Blues vs Jags
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="569545" data-time="1459649949">
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<p>Not a great game, but I'm taking any win after the last couple of years.</p>
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<p>It was a much improved scrum last night. Even Mr. Origami(Prattley) managed to not look like a disaster in the scrum.</p>
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<p>Luatua, Tuipulotu and Akira all looked good with ball in hand. Surely Akira starts next week?</p>
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<p>Parsons had a very good game. He was very busy before he went off.</p>
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<p>Gibson was big on defense for us and topped the tackle count once again. He also probably hit twice as many rucks as any other player.</p>
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<p>Ranger had a solid game. I actually thought he'd be gun-shy to go for turnovers after his neck surgery.</p>
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<p>Blake Gibson sure does get through a lot of work as he was everywhere last night. Thought our loose trio was excellent especially on defence. Parsons is having his best season in a Blues jumper so far. Maybe an All Black call up for him? Thought Mayhew improved our scrum a lot and got through a lot of work before going off and despite not being a fan of his, Francis also went better than I thought he would. It was also good to see our big men carrying the ball more often as well as you said, something we didn't do enough against the Reds.</p>
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<p>We've got a long way to go before being the finished product, but we're slowly getting there. A bit more direction from the base is needed.</p> -
Akira is awesome in the tight, always making good yards with ball in hand even when it looks like there is absolutely nothing on.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="569556" data-time="1459655064"><p>Akira is awesome in the tight, always making good yards with ball in hand even when it looks like there is absolutely nothing on.</p></blockquote>
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Yep - he's also bloody secure with his handling with his carries - very rarely loses possession. -
Tuungafasi deffinately Seems a better tight head than loose head,I same the same last year aswell<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="569583" data-time="1459661728">
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<p>Tuungafasi deffinately Seems a better tight head than loose head,I same the same last year aswell<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p>
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<p>You reckon? He struggles at ITM Cup level there imo.</p> -
<p>Blues big struggle looks to be confidence and identity. They don't look like they know how the want to play or have developed a style.</p>
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<p>When you watch the Saders, Chiefs or Landers you know what they bring to a game. They have a style that suits the players and they feed off that. Blues look like Canes in the Hammett years, trying very hard but look totally in tune with what they are doing.</p>
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<p>West and Hall have to start running the ball more and being more creative. West needs to see if he can bring his provincial game to the big time. If he can't then they can move on from him, but at the moment he looks to be scared of failure.</p>
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<p>The Blues forward pack wins enough go forward ball for the abilities in the backline to make and take chances. They just look 'constrained' to me.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="569356" data-time="1459589971">
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<p>I hope Francis and Mayhew are ok - they went well. Blues 2 wins a draw and 2 losses - might have not been vintage from the Blues but a huge step up than against the Reds.</p>
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<p>what was everyones take on Tanas complaining about the argies low tackling (that busted Mayhews knee)..</p>
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<p>Not really sure if there's an issue or not.. in two minds about it. Always taught to tackle low and hard to stop someone, which is exactly what the argies were doing. But as someone with rooted knees I'm a bit sympathetic.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="569675" data-time="1459716814">
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<p>Blues big struggle looks to be confidence and identity.</p>
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<p>Continuity too...Tana needs to settle on some combinations, allow players time next to one another.</p>
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<p>Was great awareness of West to run off Ranger's shoulder as he went to ground the other night, and that's what you need, but was surprising given how little those 2 have played together.</p> -
<p>Are the Blues actually going that bad considering their squad (worst squad in NZ and no world class players, and Kaino apparently reduced to an also ran ;)) and their performance over the past few years? 2-1-2 at this stage is pretty decent for a team of their ability I would have thought?</p>
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<p>Obviously I'm not a fully invested Blues fan so my expectations might be a bit lower.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="569746" data-time="1459733438">
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<p>Are the Blues actually going that bad considering their squad (worst squad in NZ and no world class players, and Kaino apparently reduced to an also ran ;)) and their performance over the past few years? 2-1-2 at this stage is pretty decent for a team of their ability I would have thought?</p>
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<p>Obviously I'm not a fully invested Blues fan so my expectations might be a bit lower.</p>
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<p>I agree. Especially when 3 of the 5 games they have played have been vs other NZ Conference teams.</p>
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<p>Realistically - given the squad - they are ticking along ok. They still have a tendency to shoot themselves in the foot (most of the first half vs Jags for example) but they are also showing good heart on defence, and they seem to finish games strong too (almost pipped Canes, got 10 points to draw v Reds, wound down the game well v Jags).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="569744" data-time="1459733216">
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<p>I agree on combinations in the backs. If Francis is fit i'd roll with the same backline for the Blues - Tana looked to finally find a backline mix worth sticking with. </p>
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<p>I thought he got man handled a bit out there on Saturday.</p>
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<p>On the radio they were saying the last time a NZ team lost was 11 or 12th of March, when the Blues lost to another NZ team....(only 3 weekends I know but...)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="569746" data-time="1459733438">
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<p>Are the Blues actually going that bad considering their squad (worst squad in NZ and no world class players, and Kaino apparently reduced to an also ran ;)) and their performance over the past few years? 2-1-2 at this stage is pretty decent for a team of their ability I would have thought?</p>
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<p>Obviously I'm not a fully invested Blues fan so my expectations might be a bit lower.</p>
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<p>100% correct. We're obviously a work in progress but we get compared to all the other sides in our conference which makes us look worse than what we are, and the way that some on here and the media go on about us, you'd think we were 0-5 like last season.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="569760" data-time="1459735585">
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<p>I thought he got man handled a bit out there on Saturday.</p>
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<p>On the radio they were saying the last time a NZ team lost was 11 or 12th of March, when the Blues lost to another NZ team....(only 3 weekends I know but...)</p>
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<p>He might have got a tad bit man handled but I thought his decision making of when to pass and when to hold was on point and he defended well too - he brought something different to the table which I think is what the Blues need in their bacls - that 12 for the Jags really carved up the Stormers the week prior but the Blues were able to keep him pretty quiet - whereas Moala lost the ball looking for an offload (when it wasn't on) and it resulted in the Jags sole try.</p> -
Moala tried too much when he came on (ridiculous fucking offload), but I think that if Tana is really about developing for the future - he'll put him in and let him develop. He and Ranger should be great there with a bit of time, a 10 who knows how to use them, and a better strategy than flinging it to them without any go forward.<br><br>
Personally, I thought Francis looked like a 10 playing 12. Maybe he deserves a shot running the ship from 10, but I'm not really convinced that the midfield was that much better than it has been.<br><br>
Even though I thought West would step up, he doesn't really take on the line enough to hold the defense, kind of like a poor man's Barrett slinging it along then occasionally running. He doesn't seem to be going to make it at this level, sadly. I wonder if he'd be better in the James Marshall role at the canes, but then who runs at 10. Perennial Blues problem.
