Blues v Brumbies
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="595124" data-time="1467970087">
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<p>Took the Blues head to head as the roughy in a multi, you beauty.<br><br>
Wish I had of taken them 13 plus though, that was paying real good coin!</p>
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<p>yeah I got a few $$$ on a multi but I took the $1.95 giving the Blues a 2.5 pt start, 3/3 so far...got 4 legs to go, but then I have picked a couple of upsets too, so the chances of both coming in is why my multi is paying $26...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="595322" data-time="1468031405">
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<p>Where is Duffie going to fit in though? Maybe his game at FB could improve. He got bundled out of touch pretty easily several times so although he scored some tries with space he does not have the power close to the line. </p>
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<p>Yeah next season with the likes of Rieko Ioane around and Melani Nanai making an excellent fist of fullback, Duffie may struggle to start in a full strength team, however as we know with Super Rugby it's all about depth so no doubt Duffie will be called upon, so credit to Duffie he certainly has improved and is at least now looks up to this level as a winger - and credit to the Blues for using his strengths, cross kicks to him etc. </p>
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<p>As for Nanai and his kicking - for me it's more down to his decision making of when to kick. He actually has a decent punt, but at times he can make bad decision on when to kick/not kick. I think that can be solved with more game time though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="595328" data-time="1468033930">
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<p>Is Nanai really a fullback? From what I've seen of him he lacks a kicking game, or I should say when he does kick, it's not very good.</p>
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<p>He's a winger by trade. His kicking game isn't great but there's no reason why it can't improve over the off season.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="595026" data-time="1467965123">
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<p>I'm just worried about when the blues bench come on</p>
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<p>I agree this is important moving forward. Our core pack is getting pretty good and with Akira in the mix is going to be pretty solid. A couple of good locks with PT and we are golden. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="595334" data-time="1468034151">
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<p>His kicking game isn't great but there's no reason why it can't improve over the off season.</p>
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<p>If only that were the case. So many backs get to very high levels without learning to kick, or learning to kick off either foot. I don't understand it - surely this is the sort of 'extra' that you'd work on as it gives your backline options and promotes you as a player.</p>
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<p>I understand the lure of playstation, but FFS surely an hour or two a week makes sense?</p> -
I had three different multis all riding on the Blues to win and one multi with the Blues to win 13 plus. I was confident they would win.<br><br>I just want to pick up on West for a minute. I don't think this was a "breakthrough" game for him (even though no one has used that term). He has been the same player all season long. Except that he looks a lot better when his pack<br>is going forward and his outside backs are playing well. I have him rated as the 4th best 1st 5 in NZ with Marty Banks as the 5th.<br><br>I have been rooting for West for some years. Ever since that epic epic epic NPC championship final (or whatever they call the 2nd tier final) where he fronted off against Marty<br>Banks. Magnificent Rugby game and it even had a grandstand finish. He has always been a special talent. 4th best 1st 5 in NZ may not sound like that high an accolade, but it<br>actually is given how strong our domestic comp is.<br><br>West has also had a rough ride in Auckland with only Tana showing consistent faith in him. It was ludicrous when he had to warm the bench for Hickey, and at one point even<br>Marshall got a run on start at 1st 5 ahead of him if memory serves correctly.<br><br>Sure he makes mistakes. But as my tennis coach used to say "Somedays you play well, and it is because your opponent played to your strengths, other days you play badly and it<br>is because your opponent didn't let you play well or put you under a great deal of pressure." West himself turns up every game, unfortunately the Blues around him don't always<br>follow suit, and then he doesn't shine either.<br><br>I think a one year extension is the right move for him. I am not saying he should be an All Black one day, as right now quite frankly he would struggle at international level,<br>but he is a good super rugby asset and I do think he can be part of the jigsaw puzzle for the Blues.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="595345" data-time="1468038870">
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<p>I have him rated as the 4th best 1st 5 in NZ with Marty Banks as the 5th.</p>
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<p>To be honest, I'd rank Aaron, Beauden, Lima, Richie Mo'unga and then daylight. Otere Black unproven yet, and Marty Banks probably equal. I don't buy 4th best in NZ, and not sure he's close to the No 4 either.</p>
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<p>Disclaimer: I am a frustrated Blues fan so may not be completely rational.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="595346" data-time="1468039134"><p>To be honest, I'd rank Aaron, Beauden, Lima, Richie Mo'unga and then daylight. Otere Black unproven yet, and Marty Banks probably equal. I don't buy 4th best in NZ, and not sure he's close to the No 4 either.<br> <br>Disclaimer: I am a frustrated Blues fan so may not be completely rational.</p></blockquote><br>Richie Mo'unga last week looked like a poor man's Stephen Brett. I am not saying he has been like that every week, but I am saying that Brett looked awesome for Cantabs and<br>then was rubbish for Auckland when playing behind a pack that was going backwards. I reckon if you got Mo'unga in a Blues jersey you would come to appreciate West in a new<br>light primarily because of the Brett precedent.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="595345" data-time="1468038870">
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<p>West has also had a rough ride in Auckland with only Tana showing consistent faith in him. It was ludicrous when he had to warm the bench for Hickey, and at one point even<br>
Marshall got a run on start at 1st 5 ahead of him if memory serves correctly.<br>
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<p>West joined the side once Marshall was released and immediately started ahead of Hickey. Bowden ousted West for a little bit last season but other than that, West has started regularly at 10 for us.</p>
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<p>I do agree with you on Mo'unga though even though we are in a small minority. He's alright but ridiculously over rated.</p> -
<p>West has the game to be a good Super player, but he needs to boss it a bit more, he just lacks the authority to control things...hopefully for him and the Blues sake, last night wasnt an aberration and is hiim finally showing what he is capable of, hopefully he can deal to the Tahs next week as well.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="595350" data-time="1468041099"><p>West has the game to be a good Super player, but he needs to boss it a bit more, he just lacks the authority to control things...hopefully for him and the Blues sake, last night wasnt an aberration and is hiim finally showing what he is capable of, hopefully he can deal to the Tahs next week as well.</p></blockquote><br>I like this post.<br><br>One very minor criticism I have of him is where he stands in the pocket. Dan Carter used to stand right at first receiver and there was no doubt who wanted the ball.<br><br>Sometimes there is a forward standing at a first receiver for the Blues even though it is a 4th phase ball situation and it is obviously time for the backs to run it, the ball ends up in West's<br>hands anyway because the half back picks him out of a group of players standing next to each other, but perhaps he might be better served making his presence more obvious<br>so that he makes a statement. "I am the captain the of the back line and the ball is coming to me"
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Agree with comments about West not bossing the game. I think this is why he has looked better with Francis as 12 to help share the playmaking duty.<br><br>
Even when West has played well for Hawke's Bay, i'd notice a lot of their play would come off their halfback and ball running forwards.<br><br>
Speaking of kicking that has come up in this thread - I think West has put in work on his kicking during the June break, his field kicking has been excellent the last two weeks, getting good distance on his punts and putting up bombs and cross kicks that are more on point. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="595355" data-time="1468043183"><p>yeah i agree, he needs to take the ball more - being comfortable demanding the ball often comes with confidence and seniority in the team though, and does seem to be gradually improving.</p></blockquote><br>Thanks for this post, I learned a little bit about the game from it.<br><br>I will actually use this moment to make a quick post about myself as I get the feeling Nepia in particular is trying to get a bead on me. I have actually been a member of this site for 6 years but have less than 1000 posts as I am only a casual user, and generally only chime in on match day. I regard myself as a junior member of the site and look up to the other blokes as a better<br>source of knowledge as I reckon you have all played more rugby than I have, which isn't hard as I have only played a few games and they threw me out on the wing where I wouldn't do<br>any harm.<br>I am here to make the occassional observation as a long time dedicated rugby fan, and to learn from the more knowledegeable blokes who have played a lot. Hence you will not be likely to see me<br>engaged in too many lengthy debates as I will just cede the point.<br><br>Cricket is really my game and I know it like the back of my hand. I have nearly 15 thousand posts in the same space of time on a cricket forum. But strangely if given the choice of being a blackcap or an All Black I would be an AB as I would love the<br>thought of putting my body on the line for my country and tackling my little heart out.<br><br>All for now,
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="595369" data-time="1468049787">
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<p>Thanks for this post, I learned a little bit about the game from it.<br><br>
I will actually use this moment to make a quick post about myself as I get the feeling Nepia in particular is trying to get a bead on me. I have actually been a member of this site for 6 years but have less than 1000 posts as I am only a casual user, and generally only chime in on match day. I regard myself as a junior member of the site and look up to the other blokes as a better<br>
source of knowledge as I reckon you have all played more rugby than I have, which isn't hard as I have only played a few games and they threw me out on the wing where I wouldn't do<br>
any harm.<br>
I am here to make the occassional observation as a long time dedicated rugby fan, and to learn from the more knowledegeable blokes who have played a lot. Hence you will not be likely to see me<br>
engaged in too many lengthy debates as I will just cede the point.<br><br>
Cricket is really my game and I know it like the back of my hand. I have nearly 15 thousand posts in the same space of time on a cricket forum. But strangely if given the choice of being a blackcap or an All Black I would be an AB as I would love the<br>
thought of putting my body on the line for my country and tackling my little heart out.<br><br>
All for now,</p>
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<p>Are you the guy on cricketweb? I post there sometimes :)</p>
