Blues 2023

[Tim]

@Stargazer Cheers. Do you have a link?

[Stargazer]

@Tim https://web.archive.org/web/20201202195634/https://blues.rugby/2021-squad-named/

[Tim]

@Stargazer Thanks.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Duluth]

Is that Leni Apisai in the back of the video?

[Duluth]

Papali’i banned for three weeks. That’s the rest of the regular season

At least Choat is in good form and can start at 7

[Kirwan]

Well he's been nursing a rib injury, so at least that will be cleared up. Choat at 7 and Akira at 6 keeps the quality of the loosies high, and the german has also been good.

[Stargazer]

Effectively, it may only be 2 weeks if he's allowed to get a week off his suspension when doing that tackle intervention programme (assuming it's his first offence since that was introduced a few years ago). Waiting for the official decision from SANZAAR to find out.

[Duluth]

@Stargazer said in Blues 2023:

Effectively, it may only be 2 weeks if he's allowed to get a week off his suspension when doing that tackle intervention programme (assuming it's his first offence since that was introduced a few years ago). Waiting for the official decision from SANZAAR to find out.

One of those games was likely to be AB rest too

[Crucial]

No indication of a week off for the course in this article.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300879995/super-rugby-pacific-blues-captain-dalton-papalii-banned-for-three-weeks

[Duluth]

@Kirwan said in Blues 2023:

and the german has also been good

I assume he'll be getting another start soon as Sotutu will probably have an enforced AB break

It'll be interesting to see what they do with Robinson. With Choat & Segner they have some good options in the loosies. However there is a bit of a squeeze at lock with Darry gone.

The top locks would be Tuipulotu, Suafoa & Tucker. They are an injury away from needing Robinson at lock. It'd be worth getting him some time in the second row in the next 3 weeks, even if it's just from the bench

[Dan54]

Anyway no Dalton for next 3 weeks it seems.

[george33]

@Duluth Robert Rush

[Duluth]

@george33 said in Blues 2023:

@Duluth Robert Rush

What about him? In the 23 this week? Or are you suggesting him as lock cover?

[george33]

@Duluth 23 hasn't been sighted yet but his time is now out side taniela (injury) only squad member that hasn't played a part , but he did get in a situation with senior squad members preseason his last chance if selected or he will b moved on

[Duluth]

@george33 said in Blues 2023:

he did get in a situation with senior squad members preseason

Something with Mark Telea wasn't it? Any idea what happened?

[george33]

Talea involved and another couple big names in Squad think we all no who but let's move on

[Duluth]

@george33 said in Blues 2023:

Talea involved and another couple big names in Squad think we all no who but let's move on

Fair enough. There was a version of events posted here a while ago

[Crucial]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300879478/blues-rue-tactical-blunders-in-costly-super-rugby-pacific-misfire-against-crusaders

Seems that Rangi is also getting frustrated with BBs kicking game.

[Kirwan]

@Crucial You mean the team's kicking game? Sullivan had the most egregious example of poor execution, just handing ball over in the Crusaders 22.

All season we've kicked more than other teams, it suits our large forward pack. But if you are going to do it they have to be good kicks, that's been the biggest problem IMO, shit kicks. Funaki was particuarly poor on this a few weeks ago.

When BB started running, we looked far more dangerous, so hopefully he can make this adjustment to kick slightly less (and maybe this could be done across the team).

On a positive note, in the last month BB's running game has looked very, very good.