Blues 2019
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@African-Monkey Someone said on here that Scrafton wanted to move in search of more game time, rather than them choosing Pierce over him (they already had both in the squad). Coventry rarely played Pierce for Harbour prefering to use C-T or with young Danny Drake (who trained and played with the Blues preseason so must also be in the picture for next year, i'd forgotten about him). They inherited Pierce from Tana/Hanks so he may even be cut for Drake or another? Jamie Lane appears to have bulked up a lot this season and is looking more physical to me, admittedly only at club level so far. ( I follow Ponsonby).
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If true he could be another Fatialofa type that Auckland let get away - helped us win a Championship too
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@Canes4life
It’s true and he will be an absolute asset. -
@Daffy-Jaffy It was me and it came from a good mate of mine who is the manager for his club team who was talking to his grandad. Now that you put it that way it does sound a bit strange haha but he mentioned Jacob Pierce being given a contract/Scrafton being annoyed at a lack of game time so I might have to ask him again haha.
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@African-Monkey once again you have got to ask some serious questions, I mean to say we all saw a sample bite of how good Scrafton was last year..
Should have been locked in.
On an upside not I have been informed there is going to be a review shortly from the Blues in and around high performance and the high performance role...this is gonna be interesting..! -
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:
On an upside not I have been informed there is going to be a review shortly from the Blues in and around high performance and the high performance role...this is gonna be interesting..!
Hanks? Should have been gone years ago
Hopefully they look at Redman as well. The purge is only half done
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@Steven-Harris Yeah, he's a good player and if he hadn't been injured, he'd be one of the first picked every week. Great pickup from the Hurricanes.
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@cgrant all Plumtree needs to do is move Blackwell to six and we are sorted. He went well for the Lions there through the NPC so I don't know why Plum has this drive to turn Blackwell into a lock. With Mitchell, Leaupepe, Scrafton and the pending Walker-Leawere as options there is no need to look at Blackwell as a lock option.
Anyway it won't matter too much if they decide to re-sign the likes of May and Eves as our propping options.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019:
@Tim That would be nice but doubtful. Also maybe Whetton might be looking for more game time?
I could see Whetton coming back up. I'd be happy with him as a signing.
Another option is maybe playing Tom Robinson at lock at times next year, then just roll out Akira, Gibson and Papali'i in the backrow. That would get all our best talent on the field at once.
Even starting Robinson at 6, then letting him finish the last 20 or so minutes at lock should be seen as an option going forward. Surprised it hasn't been tried even once this year.
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@Dice given he has played the bulk of his M10 Cup rugby at lock (IIRC only very small minutes at 6) you'd have thought they would have seen him there (assume he was probably even signed as a lock who can play 6?) or at least an option there.
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The future All Blacks that could turn the inconsistent Blues from mediocre to genuine playoff contenders
If MacDonald is looking to make amends for in his bid to get the Blues back into the realm of Super Rugby title contenders, then these personnel changes within his squad could very well be the remedy he needs.
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Emoni Narawa starting interesting and is that asaeli tikoirotuma? The former chief?
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@KiwiMurph Is "S Vikena" Soane Vikena from last year's NZ Schools team?
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@Tim yes.
Good Tua finally having a run too, been missing in club footy.
Northland having a trial of sorts on Saturday so shame a few out in this fixture...although obviously good for them.
