Blues 2019

Tim

Blues clarified their coaching roles today:

Tana Umaga - Head Coach and Defence
Tom Coventry - Forwards Coach
Leon MacDonald - Attack Coach
Daniel Halangahu - Backs and Skills Coach

Crucial

@tim said in Blues 2019:

Blues clarified their coaching roles today:

Tana Umaga - Head Coach and Defence
Tom Coventry - Forwards Coach
Leon MacDonald - Attack Coach
Daniel Halangahu - Backs and Skills Coach

Good move to have an Australian there to carry the can.

SammyC

@chris said in Blues 2019:

@steven-harris Yes Nu'u is a Canterbury player who has always been a standout in CHCH club rugby I was shocked we signed 2 plonders in Beard and Burleigh and let Nu'u go Hopefully Razor is smarter than Maddocks

Tell me about it, Nu’u is one of the 12s I’ve seen at club level. Was shocked they let him go to Southland.

taniwharugby

@sammyc did he follow MacLeod, he seems to have a bit of sway with some of these guys.

SammyC

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:

@sammyc did he follow MacLeod, he seems to have a bit of sway with some of these guys.

Yeah he did, played at the Sydenham club under McLeod. I think Southland were pretty surprised we let him go though

SammyC

@chchfanatic said in Blues 2019:

@african-monkey 100% agree with u. Christie is the ultimate professional though. The crusaders love him. But he’s not actually a very good rugby player. He’s good on d , but not an enforcer. Very good on the turnover. Got nothing on attack. Watch out for the name Cullen grace. That kid is going to be something special. First year out of high school and he was a beast in div 1 this year.

Cullen Grace was superb in the couple of games I saw. So much physicality for a 19 year old.

Daffy Jaffy

2019 Blues squad is Live on Facebook at midday tomorrow.

Kirwan

@tim said in Blues 2019:

Blues clarified their coaching roles today:

Tana Umaga - ~~Head Coach and Defence~~ Dead man walking
Tom Coventry - Forwards Coach
Leon MacDonald - Attack Coach
Daniel Halangahu - Backs and Skills Coach

Fixed

Tim

One thing that's going to count against Fukofuka is that he played for Tonga last year.

Stargazer

@tim ... and will again this year.

Nogusta

@stargazer said in Blues 2019:

@tim ... and will again this year.

Yep - will be playing for them on their November tour then taking up a French contract

Stargazer

@nogusta Which club?

Nogusta

@stargazer Not too sure. Was sitting near his mum on Saturday who mentioned.

Daffy Jaffy

So far with 3 squads named the blues region has got away lightly only loosing Rayasi and Manu to other franchises, and probably Whetton to the Highlanders.

Duluth

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.

Front row: Leni Apisai, Alex Hodgman, Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Sione Mafileo, Matt Moulds, James Parsons, Marcel Renata, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tu’ungafasi,

Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Josh Goodhue, Jacob Pierce, Scott Scrafton, Patrick Tuipulotu.

Loose forwards: Jed Brown, Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Hoskins Sotutu, Jimmy Tupou.

Halfbacks: Sam Nock, Augustine Pulu, Jonathan Ruru.

First-five: Otere Black, Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer

Midfield: Levi Aumua, TJ Faiane, Ma’a Nonu, Tanielu Tele’a, Sonny Bill Williams.

Outside Backs: Caleb Clarke, Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Melani Nanai, Jordan Trainor

Out: Bryn Gatland (Highlanders), Jerome Kaino (Toulouse), Pauliasi Manu (Hino, Japan), George Moala (Clement Auvergne), Glenn Preston, Kara Pryor, Isaac Salmon, Mike Tamoaieta, Murphy Taramai, Dan Kirkpatrick, Matt Johnson.

In: (Karl Tu’inukuafe (Chiefs), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Blues Development – Auckland), Jacob Pierce (Blues Development – North Harbour), Ma’a Nonu (Toulon), Marcel Renata (Hurricanes), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues Development – Auckland), Harry Plummer (Blues Development – Auckland), Tanielu Tele’a (Blues Development – Auckland), Tom Robinson (Northland), Jed Brown ( Ta$man), Levi Aumua ( Ta$man).

Unavailable for selection: Tamati Tua (injury), Sione Havili (injury), Scott Gregory (Sevens/U20s).

Tim

No Olmsted or Abel. Jacob Pierce was 4th choice at Harbour this year - incredibly lucky.

Don't rate Aumua at all. Losing Manu a massive blow. Talea not ready for this level.

Could've done with Rayasi. Collins a waste of space.

Problems at hooker, halfback, centre, and no clear choice at fullback. No backup 8 with any experience.

Not a good squad.

Bovidae

The Blues could pick a large, bruising midfield lacking pace.

Coventry didn't show any love to his NH boys.

Duluth

On a positive note, the Blues Dev team will be good

African Monkey

Tu'inukuafe
Parsons (more because of a lack of options)
Tu'ungafasi
Tuipulotu
Goodhue
Papali'i
Gibson
A Ioane
Pulu (like Parsons a lack of options and a Tana favourite)
Black
R Ioane
SBW
Aumua
Nanai (Will probably be Duffie)
Anyone but Collins but it will be him
Moulds
Hodgman
Mafileo/Renata
Brown
Robinson/Sotutu but will be Tupou
Ruru
Perofeta
Nonu

Tim

Only things I'm happy about are the props.

Really haven't improved over last year. Still no centre, no new kicking options in midfield or the back three from exits, no class at halfback, very average hookers. Ioane only decent centre option, which will leave wings lacking power.

Gutted for Olmstead. Pierce over Whetton ...

The Silver Fern

Blues 2019

Blues Rugby