Blues v Chiefs
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So after reading the comments:
(1) Laulala and Ta’avao looked seriously underdone, and Angus seemed to be carrying his leg injury into the game. Well done to the Blues scrum but I expect the Chiefs won't be playing Brown much as a TH lock as he depowered the scrum. Ross did very well to play the full 80 mins, and Moli fitted in at TH in the 2nd half. Getting Allardice back will help, as well as playing a more balanced loose forward trio.
(2) 32-10 in the 2nd half tells the story. The Chiefs could bring some class and experience on to finish the game and that was the big difference. I was surprised it was Nankivell that was replaced but he didn't display his Ta$man form out there.
(3) I thought TTT wasn't great in the 1st half, throwing some high passes to Trask, but he was much better in the 2nd half. Weber should be the starter though.
(4) I have always rated Boshier and he showed his value in this game. He can get on the wrong side of the ref at the breakdown at times but is so good over the ball. It might be better to play him and Cane as flankers with Sowakula at no.8 next week. And Jacobson to return...
If I was a Blues fan I wouldn't be too despondent. They looked very good in the 1st half, got much quicker ruck ball and were more aggressive on defence. The key is to maintain that energy and performance for the full 80 mins.
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@Toddy said in Blues v Chiefs:
A fit Akira would've been pretty handy in that last 30-40 minutes.
Particularly as Gibson was completely anonymous when he came on, unlike the Chiefs flanker on debut.
Considering that Akira wasn’t even training with the team and in his blazer, and on the back of the tired athlete comments last year, isn’t it likely he’s in the extra group of 9 being rested?
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@Machpants said in Blues v Chiefs:
So who was picking the chiefs for champs...?
Not that the first games means that much, but they've got a fair bit of work to do
I am. Still pretty big on them even after that performance.
First run through thread now since Friday. Attended the game and was quite happy with some of our (Blues) game play but once again let down but shit halves (as expected though). Kick our goals and that game could have been a win.
Overall pleasing in parts but also a lot of the same old....
Oh yeah my eye fillet was overcooked BUT the beer was cold!
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@JK yeah the Blues found ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - at least they fired a shot unlike my Canes!
I don;t thinkk they're the real deal compared to the Dockers tho, their forward pack will really have to step up from that performance. Whereas the saders were same old same old, plus rust.
Overall NZ forwards all need to stand up, compared to what SA are offering!
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@Machpants I think what’s been lost on a few people , by the time the 2nd half rolled around , you ended up with 2 very young props 22 year old Pouri Rakete Stones who was on debut and 21 year old Tevita Mafilieo who up until 8 x days previous was in the Blues Wider Training squad , and it was real help when Fafita spent 10 in the bin...not..!to me the tactic of running into brick defence in channel one is madness especially against a pack that had 5 springboks in their starting lineup ..
That’s why my biggest disappointment was with the senior players,TJ, Barrett and Laumape and contrary to a few people saying Evans had a good game, I actually thought he was quiet , in fact what got shown up was his size when it comes to the physical stakes.. but you know what, that’s where leadership comes into play, move your better runners a bit wider, personally I would have played more of a kicking game , that brings your fetchers into the game when the opposing team has to bring ball back ..
Would have better to have have moved those bigger Stormers around..Bring your line speed into play ..I actually thought and I have several people confirm this with me the Kirifi was the Canes best player and that was by a country mile ..
Bit early to be putting the boot in..I am more pissed of with the Blues performance...your winning the set piece battle at scrumtime, they physical stakes at breakdown and your leading 19-5 at halftime, to me ones a little easier to explain .. -
@Steven-Harris said in Blues v Chiefs:
@Machpants I think what’s been lost on a few people , by the time the 2nd half rolled around , you ended up with 2 very young props 22 year old Pouri Rakete Stones who was on debut and 21 year old Tevita Mafilieo who up until 8 x days previous was in the Blues Wider Training squad , and it was real help when Fafita spent 10 in the bin...not..!to me the tactic of running into brick defence in channel one is madness especially against a pack that had 5 springboks in their starting lineup ..
That’s why my biggest disappointment was with the senior players,TJ, Barrett and Laumape and contrary to a few people saying Evans had a good game, I actually thought he was quiet , in fact what got shown up was his size when it comes to the physical stakes.. but you know what, that’s where leadership comes into play, move your better runners a bit wider, personally I would have played more of a kicking game , that brings your fetchers into the game when the opposing team has to bring ball back ..
Would have better to have have moved those bigger Stormers around..Bring your line speed into play ..I actually thought and I have several people confirm this with me the Kirifi was the Canes best player and that was by a country mile ..
Bit early to be putting the boot in..I am more pissed of with the Blues performance...your winning the set piece battle at scrumtime, they physical stakes at breakdown and your leading 19-5 at halftime, to me ones a little easier to explain ..OK Sure. Slightly off topic, but it's still rugby I guess
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Fear not. All is not lost Blues fans. Thought they performed well, just need to be more clinical in the red zone - oh and find a decent kicker,
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@Jailbreak7 said in Blues v Chiefs:
Fear not. All is not lost Blues fans. Thought they performed well, just need to be more clinical in the red zone - oh and find a decent kicker,
So the same issues as last year then?
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:
@Jailbreak7 said in Blues v Chiefs:
Fear not. All is not lost Blues fans. Thought they performed well, just need to be more clinical in the red zone - oh and find a decent kicker,
So the same issues as last
yeardecade then? -
If all healthy, this is the team I'm hoping to see this week.
- Alex Hodgman
- Ray Niuia
- Sione Mafileo
- Patrick Tuipulotu
- Tom Robinson
- Dalton Papali'i
- Tony Lambourn
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Sam Nock
- Harry Plummer
- Rieko Ioane
- TJ Faiane
- Joe Marchant
- Mark Telea
- Emoni Narawa
- Kurt Eklund
- Ofa Tu'ungafasi
- Karl Tuinukuafe
- James Tucker
- Akira Ioane
- Finlay Christie
- Stephen Perofeta
- Tanielu Telea
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@cgrant said in Blues v Chiefs:
They need to start with Nock at halfback, Plummer at first five and Perofeta at fullback. It isn't an outstanding combination but less disastrous than what has been shown last Friday.
I don't think Perofeta's basics are good enough to be a starter. I'm thinking we try him as an impact player off the bench and see if he has the same success Ihaia West had for us in that role.
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@cgrant said in Blues v Chiefs:
Goodhue was not too bad when he came in. I'd try this backrow combination : Robinson - Papali'i - Sotutu, as Lamborn's workrate looked rather low and Gibson was anonymous.
Goodhue was super average. Main memory of his play was missing that kickoff like a goober.
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@cgrant said in Blues v Chiefs:
Robinson - Papali'i - Sotutu, as Lamborn's workrate looked rather low and Gibson was anonymous.
I like Robinson at lock. At least for the first part of the season when the games will be at their quickest
I'd go for Papali'i/Akira/Sotutu.
I prefer not to play Papali'i at openside but he's the best option. Akira and Sotutu are both natural 8's but I want them both on the field.
Lamborn and Pierce on the bench. Goodhue has a good workrate but is not physical enough. I think the injuries have taken a toll on Gibson, he's way down on his form from 2-3 year ago.
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@Duluth said in Blues v Chiefs:
Goodhue has a good workrate but is not physical enough
I wonder if he is gunshy...has had a number of head knocks over a couple of seasons, he just isnt confident going hard, which brings into question his ability to foot it at this level if he cant use his size.
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Maybe. I think there was shoulder injuries too?
One of the turning points of that match was Tuipulotu getting subbed followed by a minor injury to Robinson.
Tuipulotu/Robinson smashing into things vs Goodhue and a compromised Robinson was a big step down
