Hurricanes v Blues

@kiwimurph doesn’t really matter, they all have f all experience. It’s up to our forward pack to ensure they don’t get too rattled at ruck time.

I hope this doesn’t end being our starting team: i’d swap Prinsep for Flanders, Blackwell for Walker-Leawere and Savea for Rayasi.

Fuck, even the Chiefs might be able to beat that rabble.

Blues by plenty.

Canes4life

@gt12 nah Chiefs are mud. 😆

gt12

@duluth said in Hurricanes v Blues:

@canes4life

I'd be surprised if the Blues don't have specialist openside cover

Paps won’t start at 7?

I dont see why Gibson should get a look in, except to rotate Paps occasionally.

Akira, Paps, Sotutu with Robinson on the bench and rotate Robinson, Akira, and Sotutu as bench players, occasionally rest one and bring in Gibson against weaker teams.

Hold on. I just saw that Canes predicted line up.

So, as you were, this makes sense.

gt12

@canes4life said in Hurricanes v Blues:

@gt12 nah Chiefs are mud. 😆

We will find out how mud if you run out that team against us.

Daffy Jaffy

@canes4life I would like to see them starting Akira at 8, Papalii at 7, Robinson at 6 with Gibson and Sotutu off the bench since he hasn't played at all preseason. Robinson covering lock. As an aside I thought Choat was excellent in the game of three halves and is proving very good cover for Hunts absence. Although he played at 8 on the weekend.

Canes4life

@gt12 if Holland starts Prinsep, Blackwell and Savea every game we may well be the Chiefs of 2020. If they select the team I want them to then I’d expect us to win more often then not.

Only one way to find out.

Nogusta

@daffy-jaffy mate.....he came off 10mins into that 3rd 'half'.
Doubtful for this week.
Looked like a rib injury 🤦‍♂️

Duluth

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/124322297/hurricanes-mvp-jordie-barrett-back-at-15-and-looking-to-haunt-the-blues-in-wellington-again


A settled Hurricanes side looks likely for the season opener, with frontliners Dane Coles and Reed Prinsep unlikely starters as they work their way back from injuries.

Out wide, Barrett looks likely to be flanked by Wes Goosen and Julian Savea, the former crowd favourite who was re-signed by the Hurricanes on return from France and was heavily involved in Alexandra.

Said Barrett of the man they call The Bus: “Jules is in unbelievable condition, trains well and has so much knowledge for myself and the other young boys in the team. He’s seriously impressive and I’m looking forward to seeing him play well on Saturday. He went well at the weekend and it’s good to have Bus back.”

Dice

I'm interested to see if Mark Telea can hold onto that right wing spot. I thought AJ Lam and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens had better NPC seasons than him.

Tim

@dice said in Hurricanes v Blues:

I'm interested to see if Mark Telea can hold onto that right wing spot. I thought AJ Lam and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens had better NPC seasons than him.

His defence and ability under the high ball improved a lot with Ta$man though, and they might prefer experience first up. I remember Narawa having a shocker on defence in Wellington last year.

Canes4life

@duluth man I hope the so called new and improved Savea performs. A lot of hype for someone that hasn’t delivered for about 5 years now.

Dice

@tim Yeah, I think they'll give him first shot this week.

I wouldn't be surprised if AJ Lam won that right wing spot at some point though.

The Silver Fern

Hurricanes v Blues