Blues 2019

[Tim]

@Daffy-Jaffy Eklund seems to be living in Waihi.

[rotated]

@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.

[Duluth]

@kev

Olsen wouldn't be out of place in a SR squad. The problem for him is if Moulds sticks around for another NPC, or Northland signs another hooker, how can he force his way in? He really needs a full season as a starter to demand selection

[taniwharugby]

@Duluth

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.

[Dice]

Looks like Rieko won't be resting this week.

Apr 16, 2019  /  Sport

Rieko running hot for Blues

Forget breaks. All Blacks wing Rieko Ioane prefers the gas anyway.

I think Rieko will get one of his rests against the Brumbies, then the other against either the Reds or Bulls.

[Northlandallday]

@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?

[taniwharugby]

@Northlandallday had heard Canada had thier eye on a couple of Taniwha!

[Northlandallday]

@Steven-Harris if Blues are talking to Abel, then they’ve been turned down by their other options.

[Tim]

@Northlandallday Man you really don't rate him, eh.

[Northlandallday]

@Tim Abel’s good, it’s just not who I believe they were chasing.

[African Monkey]

@Northlandallday So who are they chasing?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Northlandallday Pleasants-Tate has just been named in the Southland Stags training squad.

[Duluth]

@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

[antipodean]

@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?

[gt12]

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.

[Tim]

@gt12 May also need to realign tactics to make better use of a big, ball carrying pack.

Would be interesting to see the difference that the high workrate of Scrafton makes. Also, playing combinations of Hodgman/OfaT and KarlT/Renata.

[gt12]

@Tim Yep, essentially just saying that bringing in some structure (i.e., a bit of fucking coaching) can get them part way there. That's an improvement, but Panadol will also have to work out how to use some of the new pieces he has here, or he's no better than Hammett.

[Tim]

@gt12 Yep, especially when you consider that Auckland's forward pack (led by a huge game from Tuipulotu) really dominated Ta$man's last year, playing against that structure.

[Tim]

@Tim I should add that the Auckland coaches also nailed the crucial "teach these fucking idiots how to set up options for exits" role too ...

[African Monkey]

@gt12 I agree with everything he said tbh. @Tim makes a good point though. Should we be playing with that structure if we don't have the right players to play with it? I do look forward to seeing MacDonald's recruitment in the off season as he virtually gets a free pass this year.