Blues 2022
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Sanzaar has failed to differentiate between Clarkeās blow, and that landed by team-mate Nepo Laulala against the same opponents four days earlier when his shoulder connected with Moana Pasifika centre Fine Inisiās head in a breakdown, and also drew a red. Both players were meted out three-week bans, and that, say the Blues, is just fine by them. āWe appreciate what World Rugby are doing, really emphasising keeping players safe,ā Blues assistant coach Daniel Halangahu told a media posse after Thursdayās training at Alexandra Park. āWe went in there hopeful. You could see there was no intent and we all know Caleb is a warm, loving young man, and never intended for anything to happen. But unfortunately it did.ā Asked if the ban was fair, Halangahu said the Bluesā view was that it was. āThe framework is pretty clear and theyāve applied it,ā said the attack coach. āWeāre getting consistency now. There has been a shift over the last few years and thatās because of the injuries sustained. Weāre really clear on whatās OK and not OK. Caleb got it wrong, he accepts he got it wrong, and itās just the degree of how he got it wrong is where weāre at.ā That supportive view extended to the framework of how head contact offences were viewed. āWe support keeping players safe, so weāve got to adjust how we do things,ā Halangahu added. āObviously in those two incidents we got it wrong, so weāll work on changing some behaviour and technique.ā Halangahu did concede Clarkeās offence had been almost āuniqueā in its nature ā though still a reminder that ultimately the duty of care lay with players making challenges. āCaleb was attempting to keep the player safe, and thatās the reason he had the angle across the kicker. But he still made contact, so itās understanding the exact scenario where we probably canāt leave our feet and get into that space. āWeāve got to keep the safety of the person kicking the ball at front of mind. If we canāt execute that charge-down and still keep that person safe, weāre going to have to adjust our technique.ā -
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2022:
Luatua was MAGS.
I was just coming to post that - he played with my cousin.
Edit: Was he was poached at some point? I don't remember it @Dice
I don't think so.
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Sullivan inspired by āunrealā Tuivasa-Sheck
Zarn Sullivan has been a breakout player for the Blues.
While he has excelled at fullback, the youngster predominantly played at first-five throughout his schoolboy days and has hopes that he can return to his favoured position in the future.
āIāve always got that in the back of my head, I know I can play 10 personally but I think I just need to do my job at fullback at the moment and then if I get that opportunity I can step up as a 10,ā he said on SENZās Blues Brothers.
āA few years ago when I was at school (I played there), and just having that leadership role on my shoulders again will be a bit different, but Iāll feel a little bit more comfortable.
āNo.10 is probably where I want to end up later in my career, but at the moment it is just me nailing what I can do and nailing my job, and helping the people around me.ā
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@stargazer I herd he could have played but has slight ankle injury b ok next week
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@george33 said in Blues 2022:
@stargazer I herd he could have played but has slight ankle injury b ok next week
Yes, an ankle injury according to Hinton's article.
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The Bluesā only injury from Hamilton was the break in Nockās hand which is expected to see him out for around three weeks, with fellow halfback Fin Christie āavailableā after being a late withdrawal on game night.
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The Blues held the Chiefs scoreless and Cully was full of praise for the impact of Joe Schmidt, the Kiwi who coached Ireland from 2013-2019 and returned to NZ as an assistant to Leon MacDonald this season.
āWhen you look at the Blues Iāve got two words for you ā Joe Schmidt,ā said Cully.
āHe was hired at the start of the year. His influence is really becoming apparent.
āWhen they were down in Dunedin at the start of the season I watched him before the games started. He is a magnificent, world class coach and the word is that the Blues players, including their senior All Blacks are hanging on his every word, rate him incredibly highly.
āThe Blues have been building for two or three years but I think Schmidtās addition has taken them to another level.ā
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@duluth it's still so recent we couldn't pick up a win against kiwi opposition.
What's awesome is we're still building, expecting to get better year on year. The talent identification has finally got good, and we're seeing the results.
It's been a lot of Shawshank before the redemption
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@nzzp said in Blues 2022:
@duluth it's still so recent we couldn't pick up a win against kiwi opposition.
What's awesome is we're still building, expecting to get better year on year. The talent identification has finally got good, and we're seeing the results.
It's been a lot of Shawshank before the redemption
The last two games have been epic away wins, wasnāt that long ago we couldnāt even win away let alone play like that.
Amazing what a good coach can do (side eye at the All Blacks)
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