Blues v Tahs
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<p>Great finish to the season knocking off the two top Aussie sides. Tana should be very pleased with his efforts considering this was very much a rebuilding year. Well, he's built a bloody solid base to launch from next year. All 5 NZ teams are very strong at the moment.</p>
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Kara Pryor has really impressed in the last 2 games. Not the biggest but really puts himself about<br><br><br>
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<p>Great win by the Blues again. I have an irrational dislike of the Waratahs so good to see them probably going home early.</p>
<p>Thought there were some similarities with last week where the Tahs overplayed the scrum dominance thing looking for penalty tries (as the brumbies only tried to maul for tries)</p>
<p>It really killed any sort of roll they would have got on, which they really needed chasing the BP. Sure it resulted in two penalty tries but one of those should have been prevented by Ofa being dragged at half time rather than 5 mins later.</p>
<p>You could see the sort of damage they could have done if they gave it a go with their nearly try before half time and the try to Folau in the second half.</p>
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<p>Thought ofa was lucky not to get a yellow, as was the tah who pulled down the maul for the penalty try. Im happy for the scrum ones not to be yellow for the same reasons as others have explained (ie getting beaten by your man rather than cheating)</p>
<p>but he was lucky not to go for repeated infringements. Not dragging him at half time would have to go down as one of Tana's biggest mistakes of the season. That and picking Li to start in EVERY game. Not a bad year for Tana. </p>
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<p>With their additions, returning guys and growing confidence of West/Francis the Blues should be pretty dangerous next year. That NZ conference will be even tougher.</p>
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<p>Oh and Luatua has to be in the RC squad now IMO. Dixon/Squire can wait until the EOYT.</p> -
No need for the word "irrational" there buddy.
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Hard to scrummage when loosehead is angling in. Ref failed to see it<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="596927" data-time="1468609223"><p>
Hard to scrummage when loosehead is angling in. Ref failed to see it<br><br><br>
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TPN is a really good scrummaging hooker as well -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="596927" data-time="1468609223">
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<p>Hard to scrummage when loosehead is angling in. Ref failed to see it<br><br><br>
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<p>Problem is that Charlie did not have the same problems.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="596927" data-time="1468609223"><p>
Hard to scrummage when loosehead is angling in. Ref failed to see it<br><br><br>
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Should be strong enough to counter that.<br><br>
Also the scrum improved immensely when Faumauina came on, coincidence? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="596923" data-time="1468600348">
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<p>Ofa T comes off with a smile and gives the crowd a bit of a clap after conceding not one but two pushover tries.<br><br>
And tighthead is apparently his good side. Oh yeah and this was up against a first year kid.<br><br>
All Black yeah nah.</p>
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<p>We're pretty thin at tighthead, with Yamashita, Halanukonuka, Geldenhuys, Alaalatoa all ineligible for the ABs. Things improve a bit when Nepo comes back, but right now the only viable alternative to Ofa that I can see is Jeff Toomaga-Allen.</p>
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<p>We need to prune the ineligible tightheads.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="596944" data-time="1468626011"><p>We're pretty thin at tighthead, with Yamashita, Halanukonuka, Geldenhuys, Alaalatoa all ineligible for the ABs. Things improve a bit when Nepo comes back, but right now the only viable alternative to Ofa that I can see is Jeff Toomaga-Allen.<br><br>
We need to prune the ineligible tightheads.</p></blockquote>
Atu Moli needs some game time but looks good. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="596939" data-time="1468624851">
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<p>Should be strong enough to counter that.<br><br>
Also the scrum improved immensely when Faumauina came on, coincidence?</p>
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<p>charlie was smart enough to know how to deal with it or did the opposition know they wouldnt have it so easy so didnt focus on him?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="596939" data-time="1468624851"><p>Should be strong enough to counter that.<br><br>
Also the scrum improved immensely when Faumauina came on, coincidence?</p></blockquote>
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If Ryan was still at LHP for this Tahs, then not a coincidence. He's a converted THP and had really lazy setup and foot position -
<p>Obviously a lot of positive signs for the Blues - Tana has definitely sorted the culture out, they really put in on defence and are starting to show good plans on attack rather than individual brilliance which is what a lot of Blues teams of old relied on.</p>
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<p>One other positive is the improvement in players both from last year and during the season - Prattley was the worst starting prop in the comp last year and he had a much improved season, Bekhuis looked well off the pace last year but again was much improved. Then there are the players that improved during the season - the likes of Duffie, Sau and Pryor really stood out in the last few weeks.</p>
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<p>All of the above is the sign of a good coaching setup.</p>
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<p>A special mention for Melani Nanai - he is some player - other fullbacks in NZ this year have gotten more attention (and Nanai has been in and out of the side until the last few weeks) but he is a keeper - the Blues have long been searching for a long term fullback (Piutau to me always looked like a winger playing fullback) and I think Nanai is the guy - tremendous attacking talent and can certainly tackle (in addition to the hit on Folau on halftime, he also made the final tackle after the hooter). He is going to keep other back 3 players in NZ honest in the race for AB jerseys in the leadup to the Lions. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="596944" data-time="1468626011">
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<p>We're pretty thin at tighthead, with Yamashita, Halanukonuka, Geldenhuys, Alaalatoa all ineligible for the ABs. Things improve a bit when Nepo comes back, but right now the only viable alternative to Ofa that I can see is Jeff Toomaga-Allen.</p>
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<p>We need to prune the ineligible tightheads.</p>
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<p>Ofa was picked because he can play both sides. If you don't pick Ofa then you need to find someone else who can play both sides or you need to take six props. If you take an extra prop then you have to cut someone somewhere else. I don't know who our third best loose head is.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="596936" data-time="1468623521"><p>Problem is that Charlie did not have the same problems.</p></blockquote>
Had waratahs changed their front row at that point though?<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="596944" data-time="1468626011"><p>We're pretty thin at tighthead, with Yamashita, Halanukonuka, Geldenhuys, Alaalatoa all ineligible for the ABs. Things improve a bit when Nepo comes back, but right now the only viable alternative to Ofa that I can see is Jeff Toomaga-Allen.<br><br>
We need to prune the ineligible tightheads.</p></blockquote>
Chris eves maybe<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="596939" data-time="1468624851">
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<p>Should be strong enough to counter that.<br><br>
Also the scrum improved immensely when Faumauina came on, coincidence?</p>
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<p>Charlie got penalised once didn't he?</p>
<p>i think maybe it was his experience that was the difference, knowing how to counter what the tahs were doing.. ofa T has only started playing TH this season i think</p>
