SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders
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@toddy yeah, Renton has been good but Frizell was on a rich vein of SR form
I wonder if we'll try the Lentjes/Himeno/Harmon combo again, go for speed and turnovers, try and get on the board early
I havent heard of any injuries so im assuming more or less the same team we've fielded for the whole of SRTT
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@toddy said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@dice said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@crazy-horse said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@cgrant said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
The forwards battle should be interesting, to say the least. Less big names in the Highlanders pack but collectively, the latter looks better.
Don't disagree in the slightest, but with the number of ABs, potentially starting ABs , in the Blues pack, it really should be a comfortable advantage to the Blues.
On paper, I'd argue the Blues should have advantage over the Crusader pack too.
Our pack looks nice on paper, but they did get smashed by the Highlanders' pack last time around.
This should be close. It was 1 win each in SRA.
Yeah, Blues pack were beaten last time but Fo Frizzel my nizzle played a big part in that. Renton has been good at the breakdown but I'm not so sure he has the physicality to dominate the Blues (haven't watched him closely though).
This made me laugh more than I should have
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@dice said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@crazy-horse said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@cgrant said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
The forwards battle should be interesting, to say the least. Less big names in the Highlanders pack but collectively, the latter looks better.
Don't disagree in the slightest, but with the number of ABs, potentially starting ABs , in the Blues pack, it really should be a comfortable advantage to the Blues.
On paper, I'd argue the Blues should have advantage over the Crusader pack too.
Our pack looks nice on paper, but they did get smashed by the Highlanders' pack last time around.
This should be close. It was 1 win each in SRA.
I don't recall last time around so I will take your word for it. My argument is, from a NZ perspective, that Blues pack should not be getting bettered by the Highlanders pack. Not in a game like this.
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@mattasaurus Are you sure about that?
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@african-monkey about being underdog? id say so, home advantage, number of All Blacks, direct results this year, top of the table all suggest the blues are the fav
@crazy-horse said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bovidae big year from Harmon. Amazing to think he has been mentioned in some circles as next cab off the rank for AB 7 if Savea's knee rules him out. Good to see.
yeah, our game plan over the last few season has really allowed opensides to shine, Hunt had a great season last year and i thought losing him was a real blow but Harmon has really stepped up
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@kiwiwomble Fair enough I guess, I personally think its a toss of the coin between 2 sides with 2 very different styles of play. As cliche as it sounds, I guess whoever executes it better will win.
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@african-monkey fair enough, ive already said in general anything can happen in a final but as far as what can be measured beforehand i think the Blues have it on paper
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@kiwiwomble said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
that would be a big blow
Snap, I just posted the same thing.
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@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@cgrant said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
The forwards battle should be interesting, to say the least. Less big names in the Highlanders pack but collectively, the latter looks better.
Scrums : even
Lineouts : advantage Highlanders
Rucks : even
Mauls : advantage Highlanders
Driving : advantage BluesScrums should be advantage blues. It's been a weapon the last couple of years... until we shit the bed like against the Chefs.
Highlanders scrum is very good. In fact the way their pack works together as a unit is excellent.
That Aaron Smith kid gets a sweet ride 😉
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@act-crusader about time someone pointed out the forwards make smith look good
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@act-crusader said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@cgrant said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
The forwards battle should be interesting, to say the least. Less big names in the Highlanders pack but collectively, the latter looks better.
Scrums : even
Lineouts : advantage Highlanders
Rucks : even
Mauls : advantage Highlanders
Driving : advantage BluesScrums should be advantage blues. It's been a weapon the last couple of years... until we shit the bed like against the Chefs.
Highlanders scrum is very good. In fact the way their pack works together as a unit is excellent.
That Aaron Smith kid gets a sweet ride 😉
I think the Highlanders forwards have the best ruck work in the comp (yes, even better than the Evil Empire). They make great decisions quickly about where to attack, and do it really well. It's clearly training rather than individual capability, and they make sucha difference.
but yeah, Smith would clearly suck but for the outstanding pack in front of him
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How convenient.
Seriously though, BB would be completely undercooked for this game. -
The coach confirmed Black had joined sidelined flanker Tom Robinson and crocked prop Ofa Tuungafasi – neither of whom took part in Tuesday’s session – as the major doubtful starters for the final on Saturday night (7.05pm kickoff).
On the positive side, standout openside flanker Dalton Papalii trained fully and appeared to have recovered well from the hip knock he took in Saturday’s qualifying finale against the Force.
“It’s just precautionary,” said Halangahu of Black’s early departure for treatment. “He’s earned a bit of a rest from training. It doesn’t look too bad at the moment – just a bit of a bruise. We expect him to train fully Thursday.
“He took a bang to his lower leg, nothing serious, but enough to send the jitters through the coaching staff.”
Halangahu confirmed All Blacks tighthead prop Ofa Tuungafasi was the most unlikely starter of the trio nursing injuries. He sat out two of the last three matches with knee soreness and is also nursing a finger injury.
“He’s probably more 30-70 to play. He’s dealing with a pretty serious hand injury that’s inhibiting him and a little knee complaint. He’ll be able to play if we needed him.”
Halangahu said they would give stand-in skipper and in-form blindside flanker Robinson every chance of playing in the final after he took a head knock on Saturday against the Force.
“He’s going through protocols around his head, and it’s really poor timing for Tom. The doctor is saying 50-50 … but the fact he’s not training is concerning for us. At the same time we’re hoping he’ll make it back in time.”
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@tim arent there usually rules around players having to have played certain number of games when coming in like this?
Appreciate he has been contracted to NZR the whole time, but what, 4 weeks ago he was playing for another team wasnt he?
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@taniwharugby said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@tim arent there usually rules around players having to have played certain number of games when coming in like this?
Appreciate he has been contracted to NZR the whole time, but what, 4 weeks ago he was playing for another team wasnt he?
Ask Hansen and Joe Moody about that!
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@taniwharugby said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@tim arent there usually rules around players having to have played certain number of games when coming in like this?
Appreciate he has been contracted to NZR the whole time, but what, 4 weeks ago he was playing for another team wasnt he?
pretty sure i saw the NZR have already said the Blues would have to proved there was no one else in the squad that could cover
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Time for Carter mk11 to step up into the 10 jersey!
But, the kerfuffle would be hilarious if Barrett played.
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@crazy-horse said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
Time for Carter mk11 to step up into the 10 jersey!
But, the kerfuffle would be hilarious if Barrett played.
We have a Carter MkII? Who is he, where is he? How did I miss him? I read all of @Stargazer 's info about the new up and comers.
