Blues 2016 squad

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="535615" data-time="1446000348">
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It is my understanding that aside from those players who are committed to 7s right the way through (SBW and Messam), the others that were named in that squad that are Super Rugby related will be playing 4 tournaments in the World Sevens Series but will still be eligible for rounds 1 to 10 of Super Rugby. Replacement players will then be brought in to cover these players (e.g. Ioanes and Ben Lam if he makes it).
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The story I heard was that all of the initial "Tier 1" Sevens squad will miss most of the season, while the "Tier 2" players (which includes Pulu) will be available for half the season.
 
Who knows though. A couple of months ago it was reported that Titch could only have 2 players per Super squad but that's obviously not true, so either things changed or the media might just be guessing (maybe even both).

African Monkey

1. Ofa T
2. Parsons
3. Faumuina
4. Tuipulotu
5. Luatua
6. Kaino
7. Gibson
8. Ioane
 
9. Hall
10. West
11. Lam
12. Moala
13. Ranger
14. Nanai
15. Visinia
 
Could be another hard season coming up.

Tim

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="535655" data-time="1446005307">
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1. Ofa T
2. Parsons
3. Faumuina
4. Tuipulotu
5. Luatua
6. Kaino
7. Gibson
8. Ioane
 
9. Hall
10. West
11. Lam
12. Moala
13. Ranger
14. Nanai
15. Visinia
 
Could be another hard season coming up.
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Man that would be a mediocre lineout. The opposition would be able to rely on perfect set-piece ball with Luatua and Tuipulotu jumping against them.

Tim

Anyway, if 2016 had the same format as 2015, then I would expect use to finish between 8th and 11th.

Sambo

yeah not an inspiring squad at all hey maybe that will mean we may win a fair few for a change....

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="535657" data-time="1446005499">
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Anyway, if 2016 had the same format as 2015, then I would expect use to finish between 8th and 11th.
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An improvement on 14th of 15.

Tim

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sambo" data-cid="535658" data-time="1446005514">
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yeah not an inspiring squad at all hey maybe that will mean we may win a fair few for a change....
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Yeah, all the NZ squads are stronger, and you'd expect the Brumbies, Waratahs, and one or two SA teams to finish higher than them.

KiwiMurph

I notice that Matenga and Tuoti-Mariner were 4th and 6th respectively in ITM Cup lineout takes. Could be handy.

Tim

KiwiMurph

Quite a good article on stuff about the team too.
 
It seems to confirm my thoughts on the Round 1 to 10 availability for the 7s guys.
 
If Ranger is eased into things early it will be interesting to see what they do with the midfield early on - Moala is much better at 12 than 13, Faiane and Little I have seen play at 12 but not so much 13 whereas Rieko is just a baby.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/73435304/Blues-taking-no-risks-with-Rene-Rangers-Super-Rugby-return-as-recovery-from-neck-surgery-continues'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/73435304/Blues-taking-no-risks-with-Rene-Rangers-Super-Rugby-return-as-recovery-from-neck-surgery-continues</a>

nzzp

I feel like I've got some sort of battered rugby fan syndrome. I'm starting to hope again. Amazing how a bit of time away can muck with your head. The blues keep on smashing me down, and I keep on buying season passes. 
 
FML.
 
 
 
ps: Tana for coach of the year :D

KiwiMurph

It depends what your expectation level is - if you believe the Blues will be a playoff team and anything less than that is abject failure then you are in for more hard times.
 
However if you recognise this season is a rebuilding one - despite the fact the results may not be perfect - I think we can expect to see a more committed, organised team that should be more competitive and therefore much more enjoyable to watch than the 2015 team.

African Monkey

We might actually win some turnover ball this season with Ranger there, something that was severely lacking last season.
 
It's gonna be a tough season but good to see a few youngsters in there. Can't say I've followed Namatahi Waa too much. Suprised to see him there. but good luck to him. Don't understand the Francis signing either. He'd be worse than our old mate Simon Hickey and that's saying something.

taniwharugby

Northland scrum was noticably better (not a huge achievement TBF) with Waa out there, but he struggled with fitness (both injury wise and his general fitness)

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="535699" data-time="1446012924">
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Northland scrum was noticably better (not a huge achievement TBF) with Waa out there, but he struggled with fitness (both injury wise and his general fitness) 
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Thanks for that. I'm guessing Mafileo and Prattley will be our bench props to start off with but I'm sure he'll get an opportunity sometime this year.

Daffy Jaffy

I think that maybe Tu'ungafasi will transition to Loosehead. More opportunity to start away from Charlie and I suspect he is better there anyway from the brief times I've seen him play No1. He is too tall at 1.95 for Tighthead. Otherwise they picked 4 tight heads and 2 loose which doesn't seem logical. Has anyone heard where Hames has gone?

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="535656" data-time="1446005394">
Man that would be a mediocre lineout. The opposition would be able to rely on perfect set-piece ball with Luatua and Tuipulotu jumping against them.</blockquote>
 
Just because Tuipulotu is a big, heavy lock, that doesn't mean he is a bad line out jumper. In fact, he had a pretty decent number of steals last season.

bobily

Actually that might have been last season. I remember I checked it then in response to people saying similar things.

cgrant

This is the weakest Blues squad ever. They will struggle to avoid the bottom place.

Dice

It's not the best team we could've put together, but regardless, I'm looking forward to the new season and the development of the team. I'm not asking for the world for this season, I just want us to show progress and to be watchable again.
 
Our defense was actually quite good for about 2/3 of last season. We were only leaking 2 tries a game up until round 11, then Kaino gets injured and our D went down the drain. We'll need him and a few others like Tuipulotu, Faumuina, Gibson and Akira to stay healthy for most of the season to keep our defense to a respectable level.
 
Our attack was non-existent last season, but I'm optimistic that it'll be a lot better this year under Feeney and Tana. We had a lot of close losses last season, but if we had a competent attack, I think we turn a few of those close losses into wins.

The Silver Fern

Blues 2016 squad