Blues v Hurricanes
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what a depressing match for a Canes fan. But an exciting one for the Blues fan
The Blues look a very well coached side with some exciting players. Their attack was a joy to watch. Plumtree loved plodders. Sadly these current coaches are the same. This plodder mindset has flowed into the Canes attack. Once the Canes were an exciting team to watch. Now I feel it going to be the Blues. Or Chiefs. Not the Canes
What can the Canes do,. For starters remove the plodders from the team. This will send a message out that the Canes coaches have seen the light - that too many (useless) plodders don't work. Like Armstrong, Blackwell and Prinsep. And maybe Tiatia. Bring in Numia, Fifita (for Blackwell as the lineout must improve) and Flanders. And Barrett (or anyone else) for Taitia (even though he was ok)
Or maybe Savea although I would give him another week or two to start. I know posters here don't like Fifita but we need him for his line-out skills. Either at lock or 6
BTW I though JGB went well. But hes not a great goal kicker. We need Barrett back at FB.
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@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Kirwan Time will tell but not obvious to me tbat Beauden Barrett is being trusted yet with as a big a role with the Blues as he had in his last couple of seasons with the Hurricanes.
John Plumtree was a big believer in starting BB at 10 and now he's now All Blacks Assitant Coach. Smiley and Robyn like to see their son at First Five too.
He was also a big believer in starting Blackwell at lock, so questions must be asked of both him and NZR.
And also having a seven foot three SA lock to compensate.
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@Higgins said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Kirwan Time will tell but not obvious to me tbat Beauden Barrett is being trusted yet with as a big a role with the Blues as he had in his last couple of seasons with the Hurricanes.
John Plumtree was a big believer in starting BB at 10 and now he's now All Blacks Assitant Coach. Smiley and Robyn like to see their son at First Five too.
He was also a big believer in starting Blackwell at lock, so questions must be asked of both him and NZR.
And also having a seven foot three SA lock to compensate.
I suppose one lineout target is better than none. That's genius level coaching right there.
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@antipodean Makes it rather easy for the opposition when they throw in, just biff it to where Blackwell is standing and it is sure lineout win for your team.
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My facetiousness aside, there's a reason everyone says you need three genuine options to throw to. It's an amazing shortcoming in the squad selection and retention programme to end up where they're at.
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Beauden Barrett has done the right thing leaving the Hurricanes tight five behind
Leaving the Hurricanes was obviously as much about lifestyle and commercial opportunities as it was about football. But rugby surely played a part too and that decision was vindicated on Sunday.
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The hurricanes looked really one dimensional on attack. Traditionally the canes have had a soft pack compensated by dazzling backs. There it was just NH style smash it up bro tactics with no guile. No great options at 10 or 15. Reckon they finish 5th of the franchises.
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I watched at a pub catching up with an old mate, so didn't focus terribly hard on the game, but I hought Laumape was awful, particularly defensively.
Ah well, after one week of getting into Canes rugby again, I'm now prepared to sacrifice them if the old adage "when Auckland rugby is strong..." holds true...
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With all the hype and attention we got leading up to this game, and with the big crowd that turned up, I'm glad we got the win. It would've been more demoralizing than usual if we bombed.
Happy to see Beauden finally debut for the Blues. Would've been nuts if he got the pass from Caleb in the first half and scored.
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Better clip:
