SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs

Steven Harris

The biggest takeaway for me is trying to get my head around the contribution of Tanielu Teleʻa..
Leon MacDonald told us in an interview after Crusaders game that the loss of Tele’a early in the game had disrupted the Blues attacking game plan ..

After Saturday evening ,I saw nothing that even resembled any sort of creativeness from the backs with Tele’a being a pivotal part of the Blues attack ..!
Or maybe I am just missing something..😂🤦‍♂️

sparky

@old-samurai-jack said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

Clarke is soooo out of form! Even defensively he is running around like a headless chook. Is he looking to beat the man or just run into people? Why is he never in the right place?

Caleb Clarke massively out of form this season. Don't know what's going if its injury or a mental thing or poor coaching but his work rate is significantly below that expected of an AB starting wing.

African Monkey

@steven-harris Yeah Tele'a at this level is no more than a 20 minute impact player off the bench. He doesn't have the skill set to play in the midfield.

For now, he's a winger who can fill in at centre, no more. He's certainly no 12.

Bovidae

@sparky said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

Caleb Clarke massively out of form this season. Don't know what's going if its injury or a mental thing or poor coaching but his work rate is significantly below that expected of an AB starting wing.

Clarke has acknowledged this too.

“Personally I feel like I haven’t really got to my full potential, it’s been a lot harder this year, trying to get into these games.

“I came into this year with a goal to be working off the ball and getting the ball a lot,” he said.

“Whereas I’ve been working off the ball, but every time I’m running off my wing, I can hear everyone talking, like ‘Caleb’s coming’.

“Last weekend I could hear Sam Whitelock say that every time I tried to sneak around the rucks.

“Stuff like that is frustrating, but at the same time it is quite cool that I’m being so heavily marked. But it’s been one of those years where I’ve wanted to do tackle busting runs and get over the gain line, but it’s been tougher not getting the ball.”

nzzp

@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game

Snowy

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game

Yep. Use the extra attention to distribute / offload and find the space that is created elsewhere. Maybe that is why he keeps heading infield rather than trying to go outside? Trying to link up, rather than go over or through a couple of defenders.

Duluth

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game

Like he did the week before against the Highlanders

Nogusta

@steven-harris what a head scratcher...doesn't feature at all then all of a sudden is a pivotal part of the game plan against the champs...ol Rangi didn't do himself (or Telea) any favours! SMH....

nzzp

@nogusta said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@steven-harris what a head scratcher...doesn't feature at all then all of a sudden is a pivotal part of the game plan against the champs...ol Rangi didn't do himself (or Telea) any favours! SMH....

I think what gets said to the media is deflection in some ways - probably didn't help losing a starter, but I'd be very surprised if he wasn't playing a bit of a game with the journo's, trying to turn the heat up on others

Dice

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game

Second year syndrome in his 4th Super season?

TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.

nzzp

@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.

did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention

Dice

@african-monkey said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@steven-harris Yeah Tele'a at this level is no more than a 20 minute impact player off the bench. He doesn't have the skill set to play in the midfield.

For now, he's a winger who can fill in at centre, no more. He's certainly no 12.

He's a lot like Moala. He doesn't quite look like a true midfielder or winger, but talented enough to be out there.

He looked handy on the wing back in 2019, but we have plenty of wingers now.

Dice

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.

did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention

Played 5 games in 2018 and 8 in 2019. All starts.

nzzp

@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.

did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention

Played 5 games in 2018 and 8 in 2019. All starts.

huh, nice work. I googled and coudln't find much. What a raw talent back them...

KiwiMurph

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.

did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention

I think that was Tanielu Tele'a in his rookie year when he played on the wing.

Stargazer

@kiwimurph I don't remember him taking out a South African in the air in Super Rugby, but Tele'a got red-carded for a late, shoulder charge in the game against Wales during the World Rugby U20 Championship (JWC) in 2018. Got a 3-game suspension for that.

nzzp

@kiwimurph said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.

did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention

I think that was Tanielu Tele'a in his rookie year when he played on the wing.

far out I'm getting old. Telea it was indeed

African Monkey

@dice Yup have to agree there.

African Monkey

And yes, Tele'a got a red card for taking the Stormers winger out in the air in 2019.

nostrildamus

@snowy said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game

Yep. Use the extra attention to distribute / offload and find the space that is created elsewhere. Maybe that is why he keeps heading infield rather than trying to go outside? Trying to link up, rather than go over or through a couple of defenders.

yeah but it helps if you have the ball..

The Silver Fern

SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs