Waratahs v Blues
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Blues line-up:
15 Matt Duffie, 14. Tumua Manu, 13. Orbyn Leger, 12. Rieko Ioane, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Stephen Perofeta, 9. Augustine Pulu ©; 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Dalton Papalii, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Sione Mafileo, 2. James Parsons, 1. Ross Wright.
Reserves: 16. Matt Moulds, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Mike Tamoaieta, 19. Ben Nee-Nee or Lyndon Dunshea, 20. Murphy Taramai, 21. Jonathan Ruru, 22. Dan Kirkpatrick, 23 Terrence Hepetema.
Not considered because of injury: Otere Black (knee – season), Blake Gibson (shoulder), Glenn Preston (groin, season), Sonny Bill Williams (wrist), Alex Hodgman (wrist), Scott Scrafton (leg – season), Melani Nanai (ankle), Matt Johnson (surgery – season), George Moala (chest – season), TJ Faiane (ankle), Tamati Tua (hand), Michael Collins (hand), Ofa Tuungafasi (knee), Jimmy Tupou (knee), Josh Goodhue (concussion), Isaac Salmon (hand).
The Blues welcome back the experience of captain Augustine Pulu, Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino to their starting line-up for the Super Rugby match against the Waratahs in Sydney. The return of the trio to start the game is positive news for the Blues, with Pulu having played 30 minutes off the bench last week, while Tuipulotu missed the game with illness. Kaino returns after a hamstring strain that side-lined him for the past three games. “We have some key players starting to slowly return over the next couple of weeks but it is welcome news to have these three players back, not just with their rugby ability but especially their experience,” said coach Tana Umaga. There are still defections this week which means Northland and Maori All Black prop Ross Wright gets his first start at loosehead prop after seven games off the bench. The loose forward trio form an impressive combination with Kaino’s return alongside the in-form young guns Akira Ioane and Dalton Papalii. Pulu teams with Stephen Perofeta to guide the team while Rieko Ioane and Orbyn Leger are again paired in the midfield. Replacement Tumua Manu, who has scored in each of his two games, moves to the right wing to allow for the debut of Caleb Clarke, who has recovered fully from appendicitis which ruled him out of the All Black Sevens team at the Commonwealth Games. All Black Matt Duffie, who excelled slotting back to fullback in terrible weather conditions last week, retains his spot. “It is back to the basics again for us. We need to win our set piece and the collision, hold our discipline, play positively with patience with some go-forward ball, communicate well and defend to plan,” said Umaga. “We are working hard. Each week we do some things well but one or two things let us down. We know this is a tough test with our young and inexperienced team, but we are ready to put a performance together.” The match will be played at Brookvale Oval, the home of the Manly Warringah rugby league side, with the Waratah’s home ground of Alliance Stadium unavailable.Blues Rugby
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Caleb Clarke - excellent. He won the Brisbane 10s MVP so looking forward to seeing him on debut in what should be good conditions (the weather...not the field).
I thought perhaps the Ioanes might be rested for this one but Blake Gibson & SBW must be another week away.
Loose trio has a nice balance to it on paper - that's if Kaino can find some form.
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@hooroo which team
Good to see Wright getting a start!
does this word not mean what I think it means?
There are still defections this week which means Northland and Maori All Black prop Ross Wright gets his first start at loosehead prop after seven games off the bench.
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Jeez, what's happened to Pauliasi Manu? I'd still pick him at LH ahead of Tim Perry in the ABs though.
Some decent players on that injured list. I was a bit of a fan of Nanai a year or two ago, but he's dropped away.
Ruining the NZ teams winning streak the final straw for the clowns involved with the Blues?
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Moulds preferred ahead of Apisai again? Which is the correct call, but why wasn't that the case a week ago?
Taramai preferred ahead of Pryor? That seems strange given the form this year. The extra cover that Taramai provides is irrelevant because there's enough 6/8 cover with the starters.
Leger/Ioane wrong way around. Again.
They have run out of patience with Gatland?
Or is the injury list wrong again?
Good to see Wright get a start. He has earned it.
Pleased to see Clarke out there finally. The back three is ok given the resources. I like Duffie at fullback.. he's finding form and the more he touches the ball the better. Two very inexperienced wingers though.
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another unwanted sequence breaker for the Blues coming up then
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Clark vs Clarke out on the wing should be fun.
Waratahs:
Israel Folau, Cam Clark, Lalakai Foketi, Kurtley Beale, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon; Michael Wells, Michael Hooper, Will Miller, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson.
Reserves: Hugh Roach, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Paddy Ryan, Tom Staniforth, Jed Holloway, Nick Phipps, Curtis Rona, Bryce Hegarty.
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@duluth said in Waratahs v Blues:
Taramai preferred ahead of Pryor? That seems strange given the form this year. The extra cover that Taramai provides is irrelevant because there's enough 6/8 cover with the starters.
On the bright side, Papali'i is starting ahead of both of them.
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@mariner4life said in Waratahs v Blues:
another unwanted sequence breaker for the Blues coming up then
I wince every time I see the title of this thread (actually I wince whenever I here about the Blues).
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@snowy said in Waratahs v Blues:
@mariner4life said in Waratahs v Blues:
another unwanted sequence breaker for the Blues coming up then
I wince every time I see the title of this thread (actually I wince whenever I here about the Blues).
me too!
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@nzzp said in Waratahs v Blues:
@snowy said in Waratahs v Blues:
@mariner4life said in Waratahs v Blues:
another unwanted sequence breaker for the Blues coming up then
I wince every time I see the title of this thread (actually I wince whenever I here about the Blues).
me too!
We should start #metoo campaign. Supporting the Blues is certainly emotional abuse and a support group might be needed. We could have celebrities speaking out in our favour and JK as patron. I am reaching Australian cricket levels of "win at all costs".
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don't worry guys, they will win this weekend and all will be well with the Blues...until next week.
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@taniwharugby said in Waratahs v Blues:
don't worry guys, they will win this weekend and all will be well with the Blues...until next week.
For some reason I don't share your confidence - I think they call it experience.
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@taniwharugby said in Waratahs v Blues:
don't worry guys, they will win this weekend and all will be well with the Blues...until next week.
THIS IS OUR WEEK
Weirdly, I have a good feeling about this game. We have done some good damage to the Tahs in the past ... hopefully that continues this week.
Also, this feels like an abusive relationship.
