Blues 2022
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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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@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.
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Anton hasn’t seen his family in almost 3 years
His mum surprised him last week and the rest of his fam came down today 😭💙
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@Daffy-Jaffy is this supposed to be in the hawt thread?
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@Tim said in Blues 2022:
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.
“When you look at the Blues I’ve got two words for you – Joe Schmidt,” said Cully.
“He was hired at the start of the year. His influence is really becoming apparent.
“When 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.
“The Blues have been building for two or three years but I think Schmidt’s addition has taken them to another level.”
Tis amazing how much good coaching can do. With all respect to Tana, but the Blues have been a much better side since he stepped down from head coach.
Even back when JK was coaching, the Blues had all the talent, but just had no idea how to controll or take advantage of it.
Eg. JKs squad had the likes of, woodcock, mealamu, Charlie f, Kaino, Luatua, Braid, Pulu, Moala, Halai, Visinia, Piutau, etc etc -
@Mackerzzzz said in Blues 2022:
Even back when JK was coaching, the Blues had all the talent, but just had no idea how to controll or take advantage of it.
Given how JK comes across in the media after coaching, this is not surprising.