Blues 2022
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From an article in Stuff today:
It was also the first start for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck alongside Barrett and Rieko Ioane. “He’s feeling the physicality of the midfield, and is looking a bit sore,” said MacDonald of his new No 12’s stop-start debut season around a shoulder injury. “That’s good. He needs minutes under his belt. Every game for him is gold, he’s learning so quickly, and to get 65 minutes will do him good for next week.”
The Blues now head to Perth for a Friday night clash against the Force set to bring back a swag of frontliners. MacDonald expects Akira Ioane to be good to go after a long spell out with a foot injury, while Caleb Clarke is back off suspension. Skipper Dalton Papalii, props Alex Hodgman and Ofa Tuungafasi and back utility Stephen Perofeta all return after a week off, while it’s hoped Fin Christie and Josh Goodhue will be out of HIA protocols.
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@Tim assume that is just lazy reporting as we know Goodhue is out with a broken thumb....
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@taniwharugby Yeah, think he means Hodgman ...
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@Nogusta said in Blues 2022:
@Duluth I think his shoulder is worse than they're letting on. He hurt it very early in the game and struggled through up until he got subbed.
It was iced straight after the game too. He looked pretty timid in defence so perhaps it's still giving him probs.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2022:
@Nogusta said in Blues 2022:
@Duluth I think his shoulder is worse than they're letting on. He hurt it very early in the game and struggled through up until he got subbed.
It's pretty obvious he's physically not up to it for a 12.
Yeah I think Union is much more attritional than league, despite their 'big hits'. As was pointed out elsewhere the majority of codes play their best team all the time, and more often. But when you look at Whitelock or Taylor over played by saders last year, despite mandatory ABs rests, that just doesn't work for Union. You can't just keep playing as in other codes at pro level, it appears from the outside looking in
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Not sure that perception is matching reality re: RTS v the Drua - Stats say that he made 12 tackles with no misses in his 60 mins. The same number as Rieko, Choat and Robinson. Sure he wasn't spectacular but for a first game back from injury and only his second ever start he was solid enough.
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@Daffy-Jaffy yip he was solid ok will only get better and better
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@Daffy-Jaffy yeah, not the only rugby player to be iced after getting off the field. Was making good low tackles as well, something he said he was working on as a key difference between the codes.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2022:
Not sure that perception is matching reality re: RTS v the Drua - Stats say that he made 12 tackles with no misses in his 60 mins. The same number as Rieko, Choat and Robinson. Sure he wasn't spectacular but for a first game back from injury and only his second ever start he was solid enough.
I was coming to post that stat, but the stat I saw had Ioane with 12 and RTS with 14 (Blues socials I think).
Edit:
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@gt12 The stats I read were from the SANZAR site. It hat 12 each with RI also missing 2. I know all the stats sites tend to vary from each other. They had Darry with the game high of 20 tackles.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 The stats I read were from the SANZAR site. It hat 12 each with RI also missing 2. I know all the stats sites tend to vary from each other. They had Darry with the game high of 20 tackles.
Likely that the Blues have Opta or were using the initial stats which likely change. Either way, your point stands - RTS was pretty good on defense.
I believe he’ll be an ‘extra’ training with the AB squad.
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He may have been favouring his shoulder but I don't remember many dominant tackles. Agree he was solid on his return and just needs games under his belt. I think he showed enough with ball in hand, footwork before his injury break that he'll succeed. Just needs more games.
