Hurricanes v Blues
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@Bones said in Hurricanes v Blues:
Weird moment in the game when they flashed up Ngani's running stats and he had 92m, cut to ten or so minutes later after he's made a 30m charge and they flash them up...93m....what the?
Same person who reports Ardie's height?
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I think if Faiane had started yesterday, you’d have won - 6 missed tackles between Plummer and Ioane in the midfield really hurt and Plummer was a bit lost on both sides of the call. Faiane and Ioane are usually very dangerous - I think that one change may have slowed the Canes down a bit.
There are also a few players looking pretty tired - Pat T missed 3 and wasn’t at the same level as recent games.
Btw, player with most missed tackles (according to rugby pass) was .... Paps with 4. He made 21 though, to lead them team (followed by Rieko with 18!)
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Blues:
My two cents on the game and where do I start.
Well how can you not go past Laumape's try after gassing Beaudy and running over Otere at the line. Fair play to Beauden hitting right back with an impressive surge under the posts.
The Hurricanes were quite dominant in the early stages of the game but they struggled to finish their chances through line breaks from Laumape and Peter Umaga Jensen, who I might add had his best game in a Hurricanes jersey. The Hurricanes had the advantage at scrum time which allowed them to get well over the advantage line on attack, again though they will be a tad grumpy for not executing. A positive for the Canes is that they showed calmness under pressure in those final 10 minutes that will give them plenty of confidence heading down to Christchurch next week.
From a player perspective the three standouts for me were Ngani Laumape, Jordie Barrett and Peter Umaga Jensen. Ngani Laumape, well his performance speaks for itself and if you haven't seen his brilliant interview post game, check it out here - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2805567983004746. Jordie Barrett was exceptional and rose to the occasion against his older brother when it really mattered. He caught everything kicked his way aswell which would have pleased the All Black coaches. Lastly, Peter Umaga Jensen took his chance, he ran with purpose and intent all night, constantly looking dangerous. Broke through the heart of the Blues defence early with a hard and direct line, in what was a common sight all night.
From a Blues perspective they showed plenty of grit and determination to halt that Canes early onslaught which is promising for such a young group. A sign of a good team is one that stays in the fight without really firing too many shots and that's what the Blues did last night. They took all their chances when they came and nearly pulled off a win that looked highly unlikely after the first 20 minutes.
From a player point of view I was really impressed with Kurt Eklund, he continues to grow his game and will push for the top Blues hooking spot moving forward, and deservedly so. Dalton Papali'i was my next pick of the Blues bunch, he was everywhere on defence, making something like 18 tackles which was massive on a night like this. Mark Telea's stocks also continue to rise, every time he got the ball it took about two or three guys to put him down. With a bit more coaching on his defence and technique under the high ball he could very well push for higher honours soon.
Game Highlights:
Post match presser:
And a special mention for TJ (apart for one kick out on the full when he moved to ff) being at his absolute pain in the arse best and causing a lot of poor ball for the blues
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@Bones said in Hurricanes v Blues:
Oh and...youse fellas that have been dusruspicting Laumape better watch out.
Will the north island selectors go ?
12 Laumape
13 R Ioanie -
@kiwiinmelb I’m thinking Laumape/Leinert-Brown, Ioane back to the left wing.
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I'd like to see someone snot Coles. Then TJ.
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@gt12 said in Hurricanes v Blues:
followed by Rieko with 18!
Not really sure that tackling machine is the best use of Ioane, I'd like to see him back on the wing TBH.
Also, crazy to have two inexperienced midfielders start together when TJ is available.
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Me too, but that 18 made illustrates that the three missed weren’t quite as bad as they seem. Personally I think it was probably a good game for his development - getting turned in and out a few times usually helps for midfielders early - unless it becomes what they are known for...
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Just watched the game again and I was actually very happy with how JGB ran the show. Not sure why he's getting so much negativitiy on here, he was very solid without being spectacular and I think that's what the Canes need atm. He cleared well, was strong when running into contact, defended well and his passing wasn't as laboured as some people make out.
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@Canes4life Canes had plenty of go forward and opportunity and they needed a bit of class in their playmaker to take advantage. Defensively he’s not too bad.
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@ACT-Crusader it takes time in the saddle to become a classy player and I think both him and Fletcher Smith are coming along nicely, without setting the house on fire.
Aslong as they keep improving and come more comfortable barking orders I think we will start to see the best. I wonder if they will continue the rotation and bring in Smith for the next game.
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@number9 said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@junior said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@number9 said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@Kirwan said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@Stargazer said in Hurricanes v Blues:
Akira not good at no. 8. Sotutu can't come back soon enough.
Yawn. He’s cleaned up some messy scrums tonight
Blues scrum is fine, the delay with Christie and Ioane is terrible.
Hardly. They’ve been shoved all over the park
Bullshit! Christie taking his time and Aki is slow when picking up the ball from the back.
Ball getting caught behind locks' feet. Schoolboy stuff.
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Not much to add.
Laumape brilliance ended up being decisive.
Apart from brief spell in 2nd Blue never used powerhouse forwards to punch up centre.
At 27 - 22 I was shouting to drive, drive, drive, draw a penalty and at 30-22, to quote a line from The Matrix, it would have been, 'Dodge that!'!
BB seems a shadow of his previous self. Not a great kicking 15.
And Patty T/Ofa very subdued.
Couldn't see what was going on in scrum, but thought May stood up well to Ofa, and Hodgman up and down against Lomax.
Was incandescent when O'Keeffe chose to signal on field decision try at end. I VERY, VERY much doubt he actually saw the ball touch the line, and had he asked the TMO to make the call it would have been no try. The protocol needs some work IMO.
All that said, Canes ought to have had it won by the 60, and Blues played poorly and only just lost, so no huge need to go back to the drawing board.
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As a biased Blues supporter I would rather have seen O’Keefe immediately award a try.There was no immediate raised arm,but an unconvincing call that he had seen the ball on the line.Going to the TMO proved nothing.Before TMOs we would have been happy the ref had seen the try and gone home happy.
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A very quaint way to call a try,remove bodies!
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@pakman said in Hurricanes v Blues:
Not much to add.
Laumape brilliance ended up being decisive.
Apart from brief spell in 2nd Blue never used powerhouse forwards to punch up centre.
At 27 - 22 I was shouting to drive, drive, drive, draw a penalty and at 30-22, to quote a line from The Matrix, it would have been, 'Dodge that!'!
BB seems a shadow of his previous self. Not a great kicking 15.
And Patty T/Ofa very subdued.
Couldn't see what was going on in scrum, but thought May stood up well to Ofa, and Hodgman up and down against Lomax.
Was incandescent when O'Keeffe chose to signal on field decision try at end. I VERY, VERY much doubt he actually saw the ball touch the line, and had he asked the TMO to make the call it would have been no try. The protocol needs some work IMO.
All that said, Canes ought to have had it won by the 60, and Blues played poorly and only just lost, so no huge need to go back to the drawing board.
I haven't seen May on the pitch, he wasn't in the starting 23.
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@Bones said in Hurricanes v Blues:
@cgrant yeah he pulled out before the game - pretty sure it was Armstrong.
Fair cop. I didn't see lineups and checked on Scrum.com, which said May. Then reading GetStuffed.com I saw Armstrong, and meant to change it.
Thought he did well.
