SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues
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@kirwan at least Ruru gets another shot, start of some consistency there...
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@taniwharugby said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@kirwan at least Ruru gets another shot, start of some consistency there...
He's been clearly the best of the 9s, so deserves selection.
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@kirwan said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@taniwharugby said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@kirwan at least Ruru gets another shot, start of some consistency there...
He's been clearly the best of the 9s, so deserves selection.
Disagree.
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@kiwimurph said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@kirwan said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@taniwharugby said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@kirwan at least Ruru gets another shot, start of some consistency there...
He's been clearly the best of the 9s, so deserves selection.
Disagree.
Didn't say he was going to be an All Black, but looking at the games this season Ruru is playing better than Finlay. Nock is a distant third at this point.
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@kirwan I understand. My opinion is that it's a self-fulfilling prophecy thing because Ruru gets most of the game time.
Just as an example let's talk about Nock.
Nock started game 1 and got pulled right at halftime. Then played game 2 from the bench.
His only other appearance was the Canes first half (game 5) in which he started and then got benched around halftime.
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@kiwimurph said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@kirwan I understand. My opinion is that it's a self-fulfilling prophecy thing because Ruru gets most of the game time.
Just as an example let's talk about Nock.
Nock started game 1 and got pulled right at halftime. Then played game 2 from the bench.
His only other appearance was the Canes first half (game 5) in which he started and then got benched around halftime.
Yes, because Nock was not playing well. Some of his kicks where going straight up!
Perhaps he's not training well either? Who knows. Difference is when Ruru has come on from the bench he's made a real difference.
I'd actually prefer they kept doing that and start with Christie
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@kirwan Yeah I think it's more coaches preference rather than overall form. They are two completely different halfbacks. For example - Ruru will always struggle with his clearance - both in terms of speed and accuracy - he always has and will. Clearly that doesn't bother Leon enough so Ruru remains starting. It will be interesting to see if Ruru and Plummer combine better but to me a huge part (but only part) of the Blues attack struggles is they don't have a 9 who clears well enough.
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@bones I think we are waiting on official 100% confirmation but by all accounts it's a fresh start.
Pretty tough on the likes of the Tahs if it's a carry over points situation- "you have zero chance of even mathematically making the final but here play 5 kiwi teams back to back".
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@jk said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@nogusta said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@duluth said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@pakman said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Blues team I'd like to see:
Big Karl/Apisai/Nepo/Dalton P (c)/GCT/Darry/Akira/Hoskins
I think Eklund is back?
The good oil is that Vikena will be the bench hooker!!
Yep. Tolai playing for northcote this week. Think Shaun Stevenson too
Heard a late call up to the Chiefs bench for tonight so may not see SS turn out for Cotes tomorrow after all.
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@bovidae said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Would you Blues fans have preferred Akira to start ahead of the soon-to-be injured Gibson?
I can only assume Papalii will be playing more as a 6 despite the number on his jersey.
Chch has really missed not having an out and out openside flanker. I like Blues starting eight for breakdown attack.
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@kirwan said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@nogusta said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@bovidae said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@duluth said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
No TJ is a big surprise. Not listed as injured either
Most expected Faiane to be the captain.
Far out....what a game to get your first start in....(Talea) and Plummer first start at 10
Brand new 10/12 combo against a probable AB combo?
Either a masterstroke or straw clutching
They should've done a better job of rotating/giving guys like Telea/Lam/Narawa/Choat minutes under their beltAgree, an odd game to make this switch. Will either be a masterstroke, or a a horrible reminder of the awful Tana selection era.
Plummer will attack the line harder than Black, and that ought to help backline. But given that’s a big change, surprised this is game Talea gets to start at 12. Is TJF not FULLY fit?
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@duluth said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@pakman said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Blues team I'd like to see:
Big Karl/Apisai/Nepo/Dalton P (c)/GCT/Darry/Akira/Hoskins
I think Eklund is back?
I would like to see the NH locks. GCT is in the form of his life and Pierce is the only other power lock in the squad. He should play when Tuiputlotu is injured.
But if we haven't seen Pierce yet I suspect he's unlikely to get picked.Backrow - Sotutu has been just below 2020 standards all year and is drifting backwards. Not a huge issue, he wouldn't be the first player to struggle in his 2nd year as a regular starter. Ioane at 8 and Choat and Papali'i on the flanks. Papali'i is comfortable at 6 and it probably helps his AB aspirations. I'm a fan of Choat, he's still a little limited this early in his career but he will tackle a lot and accurately
Wasn’t aware of Eklund’s return and start makes sense. Likewise Brake.
Hoskins needs to pull his finger out, but Akira seems to have also gone off boil, so for me marginal. But swap at 50 if needs be.
Living in UK don’t know much about Plumtree. What’s the Fern view?
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@pakman said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Living in UK don’t know much about Plumtree. What’s the Fern view?
He’s looked good in the games I’ve seen. He’s a tall loosie, not really a lock. Hopefully the starters can play most of the match
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