Blues vs Hurricanes
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@Daffy-Jaffy
Before I click on that, can you hear the questions being asked? -
@Bones said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
Yeah can't help but feel those pre game losses for the canes tipped it in favour of the blues. Sullivan went decent but Proctor's organisation was sorely missed and again while Tosi played well, Lomax is at the top of his game.
Agree Proctor and Lomax were big losses, but was real impressed how well both those late subs went. Tosi has came on so much this year, it's bloody good to see.
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@Frank said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@Daffy-Jaffy
Before I click on that, can you hear the questions being asked?Surprisingly, yes.
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@Dan54 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@Bones said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
Yeah can't help but feel those pre game losses for the canes tipped it in favour of the blues. Sullivan went decent but Proctor's organisation was sorely missed and again while Tosi played well, Lomax is at the top of his game.
Agree Proctor and Lomax were big losses, but was real impressed how well both those late subs went. Tosi has came on so much this year, it's bloody good to see.
Agreed, that experience last night is only going to make us stronger in the playoffs. If we get Aumua back aswell that will only boost our chances even more. If we have to go back to Eden Park for a final I don’t think the Canes will be too overwhelmed by the challenge. Things could have been very different last night if we were slightly sharper, not taking anything away from the Blues of course because they were very good and took their chances when it mattered. I just hope that we aren’t caught by the Brumbies, as they’ve got a pretty easy run in. Getting max points against Moana and the Highlanders is a must, if we can also beat the Chiefs that will secure second place and may put us top again if the Blues slip up against one of the Highlanders, Crusaders or Chiefs.
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Agree. But I thought our hookers (number 4 and 5) both went well
IWL started the year off great but has slowly descended to crap. Iose has lost all his fire. Cameron is the biggest issue though. Not even close to being like he was in a few games last year (before an injury?). Since then, he's been average or worse. Morgan has been easily our best first in his few starts
Luckily, we have three other options at lock. Other options for the back row (like Flanders at 8). Its getting late but the key is finding a decent first (you know my preference)
if the coaches get it right thy team might win the title
The difference between great coaches and almost coaches is small. Im started to wonder if this lot have lost it a bit now. Not much but enough to start losing too many games
edit. I thought Sullivan looked a bit average. And IMO a much better option was available
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@Winger I wouldn't say Iose has lost all his fire, a lot of the ball didn't go his way last night and I actually watched the replay today and he was limping quite heavily 10 mins in. When he had an opportunity to break away in the second half he clearly wasn't running at full speed. Hope he's okay and it was only a little niggle. We need him firing in the playoffs. I wouldn't change anything right now, that back three loose trio is proven, Iose will be fine and Flanders/Kirifi have proven to be good impact players.
I think our biggest issue is Cameron, we had a clear opportunity to counter late in the game last night and he just kicks it back to the Blues who end up scoring eventually. I remember Cameron did the same thing against the Brumbies last year, the fact he isn't a counter attacking threat hand breaks us somewhat because you almost always know what he's going to do. Plenty to ponder for these coaches but it definitely isn't panic stations, we did very well despite the last minute changes, Canes teams of the past would have likely rolled over being effected like that last min, this team showed they have plenty of steal about them.
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@Bones said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@sparky said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
Any of the Blues, Chiefs or Blues could win the title
don't forget the blues
One of your finest, @Bones
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SOS Ferners Sky Uk seems to have started showing parts of Super games on two different channels. Set Blues Canes to record and despite checking duration, the first 20 minutes were shown on another channel and so missed.
Any ideas for where we might catch first 20?
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
Think both teams will feel there are things they can tidy up.
For the Canes it's the restarts
For the Blues it's the discipline and removing the avoidable penalties they gave away.
There is very little between both teams.
If we can get our starters back for the next (hopefully) time we meet we will be confident. I don't want another trip to Canberra in the playoffs though so we better get back to winning ASAP
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@pakman said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
SOS Ferners Sky Uk seems to have started showing parts of Super games on two different channels. Set Blues Canes to record and despite checking duration, the first 20 minutes were shown on another channel and so missed.
Any ideas for where we might catch first 20?
You can usually download it on the box the next day - go to menu, sports, rugby union. They fucked us over for a canes game earlier in the season so I always check now (half the time they don't even change the channel, just cut the programme off half an hour after it started, then start it again).
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A few team stats:
Stat Blues Hurricanes Carry metres 457 376 Carries over gainline 102 72 Defenders beaten 24 14 Post contact metres 359 212 Kick from hand metres 736 540 Ruck 0-3secs 90 58 Ruck 0-3secs % 69% 60% Turnovers conceded 7 16 Both sides got fast ball. The Hurricanes very efficient on attack.
You can see why Cotter was making a big deal on the soft penalties though. The Canes are good at converting their chances but weren't as good as the Blues at gaining territory without the penalties
The Blues have been reasonably disciplined until this game. They'll need to tighten that up again
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My biggest issue with the Canes was our kick receipt. Every time we scored we'd fluff the kick off. Huge work on this week.
A few dodgy kick returns too.
Easily the best 2 sides however to my eyes. Be a bit of a surprise if they don't meet again in the big dance.
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@Duluth said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
A few team stats:
Stat Blues Hurricanes Carry metres 457 376 Carries over gainline 102 72 Defenders beaten 24 14 Post contact metres 359 212 Kick from hand metres 736 540 Ruck 0-3secs 90 58 Ruck 0-3secs % 69% 60% Turnovers conceded 7 16 Both sides got fast ball. The Hurricanes very efficient on attack.
You can see why Cotter was making a big deal on the soft penalties though. The Canes are good at converting their chances but weren't as good as the Blues at gaining territory without the penalties
The Blues have been reasonably disciplined until this game. They'll need to tighten that up again
If you didn’t watch the game or know the score and only saw those stats you would think the Blues dominated the play and may have won by quite a bit.
The contrasting styles of the two teams was really highlighted, particularly in that second half.
Both are certainly good enough to win it all but if I were the Canes I’d be sweating a little on the health of Proctor. I think the Canes not having him is a far greater loss than say the loss of Ioane is for the Blues.
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Was thinking about a lot of views on the Blues loosies too. A few folk really don't rate them or their workrate, but for some reason they seem to be helping get quick ball for the Blues, adn really slowing down opposition ball. Forwards are going really well and I think that trio has a lot to do with it.
Akira still stands out to me as a talent that we have not seen the best out of in Black (or elsewhere).