Blues 2019
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Tim said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Tanielu Tele’a was a key player for NZ U20s, but it's a huge ask for a 20 year old to play well at 13 at Super Rugby level.
I've seen this posted on the Fern before and it's a myth. Tele'a was cited for a late, dangerous tackle and/or strike against an opponent's head in the second game of the tournament and suspended for the remainder of the tournament. He wasn't a key player at all, unless you mean it in a negative way.
I believe he was a key player in the NZ U20s games in the 2018 Oceania Rugby Under 20s comp prior to the World Cup vs Fiji, Tonga and Australia.
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This seems to indicate Apisai is not currently injured - perhaps the injury that made him leave the field in the preseason game v Canes was minor?
Blues hooker fit and raring to go 3:30pm, Wednesday 13 February 2019. By James Perry Former Māori All Black hooker Leni Apisai is feeling fitter than ever and ready to fight for a regular spot in the Blues super rugby season. He has been working hard over the off-season to recover from a knee injury that cut short his Mitre 10 campaign with the Wellington Lions last year and robbed him of any chance of touring with the Māori All Blacks in the USA and South America. "Yeah, nah I'm hissing, eh!" he told Te Kāea, "Probably in the best shape I've been in a while." He credits the strength and conditioning team at the Blues, "they've pushed me during this pre-season and I'm ready to play some footy instead of running some laps." Apisai, originally from Porirua in the Wellington region, joined the Blues last season and is enjoying his second season in Auckland. He's hoping to add to the handful of games he played last year but knows it will be hard behind two experienced hookers in former captain James Parsons and Matt Moulds. "[There's a] great team here, you always want to be a part of a good legacy," the 22-year-old says, "I'll be pushing to get some more game time this year, I got six or whatever but I would've liked to get more and secure a regular spot." The former NZ U20 captain headed north to the Blues last year when the Hurricanes couldn't fit him in to their squad, with Dane Coles, Ricci Riccitelli and Asafo Aumua taking up the three hooking spots. The then-Blues head coach Tana Umaga got in touch with Apisai and told him "they had a spot for me, and that potentially if all goes well and I play some good footy then I could potentially get some decent game time," he says. Despite being only 22, Apisai has a load of experience under his belt, making his Mitre 10 Cup debut as an 18 year in 2014. The Ngāti Awa descendant was selected in the Māori All Blacks in 2016, and while it is unknown what the Māori All Black program for 2019 looks like at this stage, Apisai is keen to push his case for selection again. "But for the moment [I'll] just be focusing on the Blues and get some minutes with the Blues and we'll go from there," he says. -
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Bones Ah got it thanks. I guess he meant' George Moala. I read somewhere that he is going really well in France.
Charlie F is on record as saying Moala is one strong hombre.
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@Tim said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
I think that Leon MacDonald said on the Short Ball podcast that Perofeta will be out for 16 weeks.
Maybe the one thing Rangi change is the luck factor?
Luck deserted Lam, SJK got frustrated by the lack of it and Umaga tried to ignore it.
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Most of the players not required for the Super Rugby clash, including several coming back from long term injury, will take part in the match between Blues A and Hurricanes A on Saturday. The match, starting at 1pm on Saturday, will be at Marist Rugby Club, Dunkirk Rd,Panmure with the Blues A team coaches by George Konia and Ben AfeakiBlues A
Marcel Renata, Luteru Tolai, Mikey Tamoaieta, Scott Scrafton, Evan Olmstead, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Adrian Choat, Hoskins Sotutu; Lewis Gjaltema, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Tomas Aoake, Tanielu Tele’a, Levi Aumua, Mark Tele’a, Hawaii Ahokovi
Reserves: Mike Sosene-Feagai, Lua Li, Rob Cobb, Danny Drake, Glenn Preston, Brad McNaughten, Wiseguy Faiane, Harrison Groundwater, Temo Mayanavanua, Hauwai McGahan, Leka TuungafasiI'll probably watch this game and post a few updates
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George Konia:
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@Tim thats an old article isnt it?
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@taniwharugby Posted on 2 April 2018 on Northland's FB page
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@KiwiMurph Yes he had an awful 20 minutes against the Highlanders before getting injured. Might see some gametime due to having the 2 most injury prone loosies in the world with Gibson and Brown in the squad.
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@taniwharugby Yep, but some good background on the coach.
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@Tim there’s a few on the blog that would not have seen that article on Konia..interesting to see Wiseguy Faiane on the bench for the Bs..
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@Tim there’s a few on the blog that would not have seen that article on Konia..interesting to see Wiseguy Faiane on the bench for the Bs..
.....and I thought Starsky and Hutch ( league players ) were terrible names....
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