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Blues 2020

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  • nzzpN Offline
    nzzpN Offline
    nzzp
    replied to Duluth on last edited by
    #968

    @Duluth said in Blues 2020:

    @nzzp said in Blues 2020:

    Defence still needs work in all three facets - reading, positioning, and tackling.

    He needs time in the position to get his defence right. The biggest weakness is his lateral movement... that turns small errors into gaping holes

    In the last couple of games his ruck work really improved too

    Re-reading what I posted, it's a bit harsh. I meant it needs work to to 'elite' level; it's OK at the moment, but could be better.

    His attack, OTOH, is damn fine.

    DuluthD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    replied to nzzp on last edited by Duluth
    #969

    @nzzp

    I don't think his defence is good enough at the moment.

    Individually it's offset by his attack. Across the whole team it's not a huge issue because the scrambling defence has been covering it

    He'll improve with game time and it'll be worth it

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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    wrote on last edited by Duluth
    #970

    Looking at the tackling stats on the fox website (it's the easiest source to sort on..) Rieko has made 16 and missed 7

    Of the Blues players who have played at least two games there's only three defenders that have a worse tackle efficiency:

    Black & Perofeta. Neither of those is that much of a surprise.

    The third was Marchant.

    So I that's another reason Rieko will stay at 13 for the Blues.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    wrote on last edited by
    #971

    Either way, Rieko seems to have his confidence back which is a big positive for the ABs because I'd much rather have him in the 11 jersey.

    KirwanK NepiaN 2 Replies Last reply
    2
  • KirwanK Offline
    KirwanK Offline
    Kirwan
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #972

    @Bovidae said in Blues 2020:

    Either way, Rieko seems to have his confidence back which is a big positive for the ABs because I'd much rather have him in the 11 jersey.

    Not having a calf injury helps with that, which was the problem last year.

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  • NepiaN Online
    NepiaN Online
    Nepia
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #973

    @Bovidae said in Blues 2020:

    Either way, Rieko seems to have his confidence back which is a big positive for the ABs because I'd much rather have him in the 11 jersey.

    In Super last year, he outran Bridge, out trys-d Bridge and out beat defenders over Bridge when his "confidence" was down. I still claim it was a silly knee jerk decision after Perth to dump him, which would have been the worst silly knee jerk decision if not for the Barrett over Cane loose forward clusterfuck.

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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    wrote on last edited by
    #974

    I actually think defensively Rieko did a very good job vs Canes in Welly (up against Aso) and against Lions at Eden Park.

    After he had a week to settle in (v Stormers) his defence was really good.

    He has the chance to develop into a world class centre.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BonesB Offline
    BonesB Offline
    Bones
    replied to nzzp on last edited by
    #975

    @nzzp hah...umm Conrad couldn't tackle about as much as Wilkinson couldn't kick goals...

    nzzpN NepiaN 2 Replies Last reply
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  • nzzpN Offline
    nzzpN Offline
    nzzp
    replied to Bones on last edited by
    #976

    @Bones said in Blues 2020:

    @nzzp hah...umm Conrad couldn't tackle about as much as Wilkinson couldn't kick goals...

    Conrad was a good tackler, not a great tackler.

    Jerome and Jerry and peak Read were great tacklers.

    BonesB Canes4lifeC 2 Replies Last reply
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  • NepiaN Online
    NepiaN Online
    Nepia
    replied to Bones on last edited by
    #977

    @Bones said in Blues 2020:

    @nzzp hah...umm Conrad couldn't tackle about as much as Wilkinson couldn't kick goals...

    He also wasn't really skinny either after 2004.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BonesB Offline
    BonesB Offline
    Bones
    replied to nzzp on last edited by Bones
    #978

    @nzzp yeah...nah. Agree to disagree! I don't think you need to be able to hit hard to be a great tackler...not that Smith didn't hit hard anyway.

    Edit: replace "hard" with "huge".

    (That's what she said)

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4life
    replied to nzzp on last edited by Canes4life
    #979

    @nzzp said in Blues 2020:

    Conrad was a good tackler, not a great tackler.

    You don't play 94 tests and win two World Cups without being a defensive master. Conrad Smith was a great tackler, arguably one of the greatest. Instead of braun, he used his brain, though the below vid shows his ability to mix it with the big boys aswell.

    ToddyT KirwanK 2 Replies Last reply
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  • ToddyT Offline
    ToddyT Offline
    Toddy
    replied to Canes4life on last edited by
    #980

    @Canes4life shoulder contact with the head and no mitigating factors - red card

    1 Reply Last reply
    4
  • KirwanK Offline
    KirwanK Offline
    Kirwan
    replied to Canes4life on last edited by
    #981

    @Canes4life said in Blues 2020:

    @nzzp said in Blues 2020:

    Conrad was a good tackler, not a great tackler.

    You don't play 94 tests and win two World Cups without being a defensive master. Conrad Smith was a great tackler, arguably one of the greatest. Instead of braun, he used his brain, though the below vid shows his ability to mix it with the big boys aswell.

    Not the last few years of his career, he started falling off tackles. There was a reason he got dragged at half time in the final.

    Canes4lifeC 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #982

    Ranger's hospo pass deserves a red card.

    Mind you this one to Cruden (first touch in Super Rugby) from Weepu in the same game deserves a 3 match suspension.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4life
    replied to Kirwan on last edited by Canes4life
    #983

    @Kirwan I think the reason was SBW's attacking flare, not Conrad's tackling technique. In fact I call BS on that, he was sublime for the Canes in 2015 and I remember a hit he made in the first few mins of the World Cup final against Aus that helped set the tone for a dominant performance, along with the likes of McCaw, Read etc.

    Edit: see around the 18.04 mark on the vid below: a classic hit on old mate Hooper.

    antipodeanA 1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • antipodeanA Offline
    antipodeanA Offline
    antipodean
    replied to Canes4life on last edited by
    #984

    @Canes4life That video - I'm still astounded Kepu wasn't sent from the field in that match and yet Ben Smith got the softest YC in history. Not Owen's best game with the whistle.

    1 Reply Last reply
    2
  • DiceD Offline
    DiceD Offline
    Dice
    wrote on last edited by
    #985

    Hoskins Sotutu's small change that may have paved the way for a future with the All Blacks

    Hoskins Sotutu's small change that may have paved the way for a future with the All Blacks

    Hoskins Sotutu could have been another immensely innately talented rugby player who shone like a star then fizzled out as soon as he hit the big leagues but, if his 2020 form is anything to go by, that won't be the case.

    “The Blues are my team, the team I care about – and I feel like I was only going to play the best rugby for a team that I care about,” Sotutu said.
    “As long as the Blues are keen to keep me, I’m keen to stay.”

    👍 I hope we've already locked him up long term.

    Canes4lifeC 1 Reply Last reply
    5
  • Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4life
    replied to Dice on last edited by Canes4life
    #986

    @Dice I guess the question is will Akira stay if they sign Sotutu on a long term contract?

    KiwiMurphK KirwanK 2 Replies Last reply
    0
  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    replied to Canes4life on last edited by
    #987

    @Canes4life keep your Canes mitts off

    Canes4lifeC 1 Reply Last reply
    0

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