Blues v Hurricanes
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he Blues are amped and ready to ensure that the Easter break will be no holiday for the visiting Hurricanes when they clash in the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa match at Eden Park on Saturday night.
The second placed Blues, with two wins and two losses in their opening four games, will begin the second round of the competition following their 31-16 victory over the Canes in the opening match in Wellington.
Coach Leon MacDonald has made several changes after the disappointing loss to the Chiefs, although most of the Blues squad from that win in Wellington last month will take part this weekend.
The only “new faces” from the opening match are veteran TJ Faiane, who gets his first start after an injury-delayed season, and exciting young lock Sam Darry, who made his impressive Super Rugby debut against the Highlanders.
Darry comes in for captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who has not recovered from a shoulder injury received in last weekend’s match.
Loose forward Tom Robinson, who made a significant impact off the bench against the Chiefs, has earned his first start of the season at loose forward and will captain the side.
“The performance overall against the Chiefs was disappointing, especially at set-piece, our lack of accuracy and discipline. The players who made an impact off the bench or have been working hard on the training field have earned their chance.
“Sam gets another start at lock after he impressed us earlier in the season and Tom will lead this team in place Patrick,” said coach Leon MacDonald.
Sam Nock gets his opportunity to start at halfback for the second time this season with Jonathan Ruru expected to add real thrust again from the reserves.
The front row continues the inter-change of All Black props with Ofa Tuungafasi welcomed at home in front of friends and family for his 101st game in blue, and Karl Tu’inukuafe, both starting.
The potential new cap will come in the form of strong-running winger AJ Lam, outstanding in the Mitre-10 Cup, and rewarded after continuing to impress on the training field.
“We are primed to get back on track with a much better all-round performance,” said MacDonald. “When we got some go-forward ball we showed how dangerous we can be. But we need to be more accurate at set-piece, and continue to improve in terms of our discipline.
“We started the season well but lacked precision over the last two games and last week’s game was disappointing. That has led to some changes this week as players who have done the mahi at training get their opportunity.
“We are back at Eden Park and looking to put together a performance of quality that we and our loyal fans will be proud of.”
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@daffy-jaffy strong looking side, this one could go either way IMO.
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@canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Ffs, Blackwell returns
I thought we were rid of this waste of space. So Canes had a good win and they change a winning team around with worse players. The coaches are clueless
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@winger said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Ffs, Blackwell returns
I thought we were rid of this waste of space. So Canes had a good win and they change a winning team around with worse players. The coaches are clueless.
The Hurricanes won lots of games last season with those same players, including beating the Crusaders in Christchurch. Scrafton & Blackwell were two players who contributed hugely towards that win. I think you could show them (and the coaches) a little more respect.
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@canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@stargazer it's just so painful. IWL was one of the top players on the park last week, it surely doesn't give the kid confidence when he's replaced by one of shortest, if not the shortest lock in Super Rugby history. Seriously, what does a guy like Blackwell do at training to make him command such a permanent position in the team? He's just so ordinary and has tits for hands.
Numia and Rakete-Stones have been alot stronger over recent weeks, Armstrong is lucky to be in the 23, let alone starting.
IWL I thought was massive last game for the Canes and Scrafton was good I cant see why Blackwell is back strange selections.
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@kiwi_expat You sound like you're on the Canes' coaching staff
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@stargazer he must be related to Holland.
I don't think anyone is questioning Scrafton but the size of Blackwell just doesn't cut it. The coaches don't really deserve full respect when their winning record is just over 50%. The Canes and their fans have higher expectations than that, including myself. -
@canes4life From the media release:
Holland said the coaching staff were continuing their plan to rotate some players and give others an opportunity through the tough Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
He's mostly rotating the same players. I still have to see proof that all players are given an opportunity.
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@canes4life it's actually around 60%
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I'd say the reason for Blackwell being continually selected is because he's a key leader in the group, he's a senior player, he was the Hurricanes player of the season in 2019, was pretty outstanding in Super Rugby Aotearoa last year too. Also isn't he the Wellington Lions captain?
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Blues $1.35
Hurricanes $3.00Odds should be more even?
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I would have to check the record books , but would Tom Robinson be the first Northlander to ever captain the Blues .?,.I was thinking maybe Justin Collins ...?,he may of , but he may have been playing for Auckland at the time .,Thoughts ..?
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@steven-harris I think Gus must have, Taylor likely to have captained the Chiefs on occasion too?
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@kiwi_expat are you saying this only because you're a Highlanders supporter and want us to stay average? Blackwell might be a hard worker, a leader in the group and a key shot caller within the pack but it doesn't take away the fact that he's still 1.90m, has shit hands and often gets man handled taking the ball up. Proof in point when he cost us the game against the Chiefs the other week with a poor carry. IWL showed on Friday what we are missing not having him starting on a regular. The size he brings means we don't go backwards at scrum time, we are alot more efficiant in stopping attacking mauls, and IWL actually has enough height in the lineout which enables our hookers to hit their target.
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@steven-harris Glenn Taylor?
Looks like he was in 2002:
Taylor named Blues captain - Super Rugby News - NZ Herald
