Blues 2019
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@muddyriver said in Blues 2019:
There was still room if they signed a genuine centre instead of a prop in Levi aumua. That must have been Leon's work
Aumua was the worst player on the field in the first Dev game this year.
It would have been fine if they signed Manu at the end of last season. He played well for the Blues Dev side, looked comfortable at the top level playing slightly out of position.
They kept spots open in the backs and who were the last two signed? Aumua and Trainor. Manu was a far better option.. he should have been secured before the NPC started and other teams got interested
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@Steven-Harris Moulds deserved more time on field. Lineout throwing his Achilles heel early on but that is substantially better now (but it sticks) so to see him warming the bench for 70 to 80 mins per game says something the Blues setup and the rotation of Harbour Coaches through the Blues setup. They kept signing Moulds, he their no 2 hooker and when he plays he is actually quite good. The Crusaders are constantly rotating players but Parsons (who is hardly athlete) gets more time on the field than Codie Taylor.
What’s the word on Jordan Olsen? He has been great for Northland - does he have the size and power for Super 15?
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@kev he is listed as 1.8m and 103kg, up close is a pretty solid unit, not as big as Moulds (6ft 2/1.88) but then Taylor & Coles are only 1.83/106 and 1.84/108kg...so if Olsen was training full time I expect he would get up there (obviously unlikely to grow taller...) but seems a very strong runner (he made alot of ground last year) with solid defence.
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Olsen and Kurt Ecklund were both excellent for the Blues in the Brisbane 10's last season but have yet to be chosen for development team this year. Ecklund has not even appeared in club rugby yet so must still be injured or has moved on? This year the Development team has used Loteru Latu and Mike Sosene Feagai.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Eklund seems to be living in Waihi.
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2019:
And I’ll bite on the journeyman dig, TJ was instrumental in winning us the first title in years. Fully earned his starting spot, and unlike the 12s in the squad his form is recent, not six years ago.
Faiane is not the journeyman. Absolutely rate him and would have selected him and go along with KiwiMurph's assessment.
If you aren't picking Nonu who is this specialist 13 that would have taken his squad position? There is an apparent above average Super Rugby level player or promising young guy who was available last year that I can think they overlook. All that was left were journeymen who happened to wear 13 a little more recently than Nonu while he was having a world class career in 12.
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Unless he requests a release, according to the list on taniwha.co.nz Moulds is signed for this season.
Campbell Matthews was on the bench a few times last year, but got buggar all time, so unless another hooker appears on the horizon, I'd say we will run with those 3 again.
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Looks like Rieko won't be resting this week.
I think Rieko will get one of his rests against the Brumbies, then the other against either the Reds or Bulls.
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@taniwharugby
Greg PT is back to playing post surgery recovery, so maybe he’s looking for a spot somewhere.
Then again Olsen played really well when Moulds was injured so I’d be happy seeing him get the start and even captaincy, if required. But....... is he going to WC with Canada? -
@Northlandallday had heard Canada had thier eye on a couple of Taniwha!
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@Steven-Harris if Blues are talking to Abel, then they’ve been turned down by their other options.
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@Northlandallday
Man you really don't rate him, eh. -
@Northlandallday So who are they chasing?
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@Northlandallday Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019:
Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
That’s his 5th NPC side
BOP, NH, Auckland, Canterbury & Southland
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@Duluth said in Blues 2019:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019:
Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.
That’s his 5th NPC side
BOP, NH, Auckland, Canterbury & Southland
Is he just searching for quality playing time?
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Not so sure that I agree that getting rid of Tuipolotu is a good idea. But, the rest of the argument is interesting - given that it basically revolves around getting rid of Parsons
Analysis: Leon MacDonald's new system at the Blues may require new parts to reach optimalisation
The team has improved to become competitive in the New Zealand conference but in order to lead the team back to the promised land, they have to find a level of accuracy that makes this current level of play unacceptable.
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Rieko running hot for Blues
