Stormers vs Blues
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Relatively fair write up, the big factor I think was the heat and the fitness of the Stormers. Just like last year when they faked a series of injuries to get stoppages, they struggled when the pace of the game increased.
The consistent pressure from our pack just made that worse. Whenever they tried to hit it up they were gang tackled backwards. The work ethic was huge.
Can single out Robinson as a good example of that, being a pest in the last minute of the game with the result safe. Just never stopped coming.
One thing I’d add in Riekos favour is he was skipped a lot. The Blues were using him as a decoy and he attracted multiple defenders. Happened about three times and we got the ball out to an in marked player each time.
I think he’s great on attack, his passing was very good and he draws well and has a great work rate, and his stats show how effective he was. Making those metres at centre without a huge break shows that.
Defensively, clearly needs work.
And I saw a comment about his pace above. His calf problems are behind him now, he showed in the first game that’s he back to full speed.
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@Stargazer, thanks for write up. On reflection, I agree Stormers were very disappointing. One player who was symbolic for me was PSDT, World POF, who seemed pretty anonymous, despite the peroxide.
Blues did Stormers over at breakdown, which pointed to difference Papali'i made -- but were the Stormers just poor?
Rieko was well controlled by them. Not much X factor.
Karl T seemed to have edge when Stromers pushed straight. Louw sevral times was allowed to bore in on Eklund. The one time Karl T countered by lifting HE was pinged.
I thought Jaco had a good match, which is not something I say often about Saffar refs.
All said and done, the tour has forged something at the Blues, and long may it continue.
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Great coaching 😉
Balance of the side almost right. Agree with @KiwiMurph that the 9,10,15 combo looked the best of all the different ones that have played this season.
Ioane looks very short of a gallop.
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@Hooroo said in Stormers vs Blues:
Just seen on Facebook
5 weeks in and the circle has been completed.
The blues beat the stormers who beat the hurricanes who beat the sharks who beat the highlanders who beat the brumbies who beat the chiefs who beat the crusaders who beat the blues....
It's almost like this a close competition or something
Hopefully the neagtive commentators will appreciate the comp instead of complaining all the time. -
@Kirwan said in Stormers vs Blues:
@Hooroo said in Stormers vs Blues:
Just seen on Facebook
5 weeks in and the circle has been completed.
The blues beat the stormers who beat the hurricanes who beat the sharks who beat the highlanders who beat the brumbies who beat the chiefs who beat the crusaders who beat the blues....
It's almost like this a close competition or something
Hopefully the neagtive commentators will appreciate the comp instead of complaining all the time.Surprisingly close. Blues have finally turned a corner and it looks as though the Crusaders are coming back to the pack. Chiefs and Canes still doing what they do without looking amazing and then there is the Highlanders.
Only three really ropey teams in the comp. Highlanders, Sunwolves and Bulls
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@Dice said in Stormers vs Blues:
Crazy how much better we've become at defending the maul this season. It use to be automatic 5 pointers or penalties for opposition teams when they would go for a lineout drive inside our 22.
Zero tries from a maul through the first 5 games.
And defended multiple against SA sides. Hats off to the forward coach, and overall selection.
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@Kirwan said in Stormers vs Blues:
@Dice said in Stormers vs Blues:
Crazy how much better we've become at defending the maul this season. It use to be automatic 5 pointers or penalties for opposition teams when they would go for a lineout drive inside our 22.
Zero tries from a maul through the first 5 games.
And defended multiple against SA sides. Hats off to the forward coach, and overall selection.
Kudos to Coventry. I thought he had maybe lost his touch after last season, but the pack has mostly looked good this season. Getting the maul defense fixed is a minor miracle.
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@Tim After all those years of bad injuries stopping his progress its good to see Ekland getting his chance at 27 years old. Throwing has always his work on but training full time must be helping. Young Tolai also impressed me with his energy and work rate when he came on, and he is a big unit for a Hooker at 119kgs.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah, I thought Tolai had a good NPC and was unlucky not to get a contract.
