Hurricanes v Blues

[Bovidae]

I'm not sure anyone would have predicted those starting XVs.

[Stargazer]

@canes4life Awesome to see Flanders at 8, his preferred position!

Only one Magpie in the 23 ... well below the Highlanders.

[Canes4life]

@stargazer stoked to see Flanders at 8

[JK]

Hmmm two debut props for the blues? Nice bench front row....I'd prefer them over the starters

And is Christie injured?

[Stargazer]

@duluth Strong Blues squad, including the bench forwards. Clear favourites for this game.

[mariner4life]

That starting Blues loose forward trio is really quite intimidating.

And then teh ginger maniac off the bench with Ofa. Some guys in yellow are getting whacked.

[KiwiMurph]

I wonder if its a tactic with the new rules for Canes to go with a lighter more mobile pack?

[Tim]

However, MacDonald will be able to call on the services of Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuumgafasi during the game, giving him a luxury in propping depth that other Super Rugby coaches could only dream of and that’s not even mentioning All Black Alex Hodgman, who is recovering from an ankle injury and should be back by round.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/124358998/leon-macdonald-uses-blues-front-row-depth-with-surprise-selection-against-hurricanes

[nzzp]

@kiwimurph said in Hurricanes v Blues:

I wonder if its a tactic with the new rules for Canes to go with a lighter more mobile pack?

shorter, lighter packs have been the secret Canes weapon for 26 years. Why stop now?

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/124355764/super-rugby-aotearoa-julian-savea-back-to-start-for-hurricanes-against-blues

[mikey07]

@tim I knew their golden boy Proctor would start at 13 and they would bench PUJ

[Yeetyaah]

Blues team looks pretty good. Blues by a bit.

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae I'm quite surprised Nock is starting over Christie, only in that I thought Leon preferred Christie.

I do think Ruru offers more off the bench than Christie.

Some serious firepower out there though!

[Tim]

Players not considered with injury: Soane Vikena (Pec), Ray Niuia (knee), TI Faiane (leg), Dillon Hunt (concussion), Finlay Christie (leg), Alex Hodgman (ankle), Blake Gibson (ribs), Jone Macalai (season-ending).

https://blues.rugby/debutants-and-all-blacks-combine-in-opening-line-up/

[Machpants]

@tim said in Hurricanes v Blues:

However, MacDonald will be able to call on the services of Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuumgafasi during the game, giving him a luxury in propping depth that other Super Rugby coaches could only dream of and that’s not even mentioning All Black Alex Hodgman, who is recovering from an ankle injury and should be back by round.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/124358998/leon-macdonald-uses-blues-front-row-depth-with-surprise-selection-against-hurricanes

More marvelous reporting, first sentence "So stacked are the Blues with their props that Leon MacDonald has been able to put two off them on the bench for Saturday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa game against the Hurricanes."

So the blues are the only ones that can put props on their bench? Golden oldies scrums, here we come!

[KiwiMurph]

@machpants "two off them" as well. I wonder where they are 'off' to?

[LABCAT]

Why do they start Savea over Rayasi?

I thought Rayasi is destined to be NZ's next star winger...

[Higgins]

@labcat Well George Bridge's flame must have burnt out in double quick time if this is the case.

[Duluth]

Blake Gibson (ribs)

The most consistently broken player in NZ? An endless stream of relatively small injuries. He must be so frustrated.

Huge opportunity for Choat with Hunt missing as well. I expect him to be in the full squad next year.. probably pushing Gibson out

[Stargazer]

@labcat Because they're a bunch of Julian Savea fanboys, and expect him to get more bums on seats and be a crowd favourite again. Stuck in the past. Reactions on their social media posts are very mixed ...

Rayasi was expected to be NZ's next star winger ... by some Aucklanders.