Blues 2019
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If Tuipulotu is heading offshore,one player I would be chasing is Mitchell Dunshea ,former NZ under 20 lock in 2015,he is currently in the Crusaders squad,but gets very little game time because Whitelock ,Romano,Barrett and Quinn’s Strange are all ahead in the pecking order.
Dunshea is a machine,has a huge workrate and a massive engine,was outstanding for Canterbury in the 2015 ITM Cup ,in fact probably their best player during that season,sat out all 2016 & 2017 with a serious foot injury,stands at 6,5 and has good bulk,plays for Lincoln University
Not overly experienced,but one that could develop into a permanent fixture.
I do believe the Blues are well versed with some good young locks in Scott Scrafton,Gerad Tuioti Mariner and Josh Goodhue,and if Tuipulotu is part of the plan,it would still be great to have another quality lock in the stable..Not entirely convinced about Ben NeeNee..,
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@stargazer said in Blues 2019:
A few answers:
@pukunui said in Blues 2019:
Kaino and Moala are leaving. Is Pat T confirmed too?
I'm quite sure, it's just a rumour at this stage.
Leadership:
This seems to be seriously lacking this year. Guys like Parsons, Kaino, Pulu, SBW, Tupou and Pat T haven't been able to lift the team or build a winning culture. Are there any guys within NZ that could be poached to help in this area? Would someone like Ash Dixon be a good target? Is he signed long term to the Highlanders? He could help with the next issue too. Who else is there?Ash Dixon is signed to the Highlanders until the end of the 2019 SR season.
Hooker: Since Mealamu started winding down his career Hooker has been an issue. Parsons is probably only a squadie at best. Apisai seems to have been a flop. Is Moulds a realistic option long term? Should the Blues look to poach someone here? Dixon/Coltman? Ricitelli? Funnel? There seems to be a bit of depth in NZ rugby here, just not at the Blues and possibly all locked into contracts.
Dixon signed until 2019
Coltman signed until 2019
Riccitelli signed until 2021
Funnell signed until 2019
Andrew Makalio's contract might expire this year (not sure)Good to know the Pat T thing could just be a rumour. I don't think he has reached his potential after some bad injuries and the drug test mess.
Looks like the decent non ABs hookers are all locked in. They need to do something here. Parsons peaked last year and that peak was only just good enough to be Super rugby standard.
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@steven-harris To be fair to Nee Nee he's only there due to injuries. He's barely mitre 10 cup standard and only ever got a run there due to injuries as well.
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My feeling is they need to try the house down to get some rugged, experienced guys who could create a backbone and gel nicely with their stars.
A loose trio of Whitelock, Ioane and Papalii springs to mind as a good start. Maybe a Proctor type for the midfield. That kind of thing...
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@african-monkey fair call,it was probably more around the point,if we have injuries,it’s best to have quality cover,glad to be proved wrong on NeeNee.
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@steven-harris Pretty sure Dunshea played No. 8 for the Barbarians vs the Lions and made a good fist of it. I'd have liked to have seen him get time either there or at blindside flanker for the Crusaders. He would be an excellent pick-up, but I hope we can keep him - despite being an injury magnet. He's still only 22.
One of Jack Stratton or Ere Enari is likely to be available. Similarly Billy Harmon or Jed Brown. Bidwell-Curtis or Ethan Blackadder. All useful if they're required.
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Posted on fb by an ex ferner.
“I’m going to put the BOOMFA back in Blues! Oh me oh my you are gonna enjoy this yes boy!”
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@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor. -
@duluth heard through good source,they were going to announce Umagas extension after the Jaguaries game,but they were hoping to announce it on a victory to soften the blow..I think we can safely assume the announcement might be put on hold for a while..which is just madness..announce him already and at least you can start planning for 2019..
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I wonder what they will do if there are no more wins??
Not surprising. About the best that can be hoped for is a clean out of the assistants. Someone like Coventry can be the real coach and Umaga is just a figurehead.
Perhaps they can wheel out the pirate ship and Umaga can dress up as Bluebeard if he gets bored. -
@duluth give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
If they were going to announce it, you assume the paperwork is all signed, but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season and the blip (actually, continuation of norm) of the Jaguares has made them think about invoking said clause, so delaying any announcement for fear of even more egg on face?
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
..and selecting.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season
Damn you. Don't give me hope.
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@duluth said in Blues 2019:
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor.The Board is the most important component, and the least likely to change. A good Board appoints a good coach and ensures a good environment. After that, wati three years and we start to populate the team with talent.
The counter-argument is take a top franchise, add an arrogant and out of touch board, wait 15 years and then mop up the tears.
