Blues 2021
-
Blues apparently have signed Taranaki wing Jacob Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens on a three-year deal. Not sure if it's three years of full contract or first year as development and last two on full.
-
@Number-10 nice! He might be with 7s year 1?
-
@Number-10 Here is an interesting Stuff read about him - He signed a 3 year deal with the Eels in 2017.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/122858986/mitre-10-cup-rising-stars-jacob-ratumaitavukikneepkens-laps-up-ranfurly-shield-win -
FFS the Blues don't need any more outside back talent.
-
@Yeetyaah said in Blues 2021:
FFS the Blues don't need any more outside back talent.
Injuries happen. Got to have depth.
-
@Yeetyaah said in Blues 2021:
FFS the Blues don't need any more outside back talent.
Well from the sounds of @Daffy-Jaffy's article signing a contract doesn't confirm he'll turn up at any rate.
Must admit I've been slightly disappointed with him in the Magpies v Naki matches - by disappointed I mean happy.
-
So with Tucker gone and the following signed, we might have Carroll, Riedlinger-Kapa, and Choat up for the final loose forward spot.
Gibson
Hunt
Papalii
Robinson
Sotutu
Ioane -
@Tim Last season they carried 5 locks and 8 loosies. So presuming they keep that balance and that Hunt replaces Lamborn and Darry - Tucker, that means both Carrol and W.K's spots should be available. They seemed to like Carrols efforts after his late inclusion last season. He often covered 6/lock on the bench and even started at 6 vs the Canes I think. Papalii's preference for playing 7 should leave a spot for W-K, or another blindside. Unless they now see Papalii as a 6. That leaves Choat unlucky, WTG or elsewhere. He deserves a spot somewhere though. Of course Lamborn could also still be in contention for a 7/6 spot?
-
Had it confirmed to me last night that Zarn Sullivan has been signed by the Blues ,.
-
@Daffy-Jaffy I would actually have Choat ahead of Gibson , gets more turnovers and is less injury prone ..
-
@Steven-Harris pleased to hear that. Another Papamoa boy made good
-
@Steven-Harris Could be the starting fullback next season.
-
@African-Monkey I am thinking that as well, got the best kicking game of any of the other options not to mention as seen last night , he really can knock them over from a fair way out if required to kick for goal ..
-
@Steven-Harris Yup, and we also don't really have many options there with Perofeta being the only other option I can think of and he's also very injury prone. As you said, he has a huge kick and seems good under the high ball.
-
@nzzp said in Blues 2021:
@Tim that is some loose forward
trioEdit: group.Amazing how with decent governance, decent administration and decent coaching players suddenly are interested in playing for Auckland!
It's way more a case of decent results and chance at results. Players these days want titles or finals on their Cvs for value.
All those things can add to results but then you can also have all of those and if you just can't quite get results it can stall or you can be undesirable. See the Chiefs. Governance and admin still good, one the world's best coaches but it hasn't gelled and will now take a while before they are back to having players knocking the door down.
-
With two FB spots sorted, we probably need one more FB option. Narawa? Raumaitayuki-Kneepkens?
Josh Moorby, Caleb Makene and Josh McKay could be other options to bring in.
-
@Dice I always thought McKay would be worth a punt. Doesn't seem to be any rumours of us getting any outside backs?
-
Daffy Jaffyreplied to African Monkey on 29 Nov 2020, 06:39 last edited by Daffy Jaffy 29 Nov 2020, 07:04
@African-Monkey AJ Lam and Jacob Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens have been reported on here as signed. Perofeta, Sullivan and Narawa should cover fullback pretty effectively. One or two Midfield backups for Faiane, Ioane and Tele'a will be interesting with no obvious standout options in the region now that Tua is unavailable.
-
Stargazerreplied to Steven Harris on 29 Nov 2020, 06:42 last edited by Stargazer 29 Nov 2020, 06:43
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2021:
Had it confirmed to me last night that Zarn Sullivan has been signed by the Blues ,.
Good to see another Napier boy getting a SR contract.
-
Funny how since Blues have ditched Hanks they have suddenly started making signings that make sense.
-
-
@Stargazer that's bloody good news. They are going well as a unit.
-
@Stargazer Rangi is clearly on a box or step.
-
A sign of the times when a prop is taller than backs and a loose forward.
-
@Nepia said in Blues 2021:
@Stargazer Rangi is clearly on a box or step.
If he is, he has the shortest and most comical shins I have ever seen.
-
Time to take a stab at the squad, based on some players possibly being signed early on (e.g. Choat missing out):
Props
Tu'inukuafe
Hodgman
N Mayhew
O Tu'ungafasi
Laulala
RenataHookers
Parsons
Eklund
Niuia (may be replaced by Tolai until recovered from injury)Locks
Tuipulotu
Pierce
Goodhue
Cowley-Tuioti
DarryLoose forwards
Gibson
Hunt
Papalii
Robinson
Sotutu
A Ioane
Riedlinger-KapaHalfbacks
Nock
Christie
Ruru1st Five Eighths
Black
Perofeta
Plummer
HeightonMidfield
Faiane
T Tele'a
R Ioane
TBCOutside Backs
Clarke (may be absent for Olympics Sevens)
M Telea
Narawa
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
SullivanTei Walden may be available for a midfield pick, provided he has recovered from his achilles tendon (?) injury. AJ Lam can cover centre, and possibly Clarke too. Would prefer to see Choat in the loose forwards.
38 players, looks like we had more last year due to cover for Clarke and Barrett, which included Marchant. Also had 8 loose forwards rather than 7, so maybe room for Choat yet.
Out:
Lindenmuth
Mafileo
Carroll
Lamborn
Tucker
Barrett
Marchent
Hyland
Duffie
PageIn:
N Mayhew
Laulala
Darry
Hunt
TBC (midfield)
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
SullivanAuckland - 8 forwards, 8 backs, 16 total
North Harbour - 6 forwards, 1 back, 7 total
Northland - 2 forwards, 1 back, 3 total
Counties - 2
BOP - 3
Ta$man - 3
Canterbury - 1
Taranaki - 2 -
Match XXIII
Big decision over fullback, maybe right wing, but that's about it. Expect plenty of rotation in the forwards
1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Laulala
4 Tuipulotu
5 Pierce
6 A Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu9 Nock (MacDonald may favour Christie though)
10 Black
11 Clarke
12 Faiane
13 R Ioane
14 M Telea
15 Sullivan (tight contest with Perofeta)16 Parsons
17 Tu'inukuafe
18 Tu'ungafasi
19 Cowley-Tuioti/Goodhue
20 Robinson/Gibson/Hunt
21 Christie
22 Plummer
23 T Tele'aWith A Ioane showing he can attack a lineout at test level, there should be a lot of good options on either side of the lineout throw.
Interestingly/sadly, there's only three players in that 23 from the Auckland team that played in the NPC final, and only one in the starting 15.
-
-
MacDonald will unveil a largely settled squad for 2021 this week, though they do have one major hole to fill, with star All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett absent on his Japanese sabbatical. Young Auckland fullback Zarn Sullivan is expected to fill the void at fullback, with some help from utility back Stephen Perofeta.
-
Looking at that Blues squad, our forwards will be hard to beat. Should be able to dominate set piece and the ruck against many teams. The question is how well will the backs be able to use that ball? Black should be able to put the ball into the corners, and force full lineouts, but will we take the most of our chances, reduce errors, and make the right decisions in big games?
-
With most of the squad known or rumoured now, it's time to take a stab at a prediction, with an allowance for some players possibly being signed early on due to COVID uncertainty (e.g. Choat missing out):
Props
Tu'inukuafe
Hodgman
N Mayhew
O Tu'ungafasi
Laulala
RenataHookers
Parsons
Eklund
Niuia (may be replaced by Tolai until recovered from injury)Locks
Tuipulotu
Pierce
Goodhue
Cowley-Tuioti
DarryLoose forwards
Gibson
Hunt
Papalii
Robinson
Sotutu
A Ioane
Riedlinger-KapaHalfbacks
Nock
Christie
Ruru1st Five Eighths
Black
Perofeta
Plummer
HeightonMidfield
Faiane
T Tele'a
R Ioane
TBCOutside Backs
Clarke (may be absent for Olympics Sevens)
M Telea
Narawa
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
SullivanTei Walden may be available for a midfield pick, provided he has recovered from his achilles tendon (?) injury. AJ Lam can cover centre, and possibly Clarke too. Meihana Grindlay might be a midfield bolter? NZ Schools 2019, NZ U20 training squad 2020. Would like to see Choat in the loose forwards if possible.
That's 38 players in total, looks like we had more last year due to cover for Clarke and Barrett, which included Marchant. Also had 8 loose forwards rather than 7, so maybe room for Choat yet.
Out:
Lindenmuth
Mafileo
Carroll
Lamborn
Tucker
Barrett
Marchent
Hyland
Duffie
PageIn:
N Mayhew
Laulala
Darry
Hunt
TBC (midfield)
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
SullivanProvincial breakdown:
Auckland - 8 forwards, 8 backs, 16 total
North Harbour - 6 forwards, 1 back, 7 total
Northland - 2 forwards, 1 back, 3 total
Counties - 2
BOP - 3
Ta$man - 3
Canterbury - 1
Taranaki - 2Match XXIII
Big decision over fullback, maybe right wing, but that's about it. Expect plenty of rotation in the forwards
1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Laulala
4 Tuipulotu
5 Pierce
6 A Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu9 Nock (MacDonald may favour Christie though)
10 Black
11 Clarke
12 Faiane
13 R Ioane
14 M Telea
15 Sullivan (tight contest with Perofeta)16 Parsons
17 Tu'inukuafe
18 Tu'ungafasi
19 Cowley-Tuioti/Goodhue
20 Robinson/Gibson/Hunt
21 Christie
22 Plummer
23 T Tele'aWith A Ioane showing he can attack a lineout at test level, there should be a lot of good options on either side of the lineout throw. Tuipulotu is good at attacking opposition throws at test level too, with Sotutu demonstrating that ability in SRA this year. Pierce was a standout forward in the NPC, and attacked the opposition lineout well too.
Looking at that Blues squad, our forwards will be hard to beat. Should be able to dominate set piece and the ruck against many teams. The question is how well will the backs be able to use that ball? Black should be able to put the ball into the corners, and force full lineouts, but will we take the most of our chances, reduce errors, and make the right decisions in big games?
Interestingly/sadly, there's only three players in that 23 from the Auckland team that played in the NPC final, and only one in the starting 15.
-
@Tim looking at the depth of the bench is impressive!
As you say, forwards are impressive, backs will be heavily reliant on the firepower of Rieko & Clarke, and after that things get a bit thinner.
-
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
@Tim looking at the depth of the bench is impressive!
As you say, forwards are impressive, backs will be heavily reliant on the firepower of Rieko & Clarke, and after that things get a bit thinner.
really?
Telea, TJ Faiane - no shame in there. Perofeta was coming into his own at 15 ... they're not world beaters, but solid enough
-
@nzzp i just meant more reliant, didn't say they were shit or anything, plus an injury and it does get thin.
-
What's the go with James Little? Could he maybe pick up a midfield spot?
-
@KiwiMurph Maybe a bit small?
Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u might be on the fringe too?
-
Meihana Grindlay might be a midfield bolter?
NZ Schools 2019, NZ U20 training squad 2020.
-
@Tim said in Blues 2021:
Meihana Grindlay might be a midfield bolter?
NZ Schools 2019, NZ U20 training squad 2020.
He needs to prove himself at NPC level first. Grindlay can be a devastating runner but doesn't have much subtlety to his game.