Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge
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Can anyone give me the likely Blues 1st 15 for next year??
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I would pick Rayasi ahead of Melani Nanai in Blues starting XV every day of the week and twice on Sunday ..
I find Nanai for all his brilliant footwork and speed makes far too many errors and poor decisions,has no kicking game to match
I would gladly trade the 2 in the Blues squad if ever possible -
@canes4life I would start with Black given his experience,but your next cab off the rack is Plummer,after watching the cart horse Collins trotting around yesterday,Is Perofeta a better fullback option..?
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I would go 9. Pulu/Nock 10. Black 11. Ioane 12. Williams 13. Manu 14. Rayasi/Duffie 15. Stevenson??
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@canes4life I think Stephenson has another season with the chiefs..
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@steven-harris Doesn't mention he's signed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2018–19_Super_Rugby_transfers#Chiefs
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I was thinking whilst watching.
You can see why the Blues struggle.
Parsons is Blues starter and he looked like a club player out there.
Taramai was constantly in the Blues 23 and he did nothing apart from knock a restart on.
With players like this and Collins the Blues struggle.
One of the big factors in coaching is being able to select well.
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@canes4life the ole Wiki only alerts to the announced signings,I think over the next couple of weeks the rumour mill goes into overdrive..if I had a wish list for the Blues,Rayasi,Stephenson and Olmstead would me on that list,not sure what the status on Robbie Abel is,but I would take him before Apisai ,but according to Wiki he has another year to run with the Blues..?
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@kiwimurph just need a pack that works their arses off,the Blues pack always seems second or two behind at breakdown..
I think guys like Papalii and Gibson bring a ton of energy,that’s why I am big on Olmstead,perfect man to have in a squad situation..
Hopefully a better forward coach will help..
Sometimes it’s easy to look for answers and afford blame on players that are perceived as not quite being up to this level..
But dare I say it,I have seen many a player leave the Blues franchise and become world beaters at other franchises
Bryn Hall is a great example,he would always cop a lot from Blues supporters that I know,put him in a team that work their arses off..and he gets to develop his game.. -
@steven-harris The Blues should go after Waikato hooker Samisoni Tauke’iaho, he is a beast at ITM level and would be a far better pick than Apisai and Parsons.
Yeah Parsons is a battler. He tries hard but lacks the power and speed to really dominate at ITM. If the Blues are going to make the playoffs next year they need to bite the bullet and drop him as Captain.
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@steven-harris heard through the bush telegraph Rayasi may be plying his SR trade with the Canes.
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@nogusta let the rumour mill begin..!
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@steven-harris Haha imagine commentating this front row: 1. TU'INUKUAFE 2. TAUKE'IAHO 3. TU'UNGAFASI
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@canes4life definitely a challenge,luckily I am surrounded by Tongan,Samoan,Cook Island and Irish next door neighbours..
I threw in the Irish,after 20 years I still can’t understand what he’s saying..! -
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@nogusta said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
@steven-harris heard through the bush telegraph Rayasi may be plying his SR trade with the Canes.
Current (2018) Canes wingers/utility backs were Vince Aso, Wes Goosen, Ben Lam, Jonah Lowe, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Peter Umaga-Jenson, and Julian Savea. Savea is obviously a scratching for 2019 so if the rumours are true then Rayasi must be a direct replacement for him. Wonder where that leaves Malo Tuitama who was paraded with great fanfare when earning a Lions contract whilst still a schoolboy.
