Blues 2022

[Stargazer]

Media release: https://blues.rugby/taranaki-hooker-riccitelli-to-move-north/

[nzzp]

@stargazer that's really good news.

Hooking stocks suddenly looking pretty damn good, it's great. The years where we had James Parsons and then ... no-one were soul destroying. Love JP to bits as a human, but goddamn he was too small to be the front line hooker for us, great as a squaddie

[Duluth]

So confirmation of the three hookers

He will complete the Blues hooking roster with incumbents Kurt Eklund, who played for the Maori All Blacks against Samoa, and last year’s Blues Development Player of the Year, Soane Vikena.

Not renewing Niuia makes sense

There were two other hookers who got game time. Apisai has never got his throwing to the required level. Has Luteru Tolai signed for another franchise? Hopefully he's still around the Dev team etc

[Tim]

@duluth Yeah, Tolai needs to improve his physicality, which as a young player he hopefully can, but the rest of his game is solid.

[Duluth]

There's a reasonable chance that Riccitelli becomes 3rd choice at the Blues too.

That basically depends on Vikena's form but he's unusually good for his age in this position (Vikena turned 20 recently)

[taniwharugby]

@nzzp think it was more he had less natural ability than most, he is taller than RR and only a few kgs lighter...

But Agree, JP comes across as an absolute top bloke off the park, but was limited on it (but gave it his all still)

[trodthesod]

With the high attrition rate in Super rugby I feel all squad members are potential starters,so where they are rated is irrevelant.

[trodthesod]

Make that irrelevant.Wrong word!

[bobily2]

@trodthesod said in Blues 2022:

With the high attrition rate in Super rugby I feel all squad members are potential starters,so where they are rated is irrevelant.

I think this is true to an extent, but still, he's moving for a reason. Presumably this reason is because at the Hurricanes he was rated lower than the other hookers.

[Canes4life]

@bobily2 Riccitelli is a quality rake and a player who won't let down the Blues jersey if given an opportunity. Great squad member and I wouldn't be surprised if he pushed for a starting role next year.

[Tim]

'No one wanted me': Surprise reason why Otere Black is leaving NZ

Despite only starting to enter his peak years of professional rugby, Otere Black has called time on his career in New Zealand and is set to head to Japan following the NPC.

[Machpants]

@tim Canes coaches are morons

[mikey07]

@machpants Never a truer word spoken

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300360062/blues-to-lose-all-blacks-lock-patrick-tuipulotu-to-japan-sabbatical-in-2022

[nzzp]

@tim keeping gct sounds a great plan right now. Hopefully there's a good alternative somewhere

[Dice]

Moving Robinson to lock might not be a bad idea. He's done well there in the past and it means we can roll out an AB backrow.

Hopefully we've kept Pierce around.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@dice said "Hopefully we've kept Pierce around".
This line from the article would suggest not, unless he was overlooked (much like at match day selection time).
-- with only veteran Josh Goodhue and rookie Sam Darry remaining from their specialist locks in 2021--.
Also Goodhue must love being called a veteran having just turned 26! Goodhue's concussion issues are also an worry. He could be lost to head knocks at any time.

[taniwharugby]

@daffy-jaffy yep he must be very close to calling it a day due to head knocks.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Hamish Dalzell may push for one spot if he has a good NPC, having trained with the team all this season. Still only 25 and at 2.01m has the size they will be looking for.

[TJ]

@tim said in Blues 2022:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300360062/blues-to-lose-all-blacks-lock-patrick-tuipulotu-to-japan-sabbatical-in-2022

I really hope they don't bring him straight back into the ABs after this, from Barrett and Retallick, it's clear Japan is not sufficient prep for test matches