Blues v Hurricanes

Duluth

I'm also still convinced that was a wee bit of a myth

It's a myth because no one talks about his calf injury. He missed Blues games because of it. He was meant to start a Bledisloe Cup Test but didn't pass a fitness test. During the RWC he couldn't do sprint training etc

nzzp

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Very happy with that Blues backline on paper.

I'm not taking anything for granted though. A long lay off, new rules, anything can happen.

Am I the only one in the country actually wanting Rieko to play on the wing?

Did you miss the last 2 Blues games? The Faiane-Rieko combo was brilliant.

I'm more thinking from an ABs point of view than you blokes.

As the months go by, and I've watched replays of matches, I'm more than ever convinced that the dropping of our wings after Perth was the start* of a reactionary mindset from our coaches that ultimately led to our defeat against England. * Probably not the start, but that was the first public manifestation of it.

Spot on. Perth (and Red ScoBa) seemed to trigger a tailspin that wound up with us dropping experience in favour of youth. The blend wasn't right, and I don't think we were well managed/coached as we went through the RWC.

Hooroo

@Duluth said in Blues v Hurricanes:

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15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Otere Black, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Reserves: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Matt Duffie

Players not considered with injury: Karl Tu’inukuafe (leg strain), Jack Heighton (quad), Jared Page (pec), Stephen Perofeta (fractured foot). Season ending: Ray Niuia, James Tucker, Tanielu Tele’a.

https://blues.rugby/selection-headaches-for-hurricanes-clash/

Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has had his toughest selection job to decide his team for the opening match of the Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa.

MacDonald said ‘Competition for selection has been intense throughout a number of positions’, as the Blues prepare to meet the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon.

“It has been the hardest team to select in my time here,” said MacDonald. “There are some disappointed players not in the 23 this week. But they will get their chance and we will need them.”

Two-time world player of the year, Beauden Barrett will make his long-awaited debut for the Blues against his former team at fullback, while another former Hurricanes player, halfback Finlay Christie will make his debut off the bench.

Upfront prop Alex Hodgman and Northland lock Josh Goodhue are both fully fit and return to the starting pack that includes All Blacks Ofa Tu’ungafasi and captain Patrick Tuipulotu, with Blues centurion James Parsons at hooker.

The loose forward trio is one of the most competitive selections with Tom Robinson, Blake Gibson and early-season standout Hoskins Sotutu given the start, meaning All Black Dalton Papalii will come off the bench.

The backline has a similar look to pre-Covid-19 times with TJ Faiane and All Black Rieko Ioane again pairing in the midfield outside San Nock and Otere Black. Caleb Clarke returns from New Zealand Sevens to take his place on the left wing to form a potent back three with Mark Telea and Barrett.

There is familiar appearance to the reserves that include utility back Matt Duffie, who will earn his 50th Blues cap if he gets on the field.

“Beauden has fitted in to our team seamlessly and has come in great shape and with real enthusiasm. This week we felt that he can best help us at 15 being his first game for the Blues with a mindset of graduating into the 10 role,” said MacDonald.

“Otere (Black) was one of our best players earlier in the season and guided us well around the field, while Caleb (Clarke) has been outstanding since returning from the Sevens.

“Picking the loose forwards was one of the hardest jobs where we are blessed to have so many quality players.

“The team is naturally excited. This is a special occasion for us all – and something none of us expected, to be playing so soon and in front of our fans. It will be the same for the Hurricanes and I hope we can produce a real spectacle.

“Our good form from earlier this year is a bit irrelevant now. That said the team know that if they put in the quality hard work during the week then they can take some confidence into game day to focus on their execution.

“This is going to be a monumental 10 weeks of local derby battles which will be a battle of attrition, so we will need our whole squad if we are to realise our goals.”

Where is Fatty McFatfat??? Not injured and not on the reserves bench?

Toddy

@Hooroo Blues are managing his workload.

Hooroo

@Toddy said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Hooroo Blues are managing his workload.

It's been a hectic few months to be fair

Nepia

@Toddy said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Hooroo Blues are managing his workload.

Rangi is very thoughtful and is not playing him to balance out the overplaying him of the past couple of years.

Hooroo

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Toddy said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Hooroo Blues are managing his workload.

Rangi is very thoughtful and is not playing him to balance out the overplaying him of the past couple of years.

Completely understandable as the poor ole chap has had to play rugby previously so will need the downtime.

Hooroo

@Hooroo said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Toddy said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Hooroo Blues are managing his workload.

Rangi is very thoughtful and is not playing him to balance out the overplaying him of the past couple of years.

Completely understandable as the poor ole chap has had to play rugby previously so will need the downtime.

and I'm completely aware of internet Karma! No doubt he will roll on out against the Chiefs and give us a bit of a fondling

Duluth

Hoskins was always getting the first match. Then the bench is a specialist 7 and a lock

(Although I thought two loosies and no lock on the bench might have been an option against the Canes)

There'll be a lot of rotation in the forwards for this competition. Gibson getting a run ahead of Papali'i is evidence of that.
Happy that we have so many quality options.

voodoo

Bloody weird, all this sports talk is freaking me out a bit

KiwiMurph

I actually think the Blues loose forward choices for this game have a lot to do with the new rules.

With the new offside rules/interpretation the game is expected to be much faster.

I'd suggest that's the quickest loose forward unit the Blues can put out whilst still keeping players in their positions.

Once they know how these new rules/interpretations play out in practice they can then look at introducing Akira etc.

Nepia

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:

With the new offside rules/interpretation

Wait. What? I'm going to have to read those threads where they discuss this stuff now.

KiwiMurph

@Nepia

The key focal points for referees at the breakdown are summarised below:
·        Ball carriers will be allowed only one dynamic movement after being tackled.
·        Crawling, or any secondary movement other than placing or passing will be penalised.
·        Tacklers will be expected to roll away immediately in the direction of the side-line. 
·        There will be "extra focus” on the offside line with defenders expected to be “clearly” onside to provide attacking teams more space

antipodean

@KiwiMurph It will be refreshing to see them enforcing existing laws.

Nepia

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Nepia

The key focal points for referees at the breakdown are summarised below:
·        Ball carriers will be allowed only one dynamic movement after being tackled.
·        Crawling, or any secondary movement other than placing or passing will be penalised.
·        Tacklers will be expected to roll away immediately in the direction of the side-line. 
·        There will be "extra focus” on the offside line with defenders expected to be “clearly” onside to provide attacking teams more space

Cheers.

Oh, I actually don't have a problem with those ... the golden point thing had me worried they might be doing something silly in this area.

sparky

Beauden Barrett was always vocal at the Hurricanes about his preference for playing at 10. Yet Leon Mcdonald, like Steve Hansen before him, shoves him out to fullback.

The Blues have waited so long for a world class first-five, then when one arrives decide not to play him there.

KiwiMurph

@sparky

It's not that simple. Blues lost their starting fullback. Duffie is not it.

Leon does a good job of explaining it here.

Also - some good info on Akira

We’re mindful that Beaudy is an outstanding first five. That’s not lost on us,” said MacDonald after a rigorous Friday training session at Alexandra Park. “But he’s also a world-class fullback as well and we need that hole filled.

“It will be his first game for the Blues, in front of a big crowd, against his old team and I don’t think it will hurt for him to be back in the boot a little bit with his vision and experience to be a calming influence from the back. Then, in time, we’ll probably see him move forward as well.

“At some point he will be in the frontline … but right now this is the best fit for our team, the situation, where he’s at in terms of his integration back into rugby and the fact it’s his first game for the Blues.”

MacDonald, much like Steve Hansen last year, was also happy to concede that Barrett’s versatility also allowed him the luxury of fielding two game drivers in his starting lineup.

“He’s excited about the opportunity to get out there and this just takes a little bit of pressure off him,” added the Blues coach. “He can work alongside Otes, whom he has a long history and a good relationship with. Those two working together as our brains trust is going to be really useful in such a big game.”

“It’s hard telling someone they’re not playing when they’ve done everything right, and Akira is one of those,” added MacDonald. “He’s come back and his skinfolds have never been so good, his fitness levels are great and he’s trained the house down. His time will come. He’s pushing and asking the right questions, and puts pressure on the guys who get the opportunity to really nail it.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300033584/beauden-barrett-gets-the-nod-at-fullback-for-blues-season-opener-against-hurricanes

nzzp

@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:

The Blues have waited so long for a world class first-five, then when one arrives decide not to play him there.

Yet. After a couple of weeks iwth the team, and an injury to the incumbent 15, I can understand that

sparky

First Rangi leaves Beauden out of the Blues' leadership group, then signs his old mate DC to tell Beauden how to play, then he shoves him out to fullback. How much confidence does Leon MacDonald really have in Beauden Barrett?

I know know money talks, but it is a real shame Beauden Barrett left the Hurricanes where he was loved.

Bones

I bloody called it eh!

Excited to see if Telea and Sotutu have still "got it".

Will have to keep an eye on Ioane as really haven't noticed him being as good as is talked up.

@KiwiMurph Akira is pretty bloody quick isn't he?

Canes to be in the lead only to have Barrett score the winning points. If Jordie was playing it'd be off one of his fuck ups....so will probably be Prinsep or JGB.

The Silver Fern

Blues v Hurricanes