Blues vs Jags

taniwharugby

still think he is looking a bit further than he needs to was more my point I guess.
 
Winning can have a huge effect on players minds, and if you are trying to develop for the future and losing it can be more of an issue IMO.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="568676" data-time="1459407572">still think he is looking a bit further than he needs to was more my point I guess. 
Winning can have a huge effect on players minds, and if you are trying to develop for the future and losing it can be more of an issue IMO.</blockquote>
 
Especially coming off a couple of poor seasons. Some of the young players that have been in the squad a couple of years now don't have a lot of winning experience behind them.

African Monkey

Yeah thought it would have stopped by now but obviously not. Still, he deserves a good amount of time to get the best out of this side (which is a big ask I know).
 
Can't believe Piers Francis has been given a run.The guy is barely ITM Cup standard. Would have preferred to see McGahan there if he's looking for someone else there for this game instead of Moala. Thought McGahan went alright against the Reds.

gt12

Things really don't look any different to Kirwan. 
Seems to me like Tana is getting a bit of a free ride. There's far too much talent in that squad for people to be happy with a 'development' year.

Nepia

There's a couple of good players, and some 'potential' talented guys going forward but there's not really many really talented guys in that squad. There's only one player in that team who's the best in his position in the country and barely any who are second or third. 
 
I actually think that JJ has opened it up for coaches to have a year or so implementing their systems now - from a franchise point of view, not a fans point of view though, they want success and asap.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="568696" data-time="1459412879">
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Things really don't look any different to Kirwan. Seems to me like Tana is getting a bit of a free ride. There's far too much talent in that squad for people to be happy with a 'development' year.
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If Tana is smart, which I think he is, I'd of almost demanded no KPI's based on wins or final table standing for this year....

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="568708" data-time="1459415001">
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There's a couple of good players, and some 'potential' talented guys going forward but there's not really many really talented guys in that squad. There's only one player in that team who's the best in his position in the country and barely any who are second or third. 
 
I actually think that JJ has opened it up for coaches to have a year or so implementing their systems now - from a franchise point of view, not a fans point of view though, they want success and asap. 
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And in arguably the most influential position on the field , 10, they are last , no disrepect intended to west who i reckon would be a handy guy to be sitting on the bench rather than a stater

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="568708" data-time="1459415001">
There's only one player in that team who's the best in his position in the country and barely any who are second or third. </blockquote>
 
Out of this lot? Who is that? 
Forwards: Nic Mayhew, James Parsons Â©, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Bekhuis, Joe Edwards, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua; Bryn Hall, Ihaia West, Tevita Li, Piers Francis, Rene Ranger, Rieko Ioane, Lolagi Visinia. 
Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Sam Prattley, Ofa Tuâ€™ungafasi, Hoani Matenga, Akira Ioane, Billy Guyton, Matt McGahan, George Moala. 
Charlie is the no.2 no.3, Tuipolutu no.4 no.4. 
I assume you're referring to Jerome?

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="568733" data-time="1459422193">
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I assume you're referring to Jerome?
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Certainly not on current form.

booboo

So who am i missing who is no.1? 
Moala has a shot at 12 ... but Crotty and Ngatai and any number of others ... 
Ioane A in the mix 
Nup ... that's all I got. 
Li, Nanai, Ioane R and Visinia have talent which could be harnessed but all very much "potential".

Cantab79

This Blues team has loads of talent. It just needs a shot of confidence, and to be given the chance to build some momentum. Whilst I am loathe to cricticise Tana Umaga at this early stage of his SR coaching career I suspect that his readiness to rotate players is impact negatively on their confidence and ability to gel as a team.

Gary

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="568757" data-time="1459426474">
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So who am i missing who is no.1? 
Moala has a shot at 12 ... but Crotty and Ngatai and any number of others ... 
Ioane A in the mix 
Nup ... that's all I got. 
Li, Nanai, Ioane R and Visinia have talent which could be harnessed but all very much "potential".
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took me a while but I'm thinking Kaino.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="568757" data-time="1459426474">
<div>
So who am i missing who is no.1? 
Moala has a shot at 12 ... but Crotty and Ngatai and any number of others ... 
Ioane A in the mix 
Nup ... that's all I got. 
Li, Nanai, Ioane R and Visinia have talent which could be harnessed but all very much "potential".
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</blockquote>
People saying we have too much talent to be failing is a stereotype caused by the media that some people still buy in to. On paper as you have pointed out we would probably have the worst side out of all the NZ sides and the results show that. Yes there is "potential" in this side, but it is very raw at this stage where a lot of our players are still finding their feet at this level.

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gary" data-cid="568768" data-time="1459432993">
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took me a while but I'm thinking Kaino.
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starting 6 in the best team in the world

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="568766" data-time="1459431725">This Blues team has loads of talent. It just needs a shot of confidence, and to be given the chance to build some momentum. Whilst I am loathe to cricticise Tana Umaga at this early stage of his SR coaching career I suspect that his readiness to rotate players is impact negatively on their confidence and ability to gel as a team.</blockquote>
The Blackadder effect?

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="568778" data-time="1459444690">
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starting 6 in the best team in the world 
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Have you seen him play this season? Not the form 6 in world rugby by a long shot.
 
 
And yes, he was robbed in 2011 :)

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="568782" data-time="1459448596">
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The Blackadder effect?
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I wonder if it is an ex-player thing? Too much empathy with the players wanting an opportunity?
 
But then again it isn't like the Chiefs or Canes don't change things around as well. The difference with the Blues is that they don't have confidence themselves which means that changes are seen as trying to fix things rather than just using the squad.
 
Tana is trying to hold players accountable. Moala has not been organising the defence, or doing his own defence, very well. His lapses have arguably cost results. Fair call to give him a kick up the arse IMO.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="568787" data-time="1459450161">
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Have you seen him play this season? Not the form 6 in world rugby by a long shot.
 
 
And yes, he was robbed in 2011 :)
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Yeah, I'm not sure we are going to see the best of Kaino at Super level anymore. He's at the McCaw stage of his career where he saves his best for the ABs.
 
In saying that he pretty much carried the Blues forward pack around on his back for most of last season.

Nepia

Weird responses around Kaino - so when Carter and McCaw (or even Franks and A Smith) weren't starring in early rounds of Super Rugby they weren't considered the best in the country in their position?
 
As for the 'form 6 in world rugby' business - where did I say that? 
 
Ok, how about we just change it to Tana has a completely shit squad then. ;)

SammyC

To be honest, I think the Crusaders are seeing some benefit from not having McCaw in the team.
 
the last few years it was pretty obvious he only got into top shape when the AB season was looming.
 
Last year he had the worst tackle percentage of all NZ loose forwards in the comp. This year we have some of the best in this area.
 
 
Franks has hit this season in much better form than the previous few.

The Silver Fern

Blues vs Jags