacks and Maori All Blacks who are staged back into Super Rugby in January. The eight are Marcel Renata (Auckland), Ross Wright (Northland), Jacob Pierce (Auckland), Antonio Kirikiri (Manawatu), Lewis Gjaltema (North Harbour), Orbyn Leger (Counties Manukau), Sione Havili (Auckland) and Jordan Hyland (Northland).
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