Blues 2019
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@daffy-jaffy Who's the guy with the dread top-not? Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa? Jacob Umaga?
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Rugby non-genius Ali Williams is picking the Blues to make the semi-finals. Heard that one before ...
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@tim I'm sure that is Riedlinger-Kapa and you were right about Telea.
Here is a video of Tomas Aoake playing for Warriors u20.
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I was impressed in the little I saw of Aoake for Ta$man. He's got some talent.
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Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.
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@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.
Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?
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@stargazer said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.
Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?
Well Jacob Pierce definitely has - he is in the 38 man Blues squad and NeeNee isn't
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Good to see Perofeta a part of this week's preseason training group. With his injury history I wasn't sure how long he might be out for.
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From instagram stories it looks like Scrafton is training with the team, which is good news. Tanielu Tele'a might be in there too.
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Two more 'development' players training with the team are Robb Cobb (NZ U20 prop) and Hawaii Ahokovi (young Pakuranga outside back who played preseason with Auckland).
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Looks like the full training squad is in the last picture:
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@hooroo wasnt there an AB prop who was/is very good at Judo.
Can't recall,, but I think it was John Timu back in the day used to do ballet training for strength and balance.
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@hooroo said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Interesting that it appears they have judo(?) coach helping them out. I can see how that would be helpful and moving bodyweights about
UFC fighter Dan Hooker
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@taniwharugby Don't know about Judo, but Joe Moody is a former NZ wrestling rep.
Edited to add that Moody won a junior Commonwealth Games bronze medal (freestyle wrestling) and competed at the world junior championships.
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McDowall had a judo background.
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@stargazer just asked Aunty/Uncle Google...
Was Steve McDowell, coulda gone to Moscow Olympics.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11209385
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in the pre-season isn't unusual. I think the Crusaders did it first? That was at least 12 years ago. Pat Lam did similar sessions with the Blues
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@tim I see Lewis Gjaltema and Mike Tamoaieta there. Does anyone recognise the front row looking guy between Umaga and Mafileo?
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@daffy-jaffy Looks like Jarred Adams and Marco Fepulea'i might be in there? Be interested if someone could spot Lua Li.
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@tim I can't pick out Adams or Fepulea'i in the team photo. I have spotted Harrison Groundwater. I think the prop that I could not identify may well be Lua Li as you wondered. Seems to be a lot of 'extra' North Harbour players with the team this week.
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Players are named here
The 13 current replacement players are Mikey Tamoaieta (North Harbour), Luatangi Li (North Harbour), Danny Drake (North Harbour), Evan Olmstead (Auckland), Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Auckland), Matt Matich (Northland), Jono Kitto (Northland), Lewis Gjaltema (North Harbour), Jack Heighton (North Harbour), Harrison Groundwater (North Harbour) Hawaii Ahokovi (Auckland), Tomas Aoake ( Ta$man) and Mark Telea (North Harbour). In addition to the replacement group, two young players from the Blues Under-20s who have recently been selected for the New Zealand Under-20 training squad, will join the Blues for 10 weeks fulltime training as part of the Interim Training Contract scheme. They are Rob Cobb (Auckland) and Brad McNaughten (North Harbour). Scott Gregory (Northland) is currently with the NZ Sevens team.
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This post is deleted!
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@daffy-jaffy I'd have taken Ross Wright over Tamoaieta, added versatility of playing hooker.
But then I am bias
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Is there an enforced break after the NZ Maori tour? That might explain Abel and Wright not being there?
Agree that there are a couple of weird Hanks selections though
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@duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Is there an enforced break after the NZ Maori tour? That might explain Abel and Wright not being there?
Agree that there are a couple of weird Hanks selections though
Does he have a weekly quota?
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@daffy-jaffy Lua Li overtook Chris Eves and Mayhew at Harbour, so has some potential. Would like to see the Auckland props in there though. Wonder if they are committed to Auckland's February/March tour?
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@daffy-jaffy Heighton plays 9 and 10, and is in the squad for this month's New Zealand Under 20 development camp. He's been in Blues youth teams, including the colts this year. Plays for ECB.
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Anyone know what Junior Tonu'u's boy is up to? Apparently he was one of the best at the 2017 NZ U19 tournament. Plays halfback.
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Tuipulotu and Gibson named as captains.
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Both co-captains in the forwards, or both injury prone?
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Good - both players are certain starters and should be.
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@tim didnt both co-captains spend decent chunks of last year on the sidelines too?
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Good - both players are certain starters and should be.
And who won't be certain starters...
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@taniwharugby Yep.
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@bovidae said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Good - both players are certain starters and should be.
And who won't be certain starters...
First of Tana’s mistakes rolled back.
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Interesting selection, I wouldn't really have said Gibson is as sure a pick as is thought. Be good to see him stay fit for a change though.
Post 1014 of 2005