Blues 2021

[Tim]

Blues development player of the year and New Zealand under-20 hooker Vikena (signed for four years) was injured in the Mitre-10 Cup, which means the well-performed Kurt Eklund returns as injury cover. Eklund (Bay of Plenty) has signed a two-year deal with the Blues that kicks in from 2022.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300173586/super-rugby-blues-add-swathe-of-young-comers-to-bolster-deep-and-impressive-squad

[Yeetyaah]

Fuuuuck look at that backline depth. Y'all managed to snag Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

[Bovidae]

Plumtree?

It's not like Auckland doesn't have a surplus of loose forwards around. Finau was involved with the Blues this year too.

[Tim]

The first-year players are Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, lock Sam Darry (Canterbury), Plumtree (Wellington) and the Auckland quartet of hooker Soane Vikena, Lam, Sullivan and Samoa and ex-Bristol prop Lay.

[Tim]

@Bovidae Yeah, odd selection. Like the hookers, may be due to early signings?

[Tim]

Depth in midfield is a big concern.

[taniwharugby]

@Tim i had heard the Blues were keen on Tua, I wonder if he might be available for the latter part of the season, so they'll give him a Dev contract or something ?

[Bovidae]

@Tim One more year for Parsons then before Eklund replaces him?

[Stargazer]

For who prefers imgages:

[Stargazer]

From the media release:

There is one further player to be named in a 38-strong squad.

https://blues.rugby/2021-squad-named/

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer I presume a midfielder.

[KiwiMurph]

So I wonder how Eklund works?

Is he in for the whole season replacing Vikena?

Or only part of the season?

[Crucial]

I know this signing was announced a few weeks ago but the Blues have scored a bit of a coup stealing Darry from Crusader land.
Decent prospect by all accounts, just that the locking queue in red and black is a bit long.
His mum is the nutritionist on the weetbix ads and his dad was a North Otago rep and good mates with Steve Hansen

[nzzp]

@Crucial it seems that Auckland is suddenly a credible (even attractive) destination for young players.

At long bloody last is all I can say.

[Crucial]

@nzzp also helps that he is friends with Rangi’s son

[nzzp]

@Crucial yeah, but it's not just him. Our fringe players are a huge step up on last year, and the year before that.

Every team has stars, but it's the squad depth that often makes a difference when injuries start to kick in. That's where the recruitment is so effective, and where Canterbury have had an edge for so long. I think you're starting to see talented up and comping players moving from other regions into Auckland because they want to - the outside back from Naki (JRK), Hunt coming home. Hell, even Nepo coming back over the hill wouldn't have happened in the past.

Anyway, our traditional (of the last few years) weaknesses of 2/9/10/15 are still there, but they have moved from 'yawning chasm of pain' to 'solid, but not world class'. I'll take that, and there is plenty of upside out there too.

[macmanus]

@KiwiMurph Niuia over Eklund...

[Daffy Jaffy]

ins and outs -

Vikena for Ekland
Lay - Lindenmuth
Laulala -Mafileo
Darry - Tucker
Plumtree - Carroll
Hunt - Lamborn
Lam - Marchant
R-Kneepkins - Duffie
Macilai-Tori - Hyland
Sullivan - Barrett
TBC? - Reidlinger-Kapa or
TBC? - Heighton
gone not replaced - Page.

[Duluth]

@Tim said in Blues 2021:

Depth in midfield is a big concern.

Probably looking at utilities providing cover? AJ Lam often plays 13 at club level. Plummer covers 12

Hopefully Tele'a's bad luck with injuries is over

[Snowy]

@Duluth said in Blues 2021:

Probably looking at utilities providing cover? AJ Lam often plays 13 at club level. Plummer covers 12

Yeah was just going to say that too. Plummer will cover 12.

If there is one to be to be added, and it is a midfielder, who else is out there?