Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022
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@antipodean someone mentioned his box kicks last week, how many went straight up last night?
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@kirwan said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@antipodean someone mentioned his box kicks last week, how many went straight up last night?
I've not seen so many fucked up box kicks in ages (from just about every halfback playing).
I suspect that it's partly the use of the short kick this year and many aren't getting it right. The 30m box kick used to be the ideal and AS could land it bang on. Contesting from the back has got so much better over the years that it's getting to be risky to try the 30 unless you see them out of position.
i don't think I had seen penalties for 'inside the 10' for years but it is happening each week now. I don't think players are used to that law at all -
@kirwan he does have a very good box kick, but it, like most of his game is just not consistent enough.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@kirwan he does have a very good box kick, but it, like most of his game is just not consistent enough.
It either goes out on the full or straight up. If it’s not consistent, it’s not good.
Time for us to move on from him, I’d rather have the mistakes from someone on the improve than going backwards.
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Yeah have to agree with moving on from Nock. He still looks hesitant when either going for a loose ball or going to pick the ball at ruck time, and his box kicking is so hot and cold.
He'll always go down as one of the big underachievers in blues history imo. He looked to have turned a corner in 2019-early 2020, but sadly it was short lived which is a shame as he does have the tools to be a quality halfback, but is so inconsistent and still as I said earlier, still doesn't like the physical stuff.
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@african-monkey Any thoughts on who to replace him with? Any young hot shots coming through at U20/19 level, or worth poaching?
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@tim I guess we'll poach Manu Paea back depending on how he goes in the NPC to go with Christie and Funaki. Possibly someone from out of the region like Logan Henry?
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@african-monkey Maybe one of the young Chiefs' halfbacks won't want to be third choice there?
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interesting to see if Milo-Harris gets any time
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@taniwharugby Is he with Northland?
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@daffy-jaffy Good St Peter's boy, helped us win the Quadruple in 2018.
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@african-monkey Here he is playing with Nico Jones -
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@daffy-jaffy Yup, the 2018 final against Napier Boys, where they came back from 21-0 down to win 31-28. Niko Jones became a star overnight. Sadly he hasn't kicked on in pro rugby (yet).
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@african-monkey I think the time Jones spent in the Sevens program (while rarely playing in a tournament) stalled his fifteens progress, while others like Choat and Ekuasi took their chances.
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@daffy-jaffy I agree, along with him not being able to play NPC last year. He needs some regular gametime.
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didnt think NIko looked big enough when he was up here last year in the pre-season, if I were to choose I'd take Ekuasi over him.
