Blues 2018
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@tim you'd think Tana has his mind set with Pulu there?
With him as Captain, Ruru or Nock are gonna struggle to get a great deal of time to put pressure on him unless he gets injured.
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@taniwharugby Sadly enough, that is true. Can't see him saying no to a top performer though.
In the trial game we looked quite a lot sharper with Ruru at 9 than with Pulu.
They need to set up Smith with a girl at Auckland Airport.
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Provocative headline taken out of context.
I like the comments that Duffie did make though - on the money.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11992879
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We welcome back our All Blacks for Thursday’s final pre-season match against the Hurricanes ahead of the start of the Investec Super Rugby Championship.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Jerome Kaino, Rieko Ioane, Sonny Bill Williams and Matt Duffie will start in the match with Patrick Tuipulotu to join in the second half at the Mahurangi Rugby Club, Warkworth A&P Showgrounds starting at 4pm.
Ofa joins Alex Hodgman in the front row with hooker James Parsons returning for his first action of the season, as will Scott Scrafton who starts at lock with Josh Goodhue.
Captain Augustine Pulu starts at halfback inside Bryn Gatland who will guide a powerful backline that includes Sonny Bill, Rieko and Matt. This group will play the first half only with a new combination to play the second half.
Coach Tana Umaga said the starting group had all trained well last week while the Tens team was in Brisbane, and he is pleased to see a number of players back after niggling injuries.
“The experienced players have merged into the squad seamlessly and have worked very hard, and it is also good to see a number of players back training fully after some time out with injuries,” said Tana.
“This is our last hit out before Super Rugby so it is an important game for us to test our systems and our combinations. We will give most of the squad the opportunity to put their hands up for consideration for our first Super game.”
Tana said while it was great to win the Brisbane Global Tens title, his squad have immediately switched their attention to the upcoming Super Rugby season.
“We are excited to transfer the hard work on the practice field, in the gym and in our planning into the game situation.
“As a group we are also excited to support the Mahurangi club and take this game to Warkworth where our North Harbour and Northland fans can more easily come and watch us.”
The Blues starting team is:
1 Alex Hodgman, 2 James Parsons, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 4 Josh Goodhue, 5 Scott Scrafton, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Dalton Papalii, 8 Jimmy Tupou; 9 Augustine Pulu ©, 10 Bryn Gatland, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 13 TJ Faiane, 14 Matt Duffie or Jordan Trainor, 15 Melani Nanai.
Second half team: Pauliasi Manu, Leni Apisai, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Glenn Preston, Murphy Taramai, Akira Ioane; Jonathan Ruru, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jordan Hyland, TJ Faiane, Orbyn Leger, Tamati Tua, Jordan Trainor.
Replacements: Mike Tamoaieta, Ross Wright, Jacob Pierce, Sione Havili, Sam Nock, George Moala.
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@kiwimurph Ah, I missed Collins. Missed the Mitre 10 Cup with surgery. Wonder if he is still recovering?
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Colour me skeptical - I'm not convinced a Gatland-SBW-Moala 10-12-13 has enough distribution.
Blues have butchered that area season after season. I fear it could be more of the same.
On the other hand given Moala's effort in the 10s final he's earned the right to have first crack!
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
Colour me skeptical - I'm not convinced a Gatland-SBW-Moala 10-12-13 has enough distribution.
Blues have butchered that area season after season. I fear it could be more of the same.
On the other hand given Moala's effort in the 10s final he's earned the right to have first crack!
He almost butchered it..
May as well put him on the wing -
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
Colour me skeptical - I'm not convinced a Gatland-SBW-Moala 10-12-13 has enough distribution.
I hope that isn't the first choice
I would have a centre paring of TJ/SBW
Moala on the bench most of the time. Although, I would like to see a specialist outside back (Clarke) on the bench occasionally with Ioane providing midfield cover
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@duluth I agree. Especially with Moala pretty much locked in to be heading overseas.
However I don't see it happening. I think Clarke may make the odd appearance but I wouldn't be expecting to see him regularly this year - for one he is almost certain to be part of the NZ 7s squad for Comm Games.
Perhaps another outside back instead. Trainor was the really pleasant surprise from the 10s - he had a woeful 10s in 2017 but this year at the 10s he was brilliant.
I hope with a proper offseason and further away from his injuries Faiane has bulked up a bit. I'm definitely a fan but he does have a tendency to slip off tackles - if he can tidy that up he can really push for the starting spot.
