Blues 2020
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@Nepia They must see him as a 7. Once Gibson breaks down in the second game he will be the only one standing. They will need good cover in the wtg. I hope they don't intend to use Papalii there too often. 7 is his 3rd best position imo. I don't understand how Matt Matich keeps getting overlooked. He seems to play his heart out every game and covers all 3 loosie positions capably. Maybe that's his problem, he needs to specialise. With Choat going away i would have jumped on young McDowell who impressed me for Otago this season.
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Pleased to see some fresh blood at hooker
On one hand there seem to be quite a few journeyman in the squad.
On the other hand a lot of these players seem to be hard workers who performed at Mitre 10 Cup level. Less flash but more glue which isn't all bad.
Halfback looks to be a serious issue still and agreed that 7 looks thin.
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@rotated Tend to disagree about the midfield. Last season SBW hardly played and we ran Nonu and Faiane (out of position at 13) into the ground due to using Tele'a on the wing and not trusting Aumua (rightly so, basically a prop in the 13 jersey and the worst defender at centre I've seen in a long time). Hopefully we can use TJ in his best position this season. The potential issue is they have picked one less midfielder so may use Plummer at 12 if TJ needs rest or is injured. He has the game to play there. Marchant is a class player and has a kicking game so may be able to play 12 but i've not seen him there. Him and Ioane in the centres together could be exciting, especially if they get to run outside Barrett. As for the rest of the squad -
The new hookers are more dynamic than Apisai and Moulds.
Props are the same as last season. Would like to have seen Jarrod Adams in the mix, hopefully in the wtg.
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
Loosies largely the same . Riedlinger-Kapa and Lamborn must be more use than the two food bills they replaced who never played at all last season (Tupou and Brown) They will need openside cover in the wtg though.
Christie had a good npc in a dominant Ta$man team, still must be an upgrade on the erratic Pulu.
Nanai and Clarke are losses but Narawa and Telea bring pace and promise, just lack experience.
After Trainor, who did not play, and the much loved on here Collins (who I see is named in the midfield for the Highlanders where he always belonged so will probably thrive there) Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Here ends my sermon of optimism from a slow night shift. No doubt it will be destroyed by about round 3 - amen. -
@Daffy-Jaffy hopefully Christie has a second wind for you guys he was absolutely rubbish for the Canes last year seemed very off the pace
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
I think Tucker basically replaces Tupou as the loose forward who can play lock
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@rotated re: the midfield - Coach Leon confirmed this morning on Radio sport that once they knew SBW was leaving the plan B was to use Plummer to cover 12 as there were no suitable midfielders available. They then chose to bring in the promising young 10/15 Jack Heighton to learn and develop from being around Barrett etc. He also said that Marchant covers centre wing and fullback. So its good to have another fullback option.
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Better Blues squad than previous years. With a bit of luck, they might finish 4th in the NZ conference.........
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Maybe Narawa as well? He looks like an extremely good winger but he did finish the BOP season as a fullback
There's a lot of 10's (even allowing for Barrett's late return) so they must be covering other positions.
I see Heighton is called a "early season replacement player" on the Blues website. Does anyone know who is injured?
I'm guessing Perofeta, because it's always Perofeta -
@Duluth Maybe he was originally covering Barrett's early absence until the SBW thing happened then they made him full-time.
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@Daffy-Jaffy That makes sense.. the profiles were probably done prior tot he SBW deal
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Forwards look similar to last year with some better depth. The two biggest questions IMO are who starts at hooker and who partners Tuipulotu?
I would have Eklund start at Hooker. A good solid hard worker. Niuia is perfect for an impact role off the bench.
Hopefully Parsons drops back into a mentor/injury cover role.I would give Pierce the first opportunity in the second row after a strong NPC. His stats seem incorrect the Blues website, Harbour lists him as 2.02 and 112kg which seems about right.
He's already more abrasive than GCT and Goodhue even though he's still adding muscle to his frame -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@rotated re: the midfield - Coach Leon confirmed this morning on Radio sport that once they knew SBW was leaving the plan B was to use Plummer to cover 12 as there were no suitable midfielders available.
When was that? Leon was flagging SBW was gone as early as June, and anyone with foresight would have seen that he was moving on before the season started. Even if he re-signed how could any faith be put in his fitness?
Speaking of Rangi I did enjoy him on the Breakdown trying to play off the Barrett signing as though the move was at least in part because he was so impressed with playing the Blues last season.
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I'd assume that if he's living in Remuera then it'll be College Rifles not that it matters haha.
