Blues 2018
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
He’s having a great year, one of the best players in NZ at the moment.
I’d like to see some defensive stats and ruck involvements. Everyone knows he’s devistating with ball in hand.
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@mn5 I was impressed with the 13 for the Blues as well,was that the same Mark Talea who has turned out on the wing for Harbour..?
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@steven-harris Two different players playing the same game. I too was impressed by the 13.
Mark Telea was on the wing for the Blues development team (11). That is the wing for Harbour.
The 13 for the Blues development team was Tanielu Tele'a - part of the Auckland U19 National Champs team last year and in the NZ U20s squad for the Oceania tournament coming up (assuming his injury isn't too bad).
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@steven-harris said in Blues 2018:
@mn5 I was impressed with the 13 for the Blues as well,was that the same Mark Talea who has turned out on the wing for Harbour..?
@Bones someone is actually asking me a rugby question.....
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NZ Herald this morning
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McKendry keeps pushing his pro Umaga agenda.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12028923
Umaga's defenders will say that he hasn't become a bad coach over the past three months, and, for what it's worth, I agree. It's the inconsistency which hurts the team on the field and their supporters off it, and it's difficult to see how a new coach next year will help with that, even should the Blues find someone suitably qualified at this stage. The likelihood is that Umaga will stay, and that wouldn't be a bad thing in my view. There may be changes in terms of structure or even support personnel next season, but the knowledge that Umaga has gained while with the franchise shouldn't be thrown out. -
I would ring the changes against the Sunwolves and introduce a few new players. I'd like to see a backrow with Sotutu, Ioane and Papaali'i, and maybe Lindenmuth at loosehead. Outside, Tumua Manu looks promising. He could be an upgrade to TJF. Hyland is another possibility though I don't see Duffie being dropped.
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@cgrant Agreed on this. Blues will also have to balance ABs potentially being rested - Ofa and Duffie have been rested 1 week out of their 2, the Ioanes none. You'd think this would probably have been a match they would have identified as one to use to rest players.
I agree with you on the players that should be brought in (I'd seriously look at giving Havilii a run too in the loose forwards) but whats the bet Tana brings in players like Kirikiri/Preston/Trainor etc...
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I like those suggestions. However I think Umaga is in a position where he needs to run up a score. I suspect it will be almost a full strength side.
Hopefully the Ioanes don't play 80mins again. The Blues need to manage their workload better
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From an article on stuff
stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/103041165/super-rugby-five-things-to-look-out-for-this-weekendWhat happens if the Blues beat the Sunwolves in Tokyo? It would insult no-one's intelligence to say the Blues should win this match on Saturday, and by a handsome margin, to extend the Sunwolves' winless run in 2018. But so what if they do? What does it really mean? The reality is the Blues are placed second-last heading into this round, their play-off hopes pirouetting at the end of a frayed rope. There's a danger a bonus-point win at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium would divert attention from the real issue, which is whether this team is simply in a holding pattern. If that's the case, it's hardly good enough. Blues chairman Tony Carter and his board members have some decisions to make. Super Rugby teams are like any other business, they like to plan ahead. It's paramount they prove to their players that their organisation is doing the best for them. Which, in turn, puts the heat on Carter and co to decide whether to offer coach Tana Umaga a contract extension, or to go to the market and seek alternatives. And do NZ Rugby have a role to play in trying to blow life some back into the Blues, a club that hasn't made the playoffs since Pat Lam guided them to fourth place in 2011? Any assistance would be appreciated, surely. This story isn't over by a long shot.
