@duluth And not injured all the time. He can now string games together.

@kiwimurph said in TSF Blues player of the season:

Sotutu vs Crusaders

That must have been one of the games he was asked to target in preparation for the international season.

Gave it to Plummer (for his goalkicking at the end), Gibson (for his try), and Eklund (for covering that Nareki chip).

Not a true reflection of how things went but fuck it, they'll last forever in my memory!

really wish I had unfollowed this thread

Current standings

15 Dalton Papali’i
12 Tom Robinson
9 Akira Ioane
6 Hoskins Sotutu
5 Finlay Christie
5 Otere Black
3 Patrick Tuipulotu
3 Bryce Heem
3 Kurt Eklund
3 Jonathan Ruru
3 Caleb Clarke
2 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
2 Zarn Sullivan
2 Nepo Laulala
1 Rieko Ioane
1 Stephen Perofeta
1 Josh Goodhue

@nostrildamus hopefully downstairs wasn't a Queen of the Desert style bar.

Current standings

14 Dalton Papali’i
12 Tom Robinson
8 Akira Ioane
6 Hoskins Sotutu
5 Finlay Christie
5 Otere Black
3 Bryce Heem
3 Kurt Eklund
3 Jonathan Ruru
3 Caleb Clarke
2 Zarn Sullivan
2 Nepo Laulala
1 Rieko Ioane
1 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
1 Stephen Perofeta
1 Josh Goodhue

@nzzp said in Reds vs Blues 2021:

@pakman looks more like an 8 to me 😃

Well, he did pass to Akira!

Current standings

12 Dalton Papali’i
12 Tom Robinson
8 Akira Ioane
6 Hoskins Sotutu
5 Otere Black
3 Bryce Heem
3 Kurt Eklund
3 Jonathan Ruru
3 Caleb Clarke
2 Zarn Sullivan
2 Finlay Christie
2 Nepo Laulala
1 Rieko Ioane
1 Stephen Perofeta
1 Josh Goodhue

Current standings

12 Dalton Papali’i
11 Tom Robinson
8 Akira Ioane
6 Hoskins Sotutu
5 Otere Black
3 Kurt Eklund
3 Jonathan Ruru
3 Caleb Clarke
2 Finlay Christie
2 Nepo Laulala
1 Rieko Ioane
1 Stephen Perofeta
1 Josh Goodhue

@damo said in Blues v Waratahs:

@kruse said in Blues v Waratahs:

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues v Waratahs:

Now thats a good lift -
dadf6eb0-93af-493f-94aa-7b98de7dac2b-image.png

Genuine question... why did they ever change the laws to allow lifting?
It's always seemed to me that it just caused more problems than I can think of ever existing pre-lifting.

You're just looking back with rose tinted glasses. Lineouts used to be an absolute shit fest. Scrappy forwards elbowing at each other to win rubbish ball for the halfback to deal with or get smashed by the opposing players.

Lifting in lineouts is the best change they ever made.

Fair 'nuff
Like I said - honest question... I think a few people have said similar things - I'll bow to the masses.
Could the same effect have been achieved done other ways? Probably.
Doesn't matter... we are where we are, and it is better than before. Like so many things, I sometimes wonder if it could have been fixed by just proper application of the laws at the time.

Current standings

12 Dalton Papali’i
10 Tom Robinson
8 Akira Ioane
5 Otere Black
3 Kurt Eklund
3 Jonathan Ruru
3 Caleb Clarke
2 Finlay Christie
2 Nepo Laulala
3 Hoskins Sotutu
1 Rieko Ioane
1 Stephen Perofeta

@african-monkey probably close to Goodhue’s most complete game , there’s a superb moment where he drops a subtle offload to Gerard Crowley Tuioti gets slightly checked but is still the first player to clean out 30 metres down field when GCT is tackled , if that clean out does not happen , it’s probably a penalty and Akira Ioane does not score down the left flank ..I watched Ofa Tuangafasi who was jogging along like he’s was out strolling on a Sunday afternoon and yet was in the best position to be the first to clean out ..

Current standings

12 Dalton Papali’i
8 Akira Ioane
7 Tom Robinson
5 Otere Black
3 Jonathan Ruru
3 Caleb Clarke
2 Finlay Christie
2 Nepo Laulala
2 Kurt Eklund
1 Rieko Ioane
1 Stephen Perofeta
1 Hoskins Sotutu

@nostrildamus said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@snowy said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game 🙂

Yep. Use the extra attention to distribute / offload and find the space that is created elsewhere. Maybe that is why he keeps heading infield rather than trying to go outside? Trying to link up, rather than go over or through a couple of defenders.

yeah but it helps if you have the ball..

True. Limited opportunities, but making the most of them is also key. The Blues aren't great at converting breaks into points.

I didn't vote but would like to point out that Blake Gibson was favoured to start by the coaches over Akira Ioane, who nearly had top metres despite coming off the bench. TSF don't seem to rate Gibson well for the match either, does he have a concealed secret weapon or is a vital but well-hidden cog in Rangi's master plan?

@nepia said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@stargazer said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kiwimurph Or some people are just oversensitive when someone says something remotely critical of Akira (I guess that goes hand in hand with hyping up a player over the years 🎣 ). I've seen plenty of people commenting on Sotutu, Clarke and Rieko being lacklustre this season, and being outplayed in this game.

I don't think people care when Akira gets shit when he's playing average, but as this thread clearly shows no matter how well he plays posters will say he's playing shit or he's always shit.

The 2018 season clearly shows us this. He was class all that year yet we have have posters on here that are claiming otherwise.

Mate ,I didn't think he played that well in 2018, but I quite happy to say that is just my opinion, and some like different things in a 6 than me. I like them to have fairly good all round game. Doesn't mean I'm right though, just what I think.

@bones Nah my old man told me when I don’t know why he was watching it..I’m assuming the commentary team said it.

I wanted to vote for no one.

@dice

Not the point of your post, but wow, Tony Gilbert's a hard taskmaster. If i was Semo I would've been informing him that I was leaving to be there for my son, and he could handle that however he saw fit

@crucial yeah they arent far off, but definitely missing something out there.

Clip with all the highlights, not just those of the Blues:

Where’s the James Blackwell option? I can’t find him to vote for him?

@canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@winger well enough isn’t good enough though. Or is that what we’ve come to expect these days?

I didn't have an issue at all with the way he played. The main issue is the first 5. Even more so than Blackwell. Until this is addressed the team will continue to struggle

The Highlanders match shows what a quality first can do

Current standings

6 Akira Ioane
4 Otere Black
3 Tom Robinson
2 Finlay Christie
2 Nepo Laulala
2 Kurt Eklund
1 Dalton Papali’i
1 Jonathan Ruru
1 Stephen Perofeta

@machpants said in Chiefs v Blues (27 March 2021):

@pakman So when you nee hits the ground you decelerate to zero in an instant? The body above the knee is not flung forward? Nope, his upper body and arms are still moving forward, at quite a speed, it gives momentum to the ball. Flat ball, right call

Nice theory, shame the side ons don’t show that.

I actually think his arm goes forward, but that isn’t clear.

If you’re really interested I suggest you spend a few minutes watching the various angles.

I’ve done it, but will leave my input at that.

Onward to the Canes...

Current standings

6 Akira Ioane
4 Otere Black
1 Dalton Papali’i
1 Jonathan Ruru
1 Stephen Perofeta

@cgrant said in Blues v Crusaders:

Ofa cost the game against the Aussies a few months ago. His bad habits are a problem, but the ABs have only two THPs of international calibre so he should keep on be selected again and again. Lomax is not yet ready, Angus T and Fidow cannot scrum while Jager is irish and Moli always injured (and seen as a LHP). It's urgent to give Newell and T. Williams some game time.

Careful, that is going to upset Canes4Life.

@dan54

I like how Black and Plummer are splitting some of the responsibilities. For instance most of the cross field kicks came from Plummer.

I want to see genuine 2nd 5/8ths return to the game. Plummer at the Blues and Havili at the Crusaders might signal a change in tactics of NZ teams

The second playmaker at fullback is useful but I think it's easy to get caught out on defence when there's a quick turnover

@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

@tim Look at the length and accuracy of that pass, amazing considering he was sprinting while he passed it.

outrunning a back.

Also, how good was the 'don't argue'. One of the best tries I've seen live in ages (first proper game in a year or so, of course 😃 ) As I said in the match thread, Rieko came from nowhere - used his gas to get in position, but then had a lot of work to do to wrong foot the defender and gas everyone.

Absolute quality. Still pissed that it didn't get awarded.

@tim probably an outside shot at best given I think he is only in the WTG, but Rob Rush could fill that role.

@duluth How is there an argument on this? The ref under that post is surely the only one who can see if has gome between the uprights! FFS I a Canes man but can't believe anyone seeing it on tv or somewhere in ground thinks they got better angle. There are getting to be some serious whingers in our our game!

@act-crusader said in Game of three halves - Blues/Crusaders/Chiefs - 20/02, 12pm:

Agree. Nock has huge upside I reckon but will need time.

is looking like his time is now, was starting to look good last Super season, until he was dropped, presumably for a off-field incident (breach of team rules form what I heard) but was superb for Northland.

Am thinking Christie will get first chances though, but we know how attritional things are, so he will get his shot.

Photosport gallery:

210213 Game of 3 Halves - Preseason - Images | Photosport New Zealand 210213 Game of 3 Halves - Preseason - Images | Photosport New Zealand

@nogusta he’s been getting some advice to move on from the Blues , so hopefully he takes that onboard ..

Good idea

Blues offer fans unique alternative to help stem the 'major ripple effects' of cancelled match Blues offer fans unique alternative to help stem the 'major ripple effects' of cancelled match

CEO Andrew Hore admits the Blues are about to face a big financial hit following the cancellation of their final Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Crusaders.

@nzzp said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:

@nzzp Just me that is instantly irritated at the sight of Christie then? Definitely triggers me.

That feeling of wanting to throw up when he scores against your team....

it's only because you're racist against ginga.

PAUL TITO

TOM ROBINSON

FINLAY CHRISTIE

HELP I'M OUT OF REDHEADS

James Blackwell
Cullen Grace
Mitch Drummond comes close
Ayden Johnstone's beard, too
Oli Jager's mo
Sam McNicol's beard

Pierce was very good for his comeback within the 23. He is a better lock the Goodhue IMO but PT and GCT are on fire for the moment so it will be hard for him to find a place in the starting 8.