Blues v Hurricanes
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@rocky-rockbottom At the risk of sounding like a biased miserable Blues fan yes it is fucked. Has Akira done something to piss the majority of journalists/non-Blues fans because I've never seen so many people try and find so many reasons not to pick someone when it is clear and obvious that he is a world class player waiting to be unleashed into international rugby. One week it's his 'attitude', the next it's his 'workrate' when he has been playing virtually on his on in the forwards for us. Who knows, next week we might get people demanding that Tom Sanders gets the nod over him for the French series and people criticising his beard as a sign of 'laziness' in him or something stupid like that.
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I suspect it’s as facile as his facial expressions.
He is far less a niggly player than Brodie as well, but cops waaay more criticism for that sort of play. Well over two years now and I’m still yet to see him penalised for it.
Distracts the hell out of the opposition though
Reminds me of Fitzy in that regard.As I’ve said over and over, we’d be getting thrashed if he wasn’t doing his one man forward pack show every week.
Only bloody forward we have that can defend a maul too, usually by himself.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@stargazer said in Blues v Hurricanes:
I think there are also good reasons to pick either Evans, Taufua and/or even Whitelock ahead of him.
I don't get it. They are 3 journeymen who have been around for years and years and have barely got a look in at AB level. Not exactly the difference makers that the All Blacks select. Now suddenly all three are worth a look over an obvious real difference maker?
Three reasons why I think they will pick Luke Whitelock at No. 8 instead of Akira.
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The three people I think are the main contenders to play blindside (Squire, Fifita, Akira) are all suited to playing looser roles, so I think they'll pick an eight who plays tighter to complement that.
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In Akira's only AB match so far they played Whitelock at 8 and brought Akira off the bench to replace the 6 (I presume he also played those minutes at blindside - I've never seen that game).
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In the last test we played (against Wales), the loose forward trio was Squire, Cane, Whitelock.
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@chris-b said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@rocky-rockbottom said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@stargazer said in Blues v Hurricanes:
I think there are also good reasons to pick either Evans, Taufua and/or even Whitelock ahead of him.
I don't get it. They are 3 journeymen who have been around for years and years and have barely got a look in at AB level. Not exactly the difference makers that the All Blacks select. Now suddenly all three are worth a look over an obvious real difference maker?
Three reasons why I think they will pick Luke Whitelock at No. 8 instead of Akira.
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The three people I think are the main contenders to play blindside (Squire, Fifita, Akira) are all suited to playing looser roles, so I think they'll pick an eight who plays tighter to complement that.
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In Akira's only AB match so far they played Whitelock at 8 and brought Akira off the bench to replace the 6 (I presume he also played those minutes at blindside - I've never seen that game).
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In the last test we played (against Wales), the loose forward trio was Squire, Cane, Whitelock.
Pretty good points. My issue with that last loose trio, is that there is no one capable of getting over the advantage line when they come up against a big pack. Against the BIL with a stronger loose trio our forwards bar BBB, Read and Moody were the only AB's who were able to regularly make it past the gain line. The balance just seems off when there is no loosie able to get go forward (Squire is ok, but I'm still not convinced against stronger opposition).
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@toddy The clock is ticking on Squire, but I'd guess that trio would be the preferred option, if fit and with some form, simply because they're the trio that played last time.
I think they'll pick Akira in the squad - but, I don't think they'll necessarily be in a rush to play him.
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When is Squire due back? I'd have thought that the selectors would have wanted him to have a couple of games under his belt before France.
Could they do a 'Fekitoa' and bring in JK because of experience/the special circumstances?
Come back Steve Luatua -- all is forgiven?! -
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@kirwan said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@kirwan I don't recall seeing Ioane criticised for niggle in a loooong time.
It’s referred to in every Blues thread, so I guess I agree in the sense that a week can feel like a long time as a Blues fan.
He has improved that aspect of his game. In fact, a lot of aspects of his game have improved - workrate, intensity and mental. Good to see.
Unfortunately, he's been flogged for a few months, so may need freshening up before being played by the ABs. Hopefully a couple of weeks off now, and tapering into the international season willb e good for him.
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@kirwan said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@kirwan I don't recall seeing Ioane criticised for niggle in a loooong time.
It’s referred to in every Blues thread, so I guess I agree in the sense that a week can feel like a long time as a Blues fan.
Oh... Even in this thread? And not by you...
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@kirwan said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Doesn’t have a two game AB break due? I hope so, Tana is grinding him into dust because he’s so reliant on the Ioanes saving his blushes.
I'm not sure he does as he's not an AB, only those that played full ABs tests last year are included, I think. Even if they're on the radar. Hard enough to take those guys out of two games, let alone possibles and fringe players.
