Blues 2020

Bovidae

What's the criteria for selection? Do you need to play for the Blues and province in the same season?

Duluth

Apart from Robinson there's not much to complain about again

Here's all the NH Blues players:
https://blues.rugby/player-history/?union=28&position=0&selected_season=

taniwharugby

I didnt realise Walter played for the Blues and Frank didnt, thought they were always a combo...

Haha, Ranger never actually played for NH, just took thier money

Bovidae

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2020:

I didnt realise Walter played for the Blues and Frank didnt, thought they were always a combo...

For the Chiefs.

My question above about selection criteria was related to Lomu who played for the Blues and NH, but not in the same season.

taniwharugby

@Bovidae yeah I didnt recall that Walter played for the BLues, but thought if he did, Bunce would have too...

Nepia

@taniwharugby IIRC Bunce had been retired (maybe playing overseas) for a while before Little played for the Blues in maybe 2000?

Bovidae

@taniwharugby It was Little's last year playing in 2000, and only 5 games.

Looking at the full list of NH Blues players I think you could make a good case for McFarland at hooker.

Dice

The Auckland team has been named. Very close to being the overall All Time Blues XV.

nzzp

@Dice almost exactly what I voted for. But Kev instead of Sean? Really?

Delighted to see slammin' sammy at 12 ...

Dice

@nzzp said in Blues 2020:

@Dice almost exactly what I voted for. But Kev instead of Sean? Really?

Delighted to see slammin' sammy at 12 ...

I'm hoping Sammy gets the 12 spot in the fan voted All Time Blues XV, but SBW got quite a lot of votes too. Just wouldn't look right with SBW in there.

Tim

@Dice SBW was hardly available for the Blues. Be a shocker if he got in ahead of Tuitupou or Stensness.

shark

I'd pick Fitzy and Stensness. You could almost make a better case for Kees Meeuws for Olo Brown than Mealamu for Fitzy.

Duluth

@Tim said in Blues 2020:

@Dice SBW was hardly available for the Blues. Be a shocker if he got in ahead of Tuitupou or Stensness.

Tuitupou is close but misses out to Stensness in my team. That combination with Clarke was so well balanced

Bovidae

How close is Cashmore to Mils in fan voting? Recency bias will likely play a part but Cashmore was very good in that era.

nzzp

@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:

How close is Cashmore to Mils in fan voting? Recency bias will likely play a part but Cashmore was very good in that era.

I was a massive Cashmore fan, but my mates who were Blues fans at the time just didn't rate him for some reason.

Mils is still one of the silkiest fullbacks I've seen (obviously, excepting Cullen). Positioning, timing, instinct, skills - all top drawer.

Bovidae

@nzzp Mils would make an all-time Chiefs XV too, so no disagreement from me.

The mention of Stensness made me think of Cashmore, as they were both under-appreciated in that 1996-98 Blues team.

Steven Harris

I had this question asked of me..Would the Blues have won their titles without Jonah & Joeli in 1996/1997 and Rupeni in 2003...?.
These guys were seriously influential in those years ., I phoned a friend, he thought maybe 1 out of 3 ,and now I have decided to go to the audience...?.
This is just
(1.)Yes
(2.)No
(3.)Maybe 1 out 3

(4.)Maybe 2 out 3

Duluth

@Steven-Harris

I think they would've won.

The knock out games weren't that close in 96 & 97 and I doubt it would've been enough of an impact in the regular season to miss the playoffs

2003 probably. Rupeni was amazing but the final was won without him

Bovidae

The Reds were the top qualifier in 1996 and had put 50 pts on the Blues at Ballymore.

I can't remember who the other wingers were. Sotutu?

Duluth

@Bovidae

and Kerr. Lima missed selection in 96 but would be in if you take out two other wingers..

The Silver Fern

Blues 2020