Blues 2020
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2020:
@Chris said in Blues 2020:
The Question for you Blues Fans is How poor were the Canes compared to how good the Blues were.
RD 2 may answer some questions
A question for Highlanders fans as well regarding the Chiefs.
All we can judge our team on is organisation, not repeating past mistakes, and effort. The players also seem to be enjoying themselves, don't panic when pressure is applied and scramble well when mistakes are made in defence.
All you can ask really. It's not all about results, but that awful word "culture". The Blues have turned a corner this year, how successful the season will be is unknown, but at least we are giving ourselves a chance now.
Absolutely maybe for the Crusaders after Sunday too if they don't dispatch the Canes who will be desperate to win at home like the Chiefs.
The two games this weekend should both be massive.
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@mariner4life said in Blues 2020:
my issue with the dreaded "culture" is the way it is massively overblown as a reason for success or failure. Good teams win because of their culture. Bad teams lose because of their culture.
In all reality, good teams win because they have well coached talent. Bad teams lose because they lack talent or good coaching.
The Blues won yesterday because they had across the park talent, and MacDonald had them all pointing in the same direction. The Canes had less talent, and didn't have a plan to exploit what they had.
Summed up well.
It's a lazy short hand, kind of like x-factor. It doesn't really mean anything.
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@mariner4life said in Blues 2020:
my issue with the dreaded "culture" is the way it is massively overblown as a reason for success or failure. Good teams win because of their culture. Bad teams lose because of their culture.
In all reality, good teams win because they have well coached talent. Bad teams lose because they lack talent or good coaching.
The Blues won yesterday because they had across the park talent, and MacDonald had them all pointing in the same direction. The Canes had less talent, and didn't have a plan to exploit what they had.
You just described good and bad culture.
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@mariner4life said in Blues 2020:
my issue with the dreaded "culture" is the way it is massively overblown as a reason for success or failure. Good teams win because of their culture. Bad teams lose because of their culture.
In all reality, good teams win because they have well coached talent. Bad teams lose because they lack talent or good coaching.
The Blues won yesterday because they had across the park talent, and MacDonald had them all pointing in the same direction. The Canes had less talent, and didn't have a plan to exploit what they had.
To me, that's culture. The Blues also had plenty of talent in previous years, but the team didn't gel. Players played like individuals instead of a single unit. That, to me, is part of culture. Being willing to work for each other instead of going for own glory all the time.
Obviously, coaches have a great impact on culture, but also the leadership group being able to connect with all players, no matter how different they all are.
I think the Canes' biggest problem is a lack of good coaching and player selection. They should make Evans the captain instead of those two hotheads.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
Well, the TAB reckons we're second favourites to win this thing.
I think we're in the mix with Chiefs, and should finish ahead of Landers and Canes. Crusaders are favourites, but not sure the price is right.
We haven't really done much yet, there's lots of water under the bridge. Looking good to start though, which is great for a change!
OUTRIGHT WINNER-SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA 2020
Crusaders 1.83
Blues 4.00
Chiefs 5.50
Highlanders 10.00
Hurricanes 12.00After the weekend's results, those odds probably aren't far away.
To win the whole thing, I reckon you'll need to win six games - your four home games and two away.
Before the weekend's games, I'd have said the Highlanders are one of the away games you'd heavily target, because the Highlanders probably don't have the quality to be genuine contenders. So Bryn's drop-goal has caused a significant slip-up for the Chiefs.
I'd probably still have the Canes ahead of the Highlanders, but they're going to need to improve significantly next weekend. Can't afford to start with two losses - and especially can't afford to lose at home.
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Ben Tamafeuna with his old mentor at Blues training today.
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12342292
Tom Coventry discussing Robinson:
"He's hobbling around today so he's pretty keen to get himself back onto the bike and then onto his feet in the next three to four weeks." "I don't think it's going to be a long injury but it might take him out of a significant amount of this short programme we have now." "The diagnosis was six to eight weeks but we're hoping it's five to six weeks with a couple of byes in there. I'd like to see him back. I know he's going to pushing for it."Tu'inukuafe should be back after the bye
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@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
they look like a bunch of blokes enjoying each other's company. And it shows on the field too, trust in each other.
Well done the coaching staff.
I also like the competitive edge that's there in a silly game of football
This quote from Sotutu about Ioane says a bit about the team too. A good team should sound a bit like a cult.
“Aki’s sort of the big brother in the team. He’s happy for me and happy that I’m getting a shot. He’s real supportive of all the players, but especially me. He’s always been helping me out through my development with the Blues...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” -
@Gunner yeah gutting, was hoping we'd get to see him running around in Cambridge Blue this year too!!
