Blues vs. Highlanders
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<p>hmmmm?</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood</a></p> -
There's some highlights on youtube.<br><br>
Cracking game. Really high quality.<br><br>
I was very impressed by the Blues decision making. Really sharp. Guys like Visinia and Li looked like different players. Ofa T too - his workrate around the field was top notch - looks extremely fit.<br><br>
Only one game but a very good start and yep Gibson is a gun - he showed he is already at this level. Thought Ioane looked like he lacked some bulk thanks to the 7s - not surprised. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="561177" data-time="1456486524"><p>
hmmmm?<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood">http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood</a></p></blockquote>
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Considering the only reason Naholo was on the field to score at half time was because the touchie bottled it i don't think the Highlanders can feel too hard done by. <br><br>
But fuck the media for taking that angle when reporting on a game that good -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="561184" data-time="1456489880"><p>Considering the only reason Naholo was on the field to score at half time was because the touchie bottled it i don't think the Highlanders can feel too hard done by. <br>
But fuck the media for taking that angle when reporting on a game that good</p></blockquote>
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Yup,Naholo was half a meter offside. <br><br>
My god, how good is saying that after we've won. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="561184" data-time="1456489880">
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<p>Considering the only reason Naholo was on the field to score at half time was because the touchie bottled it i don't think the Highlanders can feel too hard done by.<br><br>
But fuck the media for taking that angle when reporting on a game that good</p>
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<p>Ruck cleanout IMO, looks a bit dodgy, but just part of the game.</p>
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<p>Highlanders just too messy. Bah.</p>
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<p>Edit: And our big players had a healthy hand in a few Blues points - Smiths, Fekitoa. Bollocks Naholo was offside though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="561178" data-time="1456486778">
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<p>There's some highlights on youtube.</p>
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<p>Only "highlights" I can find are of a streaker . . . not what I had in mind . . .</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="561186" data-time="1456490378"><p>
Yup,Naholo was half a meter offside. <br><br>
My god, how good is saying that after we've won.</p></blockquote>
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I was talking about the deliberate slap down. You reckon he was offside? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ulsterman" data-cid="561189" data-time="1456490958"><p>Only "highlights" I can find are of a streaker . . . not what I had in mind . . .</p></blockquote>
"></a>
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Hah here you go. <a class="bbc_url" href=" -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="561177" data-time="1456486524">
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<p>hmmmm?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood</a></p>
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<p>Sorry lads, left off the fishing emoticon :fishing: :fishing:</p>
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<p>Bad week - Australians of the world win the cricket, and now the Australians of NZ win the rugby</p>
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<p>think I'll watch the final again...</p> -
Before the game , Naholo was listed as 125 kgs , he isnt that big is he ?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="561131" data-time="1456477531"><p>Exactly and all Blues fans on here know that. Karpik got more attention because of his haircut which made him stand out but I do think that he is a very good player, just never thought he was as good as Gibson.</p></blockquote>
Funny cos when Dan Pryor turned up for the 2014 Northland season with dreads I said to a mate I reckon he's done it to get noticed more, which he did...<br><br>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="561141" data-time="1456478528"><p>I wonder who that fan is.
Give that man a job at the Herald or Stuff, because he's getting the scoop before the media.</p></blockquote>
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You are already 10 times the journalist than Twattue or Treason... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bbarcs" data-cid="561078" data-time="1456473986"><p>
Send us Blake Gibson. Promise he will get at least 50 international caps.</p></blockquote>
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Reckon he may get a few in this here neck of the woods. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="561177" data-time="1456486524"><p>
hmmmm?<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood">http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77335961/should-the-blues-winning-try-have-stood</a></p></blockquote>
Personally i thought he had bound to the ruck so decision was fair IMO.<br><br>
Let's now see a video to check if Naholo was onside. Which should actually show a blank space (baaaby) as he should have been binned. <br><br>
So Highlanders fans can have a think about swings and roundabouts.<br><br>
On that deliberate knock on ... definite YC. I initially thought PT too. But there was cover. Still golden opportunity as the line would have been broken with support on the inside.<br><br>
Great game.<br><br>
I'm in two minds about the Japanese internationals playing. First touch of the ball I looked at Sa'u and thought "hmmm". Then TJ mentioned he was a Japanese player and i was a bit disappointed. Especially as we're on the lookout for midfielders.<br><br>
But i suppose it's like having PI players. Good for the team, good for the developing country, good for the players. So all good. -
Another thought. Was pretty impressed with player's skills across the park.<br><br>
First All Black trial of the season impressed me.<br><br>
A few previously unheralded lads keep that up they may be in contention. -
One guy who impressed me was Luatua, and not for his usual reasons. Hos work rate in the first half was huge, and he generated momentum with a couple of his clean outs.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="561212" data-time="1456512593">
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<p>Funny cos when Dan Pryor turned up for the 2014 Northland season with dreads I said to a mate I reckon he's done it to get noticed more, which he did...<br><br>
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<p>Hahaha funny you say that because one of his cousins who I know well thought the exact same thing.</p> -
<div>After watching the game again, here are some of my thoughts on the match.</div>
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<div>Tempo was a huge difference compared to last year. We didn't play near this fast last year because we didn't play Hall. Hall might not be the most consistent passer, but his fast play creates attacking opportunities.</div>
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<div>Setpiece was almost flawless. We won all our own ball in the setpiece and even stole a couple of lineouts off the Highlanders. It's a bit unusual to not see our scrum do the moonwalk, but kudos to the young props who started, as well as Faumuina off the bench. I expect it'll be a much sterner test in this department against the Crusaders next week, but good signs from us so far.</div>
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<div>Defense was a bit of a worry. Some guys in the middle of the park were rushing up and getting caught flat footed, which meant the defenders outside them had to defend more space or players than they should have. Luckily we dominated possession with good ball control, because the Highlanders could've done more damage if they had more than 34% of possession.</div>
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<div>It was pretty obvious that we missed Kaino and his ability to smack guys behind the gainline. The Highlanders were making it over the gain line far too easily at times, especially in that first half. </div>
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<div>Our midfielders need to work on their vision. There were a few times in the game where we had overlaps, but they kept the ball and ran instead.</div>
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<div>Besides Gibson, I thought Tuipulotu and Ofa were others who had stellar games. This was Pats first full game in I don't know how long, but he put in a massive shift and was still going hard near the end. Ofa is just another loose forward out there and is growing each time out as a scrummager. In the backs, Visinia looked like the 2014 Visinia again - hopefully he's OK to go next week as he seemed to have picked up a rib or hip injury near the end.</div>
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<div>Hopefully we go well next week so we can get another bumper crowd for the Hurricanes. I haven't heard Eden Park that loud for a Blues game in so long.</div>
