Blues 2017
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Elsewhere news is mixed for the Blues with Sonny Bill Williams back training fully and Steven Luatua, having served his four-week suspension, also expected to feature against the Highlanders.
But Rene Ranger has been sideline with another ankle injury after scoring two tries in a match for the Blues development team.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/91186242/blues-lose-iahia-west-to-ankle-injury
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DOGGED A-TEAM GO DOWN FIGHTING
05 APR 2017A tenacious Blues A side fought their way back from a 19-point deficit, before finally succumbing 35-45 to a well-drilled Hurricanes Development team at Eden Park in the weekend.
Played in beautiful sunshine ahead of our Investec Super Rugby match with the Western Force, the KFC curtain raiser might even have been more exciting than the main event, with lots of running rugby and the number of tries running into the double-figures.
The visitors were dominant early, surging to a three-try lead before replacement player Joe Royal, called into the side as an injury replacement for Hame Faiva, finally pegged one back from a rolling maul in the 27th minute.
That seemed to spark the Blues A side back into life, and shortly thereafter a short kick over the top by first-five Bryn Gatland was regathered on the full by flying centre Rene Ranger, who dotted down beneath the up-rights.
He scored his second try less than ten minutes later, tying the scores 19-19 before Gatland slotted the extras, giving the home team the lead for the first time in the match, just before half time.
The sides traded tries in the second half – Royal scored a second from a rolling maul, and Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua got a hat-trick – before a late try sealed the result, 35-45.
Although the result didn’t go our way, there was a lot to like about the Blues A performance. Captaining the side for the first time, Northland lock Josh Goodhue was a standout, as was NZ U20 representative Dalton Papalii who was named man on the match.
Meanwhile, Blues high performance manager Tony Hanks was impressed with what he saw from some of the younger members of the squad.
“We fielded six under 20 players today and they all made a good account of themselves. Caleb played his first senior game of rugby and Dalton was outstanding for 80 minutes. Joe and Rene showed the young boys a few things with four tries between them, while Bryn and D’Angelo both played well at first five.”
Scorers
Blues A (35): Tries – Joe Royal (2), Rene Ranger (2), D’Angelo Leuila ; Conversions – Bryn Gatland (5).
Hurricanes Development (45): Tries – Asafo Aumua (3), Antonio Kirikiri, Toa Halifihi, Malo Tuitama, Curtis Reid; Conversions – Ben Wyness (4), Sam Malcolm.
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What we're all thinking:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11834186
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Stoked that Tana can see the big picture here for these young fullas. I think they need a bloody good rest and some fun times, being under the pump for too long will fry them.
These guys sure as hell don't deserve public dissection at this point in their rugby careers.
Heaps of experts will be quoting how much they're paid to do their job blah blah, but no job is worth it if it's 365 24/7, I hope they get most of June off. Not because they shouldn't make ABs or Maori ABs but because having a mindful rest could be very influential to their form going forward. -
It seems a bit premature for this Ioane bullshit. Rieko especially has looked uncommonly good in most games.
It took a few years after being the next big thing for BB to become the superstar he is now (and the big thing) so not sure why the focus on the Ioane's, Akira is a blindside/8 which is a position that doesn't usually mature until a bit later and Rieko is still a kid.
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@Nepia said in Blues 2017:
It seems a bit premature for this Ioane bullshit. Rieko especially has looked uncommonly good in most games.
It took a few years after being the next big thing for BB to become the superstar he is now (and the big thing) so not sure why the focus on the Ioane's, Akira is a blindside/8 which is a position that doesn't usually mature until a bit later and Rieko is still a kid.
Particularly seeing as they have been playing well. The hate directed at Akira in particular seems to be based on nothing more than personal dislike.
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2017:
@Nepia Yes, but Auckland media need someone new to moan about, now that West has disappeared from the 23.
It's not just the Auckland media.
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2017:
@Kirwan But they're the worst .... Maybe I should say Auckland based journos, because they also publish on stuff.
First mistake is reading them
I haven't bothered in years, if it's not covered here then it didn't happen.Made watching rugby much more enjoyable to be honest.
If we could get Mexted back and dump Tony Johnson all would be good with the world.
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Writing this here because the game thread has been jacked.
I thought the young lock pairing went well, which hopefully means less Tupou going forward. I thought GCT was probably our best out there.
Luatua put in a good shift. Apparently he'd done PBs in fitness during his time off, and it really showed out there.
Duffie is turning into the complete winger for us. What's really surprising this season is how he's able to get over the gain line so easily with that skeleton frame of his.
I think it might be time to end Moala's time at 12. Before the season started, I thought there was a low chance of him playing 12 this season, because there was little to no flow to our attack with him there last year, which is why he was dropped for Francis, but we didn't learn our lesson and went straight back to it this year
. I think we should stick with SBW and Faiane at 12, while Moala can share centre duties with Rieko and play a bit of wing if needed.I thought Akira came in and put in some good work, but we probably should've brought him on a lot earlier. I don't think he should be only getting 18 minutes, especially after his performance last week. At the very least, he should've come on before Tupou. And if Scrafton needed to be subbed off(Tupou came on for Scrafton), we could've just moved Luatua to lock and brought Akira on at 8/6.
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@Dice Agree with all of the above. The two locks were the real highlight for me. High involvement, accurate - that was great to see.
It's a bit of a worry that someone with such midfield experience as Tana can't see the issues of having Moala at 12 brings. If I had to guess i'd say they'll go with SBW 12, Moala 13, Rieko/Nanai wing/bench.
I think Hodgman might be close to selection this week, not sure on Nock, would be really nice to have both of them on the bench instead of Prattley/Guyton.
Regarding Akira hopefully Tana gives this week as Tupou's rest week (as he didnt get one last week) assuming Pat T is fit.
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The Faiane brothers are pairing up for Pakuranga this year. Is this a possible glimpse into Auckland's 10-12 combo this year?
“TJ Faiane (12) in our backs led us well. His work rate was phenomenal in both attack and defence. He was constantly putting pressure on defence and then continued making gain line in attack,” said Alatini.
“Also, it was great to see him combine up with his younger brother Wiseguy Faiane (10) who also had an outstanding game with his directional play and goal kicking.
“It could have been the first time they have played first and second five as they attended different high schools. Namatahi Waa (prop) and Dave Adams (openside flanker) were both strong in their core roles and were busy throughout the whole game.''
PURC season begins with big win
Pakuranga United Rugby Club’s (PURC) premiers got the season off to a cracking start with a convincing 31-13 win against Ponsonby on Saturday. The club’s Premier Development and Under 20s teams also came away with wins over Ponsonby. Pita Alatini, PURC’s director of rugby and premier coach, said a...
