Blues 2019
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As we all know, 2020 will be MacDonald's first season with his own squad, so lets start looking at possible changes, avoiding very young players unless necessary. I'm guessing that more experienced recruits would be preferred where possible. Also, it might be easier to nab a Chief than a Crusader ...
LH Prop
Good strength here, with Hodgman and Tu'inukuafe are returning next year, and Lindenmuth a hot prospect (can also play both sides) who will likely return too. What he and the next line of in-catchment players lack are the several years of Super Rugby to establish themselves as consistant scrummagers and technicians (i.e. mauling and maul defence).
Those contenders include: Lua Li, Jarred Adams, and Isi Tu'ungafasi. IIRC, Rob Cobb is primarily a tighthead. They're unlikely to look too far for a recruit, but a more experienced player like Aki Seiuli or Tim Perry might be tempting in the short term. Rueben O'Neill and Kane Hames are also off contract. Not very excited about any of that lot.
TH Prop
Here we lack depth, with just Ofa Tu'ungafasi an established Super Rugby player. Sione Mafileo has his moments, especially in the scrum, but can be inconsistent there and off the pace around the field. Renata has the ability around the field, but lacks experience at tight head, and needs those few seasons more.
Marco Fepulea'i is the only local player I'm enthusiastic about, with Rob Cobb coming through at junior level. Again, a lot of experience needs to be added to their resumes.
Siate Tokolahi is probably the only experienced player coming off contract.
Now the big one:
Hooker
Parsons is limited but worth keeping. He seems to be the only Super level hooker we have, and brings some much needed (but not winning) experience. Moulds never seems to put his hand up, and Apisai doesn't look up to it at this stage.
Abel and Sosene-Feagai both played well for Auckland, and Eklund and Olsen also look promising. The last two are inexperienced at this level, and there are questions over athletic ability.
Nathan Harris and Samisoni Taukei'aho are both off contract, and I think that Makalio and Funnell are too. Then there's Coltman. We should try for all of those names and Abel. Who would you prefer?
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@Tim IMO Olsen is a bit more dynamic than Moulds, but its like Olsen is to Moulds as Moulds is to Parsons...ran things well when he got his chances last year.
I like MOulds but something just doesnt add up...Parsons has all the penetration of a 5cm flacid, yet he keeps getting picked for huge minutes, Moulds we get told is a leader trains well blah blah blah, but sometimes cant even even get on the field!
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@taniwharugby I rate our hookers. Moulds hasn’t really even had a crack, but does tend to get injured. Olsen might even be better. Great runner. Couldn’t talk about scrummaging. Lineout work has been improving for both of them.
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@kev
Parsons last 10 minutes v sunwolves was some of his worst rugby, tired sloppy throw into the line out, knockon, decision making. It was unbelievable that Parsons played out the 80. He was looking to the sideline a number of times, was clearly stuffed but was also probably the pseudo captain, he was giving plenty of instruction to SBW and pretty sure he got told by the ref he wasn’t the captain. Moulds gained more metres in 18 minutes the week before than Parsons did the rest of the game. The reason is obvious, he’s not the captain but he’s the “on field leader”. No room at the inn. -
@Northlandallday said in Blues 2019:
@kev
Parsons last 10 minutes v sunwolves was some of his worst rugby, tired sloppy throw into the line out, knockon, decision making. It was unbelievable that Parsons played out the 80. He was looking to the sideline a number of times, was clearly stuffed but was also probably the pseudo captain, he was giving plenty of instruction to SBW and pretty sure he got told by the ref he wasn’t the captain. Moulds gained more metres in 18 minutes the week before than Parsons did the rest of the game. The reason is obvious, he’s not the captain but he’s the “on field leader”. No room at the inn.When Gibson is back up to speed, and Scrafton back, there will be more on field leadership and Parsons can be spelled.
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2019:
@Northlandallday said in Blues 2019:
@kev
Parsons last 10 minutes v sunwolves was some of his worst rugby, tired sloppy throw into the line out, knockon, decision making. It was unbelievable that Parsons played out the 80. He was looking to the sideline a number of times, was clearly stuffed but was also probably the pseudo captain, he was giving plenty of instruction to SBW and pretty sure he got told by the ref he wasn’t the captain. Moulds gained more metres in 18 minutes the week before than Parsons did the rest of the game. The reason is obvious, he’s not the captain but he’s the “on field leader”. No room at the inn.When Gibson is back up to speed, and Scrafton back, there will be more on field leadership and Parsons can be spelled.
Parsons gets ragdolled on so many occasions. Seems a good bloke, tries his guts out, but just a bit small at this level.
Still, he's got one more AB Cap than us, so well done him
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@nzzp haha yeah, cant quite figure out how he is still the preferred 2 for the Blues, but yep, infinitely better rugby CV than I could have hoped for.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
@nzzp haha yeah, cant quite figure out how he is still the preferred 2 for the Blues, but yep, infinitely better rugby CV than I could have hoped for.
No competition basically. Look around the country too, not many good hookers.
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2019:
No competition basically. Look around the country too, not many good hookers.
as I said above, I think there is more to it.
Sure Moulds had his issues with throwing, but he is no worse than Parsons there in recent times, we have been told in previous years (not just once) that Moulds is a great leader, I know he is a huge trainer, so why does he sit on the bench so much?
Maybe I am blinkered, but it is clear he offers much more than Parsons with ball in hand, is a strong scrummager (although I have seen some times in scrums he is involved in, when neither hooker strikes the ball) both are solid defenders.
In the 4 years or so he has been at the Blues, unless Parsons was injured, he has ridden the pine...each time the Blues re-sign him (Moulds) I have to question why (from both sides) as I am sure Moulds could earn better coin off shore, and if they are gonna let someone ride pine most of the season, they could do worse (and do with Apisai) than Ross Wright or Jordan Olsen or Eklund (or others too I expect)
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This year, that’s even more an issue as Parsons is rapidly going backwards.
I guess my point is Moulds would have pushed him out if he delivered what the coaches wanted on the field. So there has to be some issue there.
Bear in mind, I had this same conversation with Duluth yesterday and I wanted to give Moulds a 60min start. Parsons taking the ball up is about as effective as a jellybean Owen Franks hitup.
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My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons ,I have also heard much of the reasoning behind Parsons being held onto is in and around his work ethic to training and attention to detail things..he also ticks a lot of boxes in and around playing stats.
I suppose it’s hard to argue with when your picking through a players playing details.My only real issue is,whilst he has great work ethic on and off the paddock..does he really have X Factor..?,I often see him running in Channel 1 and getting rag dolled which in effect creates slow ball because he does not get over advantage line..and to be honest,if you asked ourself this question,is he in the top 5 hookers in this comp..?,probably not..!.
I am hearing that Matt Moulds out of frustration is looking for an overseas contract at the end of this super rugby season.
Personally I would make an offer to Asafo Amua from the Hurricanes as an understudy who at least has X Factor..I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Is this telling us something..?,one thing I will give SBW ,whenever he is not involved in the playing 23,he’s one of the most supportive players in the squad. -
@Steven-Harris SBW cops an awful lot of shit (on and off the field) most of it unwarranted.
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Yikes, that could be worrying. Offering Amua a big contract to come and start would be the ticket, IMO. If I were the blues, I'd also be chasing Ennor like mad too (and I hope that Cooper, the fuck knuckle, is reading this post).
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I don't have an issue with Parson being one of 3 hookers. He should be drifting out of the starting lineup though
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
I have also heard Ma Nonu apperars to be settling into some bad habits,pissed off that he was dropped after the Jaguaries game..the former All Black sat on his own in a corner stewing on his phone during the Blues v Sunwolves game as opposed to joining the non playing group who either joined the Coaches in the box or sat with the rest of reserves..
Hopefully they take a hard line with him. If he is introducing negativity like that I would rather he was paid to sit at home and not be involved with the squad at all. Negativity is contagious.
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@Duluth no issues with what you are saying,as long as we can have 3 hookers that can apply some genuine pressure on each other..
