Blues vs Hurricanes

[Canes4life]

@Chris seems a little odd, you'd think priority would be focusing on the players they will be selecting in a month or so.

[Machpants]

Nah they've been working with the U20s, and that is for a short period, makes perfect sense. They get all the data and can watch a lot of SR games. I imagine that Razor will be there. Just 'cos it has become a big game you don't plan everything around it in advance

[Bovidae]

Robertson was at Chiefs training earlier in the week so is probably staying up this way.

I posted at the start of the NZ U20 thread that Ryan and MacDonald would be with the U20s so that was planned a long time ago.

[taniwharugby]

@Chris I think this is good to start identifying areas that need work now, and look at ways to help move these kids along.

[Chris]

@taniwharugby said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@Chris I think this is good to start identifying areas that need work now, and look at ways to help move these kids along.

Yeah I agree it seems smart to me with an eye on the 2027 WC maybe.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae fair call then.

[Duluth]

I saw a few photos of a training run. Sometimes you have a few hints from the jerseys they are wearing. Choat was in a trio with Sotutu & Akira. Evans running outside Plummer etc

[Canes4life]

@Duluth surely Papali'i starts. Choat maybe on the bench instead of Segner?

[KiwiMurph]

@Canes4life you nailed it. Zarn to 15. Akira back at 6. Beehre on the bench in place of McWhannell

[Daffy Jaffy]

BLUES v HURRICANES
Saturday 11 May: Eden Park, Auckland (16:35)

BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Sam Darry, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Bryce Heem, AJ Lam, Mark Tele'a, Zarn Sullivan

RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu'a, Angus Ta'avao, Josh Beehre, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Corey Evans, Cole Forbes

HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (c), Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Kini Naholo, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love

RESERVES: Raymond Tuputupu, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi, Justin Sangster, Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Richard Judd, Bailyn Sullivan

Referee: James Doleman

Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon

[Bovidae]

You would have thought that Ta'avao starts ahead of Renata. And the Canes going with an extra reserve forward.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae makes sense, just as I predicted. Our backs are versatile enough to cover injuries. We could also chuck Iose on the wing if needed.

[Duluth]

TOP OF TABLE SHOWDOWN — Blues Rugby

‘Proud family moment’ adds to top-of-the-table showdown A top-of-the-table DHL Super Rugby Pacific clash looms large this Saturday afternoon at 4:35pm as the Blues host the Hurricanes at Eden Park in Auckland. Blues fullback Zarn Sullivan returns from a knee injury to take his spot in the startin

Players not considered: Finlay Christie (groin), Stephen Perofeta (shoulder), Lucas Cashmore (hamstring), Rieko Ioane (concussion protocol), Jordan Lay (ankle, season)

[george33]

@Duluth seen them , they all good, Pat saying give them another week

[george33]

Obviously not Jordan tho

[KiwiMurph]

Canes don't have their retro jersey in their graphic so perhaps they are saving it for a home game

I know it's due to different sponsors but it's annoying how little Canes wear yellow given it doesn't clash

[Duluth]

@george33 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

@Duluth seen them , they all good, Pat saying give them another week

I hope they give RI a bit longer. Two knocks a few weeks apart isn't great

[george33]

@Duluth think Reiko will be back against Highlanders

[African Monkey]

@Bovidae Renata has started a fair bit this year, and has probably been the most improved player in the whole squad. Either way, happy with what ever order they put Renata and Ta'avao in.

[Canes4life]

@KiwiMurph maybe it’s because they don’t have photos of the guys in their new kit. If they wear it against Moana next week that would be stupid.

Hopefully they bring out the retro kit, would make sense against the Blues.

I swear they’ve worn Black far more than yellow this year. It’s annoying.