Blues 2018
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
Any tips on how to embed a video link?
Anyway a nice video of Akira's ball in hand highlights here
Watch: Akira Ioane turns on Man of the Match performance for the Blues
Akira Ioane already has 4 tries to his name this season and is building nicely ahead of All Blacks selection for the 3 match series against France in June. The big guy turned on a blockbuster performance against the Lions in Johannesburg.
Best game I’ve ever seen him play. Really stood up to the big lions pack.
Even more impressive given the altitude and the fact he was still smashing guys up to the end of the game.
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@sammyc He certainly looks much fitter and much more certain of what his role in the team is. His discipline has really improved (he still has some niggle in his game but personally I think this is overblown - ive seen every first class game he has played and he has never been penalised for any off the ball stuff - compare that to what Dane Coles has done and it's chalk and cheese). Hopefully he can keep it going as it is a long season.
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14 MAR 2018
While the Blues are in South Africa preparing to play the Stormers this week, the balance of the squad and some of the regions best talent have come together for the Blues A fixture against the Hurricanes Development team in Wellington this Saturday. The A team started the 2018 campaign with a 26-all draw against the Chiefs two weeks ago.
Matt Moulds, Kara Pryor and Isaac Salmon are fit to play for the first time in 2018, while Harry Plummer, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Scott Gregory, Jack Heighton and Rob Cobb all step up from our Under 20’s side that beat their Hurricanes counterparts two weeks ago.
Former NZ Under 20 prop, Ezekiel Lindenmuth who has been training with the Crusaders and Auckland’s wing/centre Loketi Manu are also new to the squad.
Kick off is at 1pm at Evans Bay. Lineup to be announced later this week.
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BLUES A TEAM VS HURRICANES
Kick off is at 1pm at Evans Bay. The team is:
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
Matt Moulds ©
Isaac Salmon
Ben Neenee
Jacob Pierce
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
Kara Pryor
Matt MatichLewis Gjaltema
Harry Plummer
Caleb Clarke
Orbyn Leger
Tumua Manu
Loketi Manu
Jordan TrainorReserves
Kurt Eklund
Rob Cobb
Jack Straker
Kondo Masaki
Adrian Choat
Jack Heighton
Song Gi Paku
Scott Gregory
Salesi Rayasi
Sione Havili (#26) -
You can find a quick write-up of the Hurricanes Dev v Blues 'A' game in the Hurricanes thread: http://www.thesilverfern.com/topic/1919/hurricanes-2018/83#
FT: Hurricanes Dev 40 - 19 Blues A (HT: 14 - 7)
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@rocky-rockbottom said in Blues 2018:
my expert pre-season prediction had Blues at 1 and 3 at this stage.
Next pod of matches I had them going 4 and 2.
Then to close off the season, 4 of the last 6 matches vs the Hurricanes and the New England Crusaders OF COURSE A PERFECT TIME TO START COMING INTO SOME FORM TO GEAR UP FOR A RUN AT THE PLAYOFFS. FFSTHIS IS OUR YEAR
@Rocky-Rockbottom and I will be the only blue tinted die hards guzzling lion red, crying into our beards and lamenting the demise of the Greatest Provincial Rugby Team Of All Time (GPRTOAT) and how far the administrators and players of the mighty blue and white hoops have fallen from our glory years.
Could be another long year ... ever win is a false dawn, every light is a train, etc etc etc
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I think the Blues Development team played the Chiefs Development team on Friday, but no team line-up or info on the game has been released.
I saw Papali'i training and catching some balls on the news last week, so the hand seems OK. I wonder if he got some game time with the Development team on Friday.
I'd start Pryor at 7 this week and bring Papali'i on the bench if he's ready.
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@dice Yeah, according to the ticket direct website, it was the curtain raiser to Chiefs v Highlanders in Hamilton. Really odd there hasn't been any info whatsoever on either the Chiefs or the Blues social media accounts. Maybe one of the Chiefs faithfull who went to the game on Friday knows whether this cutain raiser was indeed played and has more info?
