Hurricanes vs Blues
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@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes vs Blues:
@canefan to be fair to PUJ, the season after he made the ABs, Holland would sporadically pick him for the Canes for whatever reason. He'd play well one week then be dropped. Had to weigh on the guy.
Totally agree, Holland has a lot to answer for. Sports are a confidence game, hard to play your best when you keep getting dropped
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Unless you're a Canes fan I think it will be hard for anyone to understand how much he f'd with that team while he was in charge. The selections at times were completely bemusing and there are countless threads from the past that had so many of us scratching our heads.
I'm so glad he's gone.
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@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes vs Blues:
@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes vs Blues:
@Mr-Fish Holland would have started Morgan, I'm pretty confident of that.
Cameron is far and away the right call. Not flashy but gets the team around the paddock and kicks his goals.
Holland selected Cameron ahead of Morgan when Cameron was fit. The issue was Cameron was injured a fair bit under Holland.
Hey kiwiM, don't be saying what everyone who watched could see mate. I also thought Caneron always got selected when fit, but was struggling with fitness. Holland maybe in gun for a few things but not Cameron starting more last year.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Blues:
Unless you're a Canes fan I think it will be hard for anyone to understand how much he f'd with that team while he was in charge. The selections at times were completely bemusing and there are countless threads from the past that had so many of us scratching our heads.
I'm so glad he's gone.
I don't disagree with the bemusing selections at times with Holland - especially in the forwards (Blackwell, Prinsep etc etc)
However - i do think there's nuance involved - he had challenges from a selection point of view Laidlaw hasn't had to deal with yet. Ruben Love was not available through injury, Naholo was unavailable a lot through injury, Cameron was injured. He had to fit in Ardie which is something Laidlaw doesn't have to deal with (i.e. someone from the current loosie mix has to miss out).
Holland selected Roigard at 9 last year and backed him. Holland stuck with Jordie at 12 last year. Holland gave Lakai starts last year but to be perfectly honest Lakai is much more physically ready this season which is not Holland's fault etc.
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@KiwiMurph I see what you're saying, it's more the continued selections of the likes of Prinsep, Savea, Blackwell and a few others when his hand wasn't forced that completely didn't make sense and hamstrung us more often than not. There was rarely a week where the selection of two or three players on the team wasn't questioned, compared to this year where there really hasn't been much to argue with tbh.
Anyway to refrain from the negativity I'm really looking forward to this clash on Saturday. No excuses for both sides and I hope we see a competitive game that will likely come down to a few big moments.
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It is going to be a good indication of where the teams are at I think. Which tight five is going to stand and deliver? Looking forward to it.
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@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes vs Blues:
Holland selected Roigard at 9 last year and backed him. Holland stuck with Jordie at 12 last year. Holland gave Lakai starts last year but to be perfectly honest Lakai is much more physically ready this season which is not Holland's fault etc.
Your examples are not great.
With HB he had no choice with Booth in terrible form the other main option.
Holland started Lakai in week 1 but what then? Eventually just dopped him from the 23 even when available
Regarding Barrett. When Cameron was injured, I would have moved Barrett to 1st and started Higgins at 2nd. He did neither and instead went for the limited Morgan at first
He was just a limited coach and was super happy when he went. And nothing that's happened so far this year has changed my mind
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Impressive start from both sides.
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