Blues 2017
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A bit early but with the latest signings, what will the Blues look like in 2017 ?
So among the "new" players, we will see Manu, Hodgman and Pulu.
The First XV could be :
Manu
Parsons
Faumuina
Tuipolutu
X
Kaino
Gibson
Luatua / Ioane
Pulu
West / Francis
Moala
SBW
Ioane
Duffie
NanaiSubs
Moulds
Hodgman
Ofa T
X
Ioane / Luatua
Guyton
West / Francis
VisiniaThe weakest spot is at lock. Who will be Pat T's partner ? Scrafton ? He is unproven at this level. Or a new player ? (Rarasea, Martin ?) Unproven too ...
Any idea ? -
Goodhue has been signed at lock, probably be a bench player for a bit
Not sure if Moulds is signed for next year
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Probably Tupou to start with Goodhue on the bench. I think Goodhue will become a real star for us in the future.
Kaino will probably share the load with Ioane as Kaino continues to get on with age and I'm sure the top ABs will have managed workloads with the Lions series.
We also need some backup at hooker. How long is Pleasants-Tate at the Highlanders for? Wouldn't be suprised if Gafa Su'a gets a contract if we can't get Pleasants Tate. I'm assuming Moulds is also back next season.
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Luatua/Kaino will have to play as backup lock if Pryor is to be on the bench (which sounds likely now that I think about it). Hodgman will most likely start off from the bench behind Manu with Ofa covering tighthead.
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I think a good chance Kara gets a chance at 7 in the early rounds, good battle between him and Gibson, who seems a bit fragile, but then is only 21 guess he is still growing, but needs to look after himself.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2017:
I was impressed by Cowley-Tuioti for North Harbour last weekend - I think he's signed - another locking option.
Also - Visinia has yet to pick up a contract for next season apparently - he may or may not be in the squad.
Yes, two weeks ago Cowley-Tuioti re-signed for one season.
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@KiwiMurph I hope we can hold on to him. A good player to provide depth to our back 3, although if he hasn't re-signed, he may well be out the door. Don't see why we would get rid of him though.
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@African-Monkey Agree i'd like to see him stay. I think if he just concentrated on wing he'd be best.
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As long as you have two of Luatua/Kanno/Ioane in the loose forwards, you can get away with an undersized lock like Tupou in the second row. The main thing you need when you already have those other options along with Pat T is grunt from the other lock. But boy oh boy, sort the second row out, get that packing gelling and keep them injury free and they should be a force to be reckoned with. Second only to the Crusaders forward pack, on paper.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2017:
I was impressed by Cowley-Tuioti for North Harbour last weekend - I think he's signed - another locking option.
Also - Visinia has yet to pick up a contract for next season apparently - he may or may not be in the squad.
Surprised Visinia hasn't been re-signed. Could be a good pick up elsewhere with the potential for another former Blues back to be turned into a star in a different environment.
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I wonder I Visinia has lost his place to Matt Vaega? While Visinia is good defensively, has a low error rate and a strong kick, I think Vaega has better pace, instinct/x factor and versatility ( wing, centre, fullback and goal kicker). he also did some good things when he got game time at the end of last season.
Potential backline squad -
Nanai, Nanai-Williams, Trainor
Duffie, Ranger, Lam, Ioane
Moala, Sa'u
SBW, Faiane
West, Francis, ?
Pulu, Guyton, Nock.
For 3rd flyhalf hopefully the next big thing but I have no idea who. Has Gatland shown enough?
Tony Hanks said last week that there are only two places to fill i the squad but did not say which positions.
Other players still not signed are Little (who might also miss out to Vaega's versatility) and Joe Edwards who is off to france as injury cover for peter Saaili.
I suspect Sa'u is resigned because the Blues website printed a profile article on him sept 9th. He was awful in his first two games last year but was strong towards the end of the season -
I would keep Visinia ahead of Afa Fa'atau but at this stage he would just be injury cover.
If Ben Lam can find his 2015 form after returning from injury he should be higher in the rankings. He's been a slow developer but he was looking ready to step after that 2015 NPC.
He was looking very good for the Blues Dev team in the curtain raiser to the 2016 season... unfortunately thats when he got his knee injury
One of the better Auckland tries in 2015 @ 20secs:
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Blues are building some real depth that's for sure. Only real question marks are the tight 5 and 10 still.
Goodhue looks like he could develop into a good lock for them. Others closer to the ground will know if that is likely to happen this year or take a little bit longer.
Manu should be a good signing for them and should hopefully prevent a repeat of the Ofa double penalty try debacle we saw this year ( Hard to believe he is on the ABs bench this weekend after that game)Wouldn't be surprised if the Blues are actually contenders over the next couple of seasons with the Crusaders in a bit of a rebuild phase, at least in the backs, and the Chiefs and Highlanders also getting new coaches who may take a while to get things flowing. Canes could potentially be stronger next year with a few promising guys replacing those who have left and BB and TJ continuing to grow/peak
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@pukunui said in Blues 2017:
Goodhue looks like he could develop into a good lock for them. Others closer to the ground will know if that is likely to happen this year or take a little bit longer.
Goodhue seems to have his head screwed on and isnt rushing himself, he turned down a contract with Northland in 2014 as he didnt feel he was ready for NPC and then he turned down a Blues contract for this season, as he didnt feel his body was ready, I think that alone will set him in good stead for being upto the level.
With fulltime training and playing the higher level I think he will come along hugely and quickly.
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I would assume Visinia is on his way out as Sumo mentioned during the Auckland v Otago game that Otago fullback Michael Collins is close to signing for us.
