Blues 2024

[Duluth]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2024:

@george33 I hope you are right about Beehre. I was becoming resigned to loosing him. your selection has one less back and one more forward than recent squads but i am ok with that if it means we keep Beehre.
He is the type of workaholic forward that Cotter likes.

Hardest working young lock. Good power late in games too

If they do keep the same same forwards/backs split and Clark goes to 7’s, maybe Suafoa is seen mainly as a loosie and that makes room? Or is there a possibility Annandale is on a development contract only? Not sure if he’s ready

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Duluth Interestingly Annandale's move was announced by his French club but I don't think we've heard anything from the Blues. Possibly he signed with Auckland NPC and Montpelier misinterpreted it as 'Auckland Blues'. We will find out in a few days.

[george33]

I'm sure Cotter will no a fair bit about Annandale, thought he went ok had an injury and we need that size,I expect him to be included

[Daffy Jaffy]

@george33 Yeah I am ok with him in the squad, just that Beehre's game is a bit ahead of his right now. Cotter will likely pull that potential out of him. I just hope we keep Beehre as well or we will spend the next few seasons playing against him. With Patty T. likely to head offshore next season we need big young locks coming through.

[george33]

Spencer for me will be an interesting 1, still very young but he showed what he's capable of during NPC different level, but hope he is included in Squad,mite not get alot of game time but he will train and learn with the big names

[george33]

@Daffy-Jaffy think patty is signed up until end of 2025

[Nogusta]

@Daffy-Jaffy yea that was a case of lost in translation. He'd only signed with Auckland.
Blues didn't see enough from him to offer anything solid.
Highlanders are a potential landing spot for him.

[African Monkey]

@Nogusta Glad we haven't taken Annandale. He looks a bit soft at this stage. Beehre as has been mentioned, is the far better player.

[frugby]

@Nogusta Moana Pasifika perhaps? He is Samoan I believe.

[george33]

@Nogusta that's a shame I'm sure Cotter could have worked with him

[Tim]

Is Cashmore signed?

[Kirwan]

Beehre was excellent, huge work ethic.

[Cpt Kumera]

Jordan with blues

[george33]

@Cpt-Kumera Jordan Who?

[george33]

@Cpt-Kumera Jordan Lay

[Daffy Jaffy]

Confirming the Ta'avao signing -

[Bovidae]

The Chiefs released Ta'avao on compassionate grounds.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/301002963/angus-taavao-back-with-blues-for-super-rugby-pacific-after-chiefs-grant-early-release

[Duluth]

@Daffy-Jaffy

Hopefully others are starting ahead of him. Good leader within the squad though

Coaches are really putting a premium on experience aren't they? (see Crotty and Halfpenny down south)

[Duluth]

Stargazer has been busy on this wiki page:

List of 2023–24 Super Rugby transfers (New Zealand) - Wikipedia

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22 officially named and most of the rest seem obvious. That's not a surprise, as Cotter said there was only a few spots left to sort out before NPC started

Any names you want to see tomorrow?

For me it's mostly signing up some quality younger players. Guys that may not see much time this year. Beehre at lock, Spencer at fullback and some new blood in the midfield

I assume Perofeta and Sullivan will start most games (not sure which way around). However there's not much fullback cover if one of them gets injured (Evans?) so Spencer would be useful

[george33]

PUJ in midfield with Reiko just maybe,