Blues v BI Lions
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@antipodean said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Billy-Tell You'd hope the All Blacks selectors are having a chat with him. Collins didn't train with the All Blacks...
I'd happily take him at the Crusaders to replace the AB ineligible Ioane (and I can't remember if Macalai has already played for Fiji).
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@Billy-Tell what I have heard from my contact in the know,Namani is definitely a talent,but is not a talker from the back,which you really need..!
Micheal Collins is a very good organiser,and directs defenders not to mention has a very good kicking game.
In terms of ball in hand,speed and footwork,Nemani wins hands down..!,but you are right,the Blues need to be very careful could be another one they lose. -
@Steven-Harris said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Billy-Tell what I have heard from my contact in the know,Namani is definitely a talent,but is not a talker from the back,which you really need..!
Micheal Collins is a very good organiser,and directs defenders not to mention has a very good kicking game.
Duffie to fullback and Nanai to the wing.. Umaga should have tried it at some stage
I prefer Nanai on the wing
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I don't think Nanai is a lost cause just yet to the Blues - but it is extremely frustrating as a fan. I'm guessing this week Tana wants more experience/communication out in the middle with Perofeta being such a green horn at 10.
At the very least though I wish Tana would bite the bullet, chuck Faiane in to start in the midfield and then Nanai could be the 23 off the bench.
Here are some interesting quotes from a year ago.
**I've been told my kicking game needs to improve and high balls especially - getting my timing right," Nanai said. "And vision, seeing those miss-matches out on the edge. I'm just happy to get a chance - it doesn't matter where I play, fullback or wing. Tana has helped me a lot. He was a winger back in the day so he's taught me a lot."
Fullback has been a problem area for the Blues since Charles Piutau's shock deflection. But with continued investment in Nanai, they may have finally found their answer.
"He's probably been symptomatic of our season," Umaga said. "He's got all the talent and the potential to go as far as he wants to go. He's a natural player who has learnt a lot of things off the field about how to be a professional and he's made all those shifts for us. At the back end of the season he's been great for us and it goes to show the work he's put in**
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@Billy-Tell Macilai is not yet capped by Fiji, was in thier pre-training squad for the RWC...mind you, he just needs to get fit and fight back to the bench!
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@Duluth I think they really like Duffy on the wing because of his ability in the air,especially the contestable high box kicks,and defusing the same defensive kicks
I remember Nanai running around for the Barbarians against South Africa I think it was,Wil Greenwood the English centre was running water for the Baabaas,was also wired up for the audience,was highly impressed Nemani,described him as skinny kid,that could really play.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v BI Lions:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11870675
How many hakas do we think the Lions will have faced by the time they fly home? 1 per member of the touring squad?
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@SimonAdd_2 said in Blues v BI Lions:
@taniwharugby said in Blues v BI Lions:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11870675
How many hakas do we think the Lions will have faced by the time they fly home? 1 per member of the touring squad?
Is the four tides a reference to the four unions in the Lions?
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@SimonAdd_2 3 each is the national quota
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@Rembrandt said in Blues v BI Lions:
So Blues 13+?
That would be super nice for my TAB account
If it stays dry then worth a crack
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more on the haka - to honour Lomu & Haiu, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11871077
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All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been dropped from the Blues bench for tonight's match against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park.
A statement from the Blues says Tuipulotu has been replaced by Jimmy Tupou after a breach of team protocol.
The All Blacks lock was late to team training without notification.
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Also:
Meanwhile, Sonny Bill Williams has been confirmed to start at second five-eighth after recovering from a knee injury which kept him out of the Reds match in Samoa. TJ Faiane will move to the reserves and Melani Nanai drops out of the playing 23. -
No Tuipulotu and no Nanai off the bench, Lions by 8.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v BI Lions:
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been dropped from the Blues bench for tonight's match against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park.
A statement from the Blues says Tuipulotu has been replaced by Jimmy Tupou after a breach of team protocol.
The All Blacks lock was late to team training without notification.
What a dick
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v BI Lions:
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been dropped from the Blues bench for tonight's match against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park.
A statement from the Blues says Tuipulotu has been replaced by Jimmy Tupou after a breach of team protocol.
The All Blacks lock was late to team training without notification.
Geez, free falling.
With Nanai being 195cm tall, we could've just put him as the lock replacement instead of Tupou, just to squeeze him in.
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@SammyC said in Blues v BI Lions:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v BI Lions:
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been dropped from the Blues bench for tonight's match against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park.
A statement from the Blues says Tuipulotu has been replaced by Jimmy Tupou after a breach of team protocol.
The All Blacks lock was late to team training without notification.
What a dick
Reading between the lines (or should that be lions...), he threw a strop for missing out on the starting line-up...maybe I'm being harsh, but he's put the nail into his own AB squad chances there - not that I think he was in the running, I can't see any reason to go past Retallick + the 3 Crusaders locks.
