Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022
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Enjoyed that. It was a very fluid but physical game. I thought Choat was everywhere for the Blues. Julian. S has been bagged for being too slow by some but his impact was obvious. The Bus has a few games left in him yet!
Are Kiwi and Aussie teams playing a bit more direct this year or is it my imagination? -
The real turning point was when the Canes incumbent players come off the bench & were all on the field - if that fool Holland had started them in the first place we wouldn't have struggled so much throughout most of the match... the Blues were always going to fade a bit towards the back end of the match through lack of match fitness.
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Fun game, but how the fuck did the Blues give that up?
Just tired? Lack of bench impact?
They were there with 4 minutes to go and gave up two tries. Fuuuuuuuuucccck.
Feel sorry for RTS to be really good for 79 minutes then miss a bad one at the end.
I thought B Sullivan had a good game and I was pleased for him, as I felt like he never had enough chances at the Chiefs.
Goodhue was the best player on the park, well done that man, and I was also really impressed with Romano.
I watched it a few times, and I reckon Flanders was a bit lucky not to be penalized at the intercept (4 minutes out), but either way terrible option by Nock.
All in all, a fantastic watch and after yesterday (which found pretty boring as I knew the Saders would eventually win), this was maybe the game to get me back into Super rugby.
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@nzbloke said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
The real turning point was when the Canes incumbent players come off the bench & were all on the field - if that fool Holland had started them in the first place we wouldn't have struggled so much throughout most of the match... the Blues were always going to fade a bit towards the back end of the match through lack of match fitness.
JGB looks really fat in those shorts. How can he earn starts when Love plays like that?
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@canefan said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@nzbloke said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
The real turning point was when the Canes incumbent players come off the bench & were all on the field - if that fool Holland had started them in the first place we wouldn't have struggled so much throughout most of the match... the Blues were always going to fade a bit towards the back end of the match through lack of match fitness.
JGB looks really fat in those shorts. How can he earn starts when Love plays like that?
Love was 5 shades of shit last week and looked like a different player this week.
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A few harsh assessments for what is the 1st and 2nd games of the season for these two teams. Some are over critical of the Canes selections, but one could argue it was a master stroke to have stronger players come on for the last quarter.
I’d be surprised if all of the coaches aren’t experimenting a little with their lineups. It’s a long season after all.
Good entertainment from both sides.
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RTS certainly looked like he could bring something to the mix at higher levels BUT he needs more work on tackling players running just off his line. Not just the obvious last example but a few times I noticed Jules go around him enough to stop the hit and he would slip off.
The type of thing that international teams would take advantage of for gain line.What suited him is the Blues “bodies in motion” style of attack. There was almost always someone running a line off him and often he had options. The offloads wouldn’t have looked so good if there was no one there to hit.
It’s a style I would like to see the ABs take on but players need to be very dynamic in looking to go through tackles. That removes Havili and Bridge.
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@machpants we all like Ardie. We just don’t think he is an AB 8. In the loose forward trio but not one of the main dogs carting it up like a traditional eight.
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@canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@kiwimurph allgood, I make those statements all the time.
To be fair, from memory he stopped the Blues from scoring in the first few minutes of the game which can now be seen as a big moment also.
Big players stand up in big moments and that’s what makes him so bloody good.
Defs should be playing 7. Iose should be starting 8 with Flanders at 6.
Agree with most of that except this continue call for Ardie to be 7, he was probably one of best 8s in world last year in test rugby, and though he bloody good 7, I think he has become a top flight 8.
I a real fan of Iose at 8, but believe he another who can play pretty well at 7, he very much an Ardie clone I think, very very hard to bring down, uses his leg drive to go through tackles. -
@broughie said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@machpants we all like Ardie. We just don’t think he is an AB 8. In the loose forward trio but not one of the main dogs carting it up like a traditional eight.
I wonder if you have not noticed Ardie carting ball up from scrums etc, it is his strength surely, I can't think of anyone in the country that does it better.
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@dan54 said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@broughie said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@machpants we all like Ardie. We just don’t think he is an AB 8. In the loose forward trio but not one of the main dogs carting it up like a traditional eight.
I wonder if you have not noticed Ardie carting ball up from scrums etc, it is his strength surely, I can't think of anyone in the country that does it better.
I agree and where does this concept that 8s should be big ball crashers come from anyway?
Ardie looks to have put on a little bulk IMO.
I can't see a better option in NZ at the moment TBF.
What we need is the right balance in the loosies and with Ardie at 8 we need a bruiser at 6.
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I thought J.Savea was absolute garbage up until the last 15 was always out of position on attack made minimal metres against RTS and Ioane tacking was average also though in fairness to him can’t get much front foot ball off JGB.
Sullivan and PUJ should be the midfield next week they complement each other well.
I must say as a Canes fan I believed they were did and buried they were really lacking at the like out(Surprise surprise) we got owned and at the rucks we really seemed to lack physicality.
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@taniwharugby ok my mistake. Point being that comments about players off the field are mostly just gossip. Someone with an easy going nature isn’t necessary a slacker. After a loss, the comments here turn to a player someone doesn’t like and incidental actions in general play are made out to be fatal weaknesses. Last night you had a wing come off his wing in defence when he didn’t need to, and RTS get pushed off with an arms tackle - and if you watched Warriors games you will know that this is an issue for him. Correct those things and the Blues win easily. The rest is just noise.
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@dan54 I’m talking more from a Canes perspective. I think the Canes benefit a lot more when he’s at 7 because it allows someone like Brayden Iose to do his thing aswell.
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@canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@dan54 I’m talking more from a Canes perspective. I think the Canes benefit a lot more when he’s at 7 because it allows someone like Brayden Iose to do his thing aswell.
A Savea's the starting AB 8 so will likely want to stay there. Could Iose play 7. Same height and weight as Ardie
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@winger said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
@dan54 I’m talking more from a Canes perspective. I think the Canes benefit a lot more when he’s at 7 because it allows someone like Brayden Iose to do his thing aswell.
A Savea's the starting AB 8 so will likely want to stay there. Could Iose play 7. Same height and weight as Ardie
At that height he would be a sure thing at either lock or blindside.
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@nzbloke said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:
The real turning point was when the Canes incumbent players come off the bench & were all on the field - if that fool Holland had started them in the first place we wouldn't have struggled so much throughout most of the match... the Blues were always going to fade a bit towards the back end of the match through lack of match fitness.
It is quite possible that you answered the question of why "that fool Holland" didn't start the incumbent players in your final statement.
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That is the best game of rugby I have seen in a good while. Pure entertainment.
The ABs need more Polynesian in the back line. Watching that game you just know what was missing in 2021.
Canes should always start love he is better than GB
I never watch league but that a more than promising start by the new convert.
