Blues 2018
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Ruru will join current halfbacks Augustine Pulu and Sam Nock in the Blues squad on a one-year deal.
Ruru signs with Blues to continue rapid rise
Otago halfback Jono Ruru has signed with the Blues for next year's Super Rugby season. Ruru will join current halfbacks Augustine Pulu and Sam Nock...
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@tim said in Blues 2018:
Ruru will join current halfbacks Augustine Pulu and Sam Nock in the Blues squad on a one-year deal.
Ruru signs with Blues to continue rapid rise
Otago halfback Jono Ruru has signed with the Blues for next year's Super Rugby season. Ruru will join current halfbacks Augustine Pulu and Sam Nock...
That's because the Blues backline like 4 letter words to shout at their halfbacks.
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@kiwimurph do you have a link to that? I'd like to see their calculation method.
I guess that simply put it is strength of teams on playing schedule but you really need to factor in travel, when your travel period is, who you have to play when you return etc etc.
Either way the Blues seem to be always copping a very hard road and copping a lot of shit partly for being in the strongest conference.
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I'll be interested to see how the Blues' on-field leadership functions next year, particularly with some key young players being another year older.
For leadership figures in the forwards there are: Parsons, Moulds, Scrafton, Kaino, and Gibson. In the backs: Duffie, SBW, Faiane, and Collins.
Notably lacking are leaders at 8, 9, and 10. Here's some of hoping Pulu, Nock, Perofeta, and Gatland step up.
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@tim Agreed. Add Tuipulotu to that list as well.
I really hope there is some fresh blood in the propping stocks - if Sam Prattley gets in the Blues squad i'm going to put my fist through a wall.
They really need to sort out their backline mix. They have two good options at 12 but 13 is less clear. Year after year the Blues struggle to get their backline mix right.
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@kiwimurph I'd like to see Vaega or Ioane get a run at 13.
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@tim said in Blues 2018:
@kiwimurph I'd like to see Vaega or Ioane get a run at 13.
I believe when the Blues picked up Ioane, they saw him as a 13. If not, why the hell didn't they throw the bank at Goodhue?
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@mimic said in Blues 2018:
@tim said in Blues 2018:
@kiwimurph I'd like to see Vaega or Ioane get a run at 13.
I believe when the Blues picked up Ioane, they saw him as a 13. If not, why the hell didn't they throw the bank at Goodhue?
Apparently they did chase him pretty hard, but he decided to stay in Chch
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Interesting listening to Murray Mexted this morning on Radio Sport,touched on both the Blues & Auckland and the issues both have had over the last decade.
I was delighted to hear Mexted speak both frankly about the failure to identify or scout talent,which has been a big bug bear I have had for a least 10 years..
Even the current Auckland Mitre 10 cup is classic,having watched quite a bit of Auckland club rugby,I have been highly impressed with the 3 argentine Costa brothers that play for Eden,I was told by someone on the AK coaching staff,that they were not up to mitre 10 level.
yet Nico comes on for Auckland v Canterbury at halfback and almost changes the game,a position Auckland have struggled at in the last few seasons,and I would imagine all 3 x Brothers would have a great understanding of each other's game..just saying..!
I also question the Blues ability to select a player required for their roster,I see the Blues signed the boy Ruru from Otago,with the greatest respect I reckon Jack Stratton from Canterbury looks a much better prospect,can think right back to the Lions first game against the NZ Babas,he was awesome against quality opposition.
Even the selection of Otere Black bothers me,he was targeted by the Blues a couple of seasons ago and declined,
Personally when the Blues were chasing Beauden Barrett,I would gave gone after Richie Mo'unga,at the time he was the 3rd choice 10 at the crusaders,but having seen him at NZ 20s level,one could see he had the goods.
Even in recent times,best young first five at the NZ under 19s tournament a couple seasons back was Brett Cameron from Canterbury,..will probably be the 3rd choice at the saders in 2018 behind Mo'unga and Hunt.Another player I would be all over is Jackson Hemapo from Manawatu,the man is a beast,and from the time Stephen Luatua signed with Bristol,they should have been all over it.
I realise in the scheme of things there are agents and money to deal with,but man alive,open your eyes..! -
@steven-harris Love your inside info and club rugby stuff!
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@steven-harris I think sometimes with 10s it's just luck and there's little you can do to change that. The Canes were always searching for a 10 during the Cooper era but the best they could come up with was Holwell and Gopperth - they even tried to get Brock James, but that was before NZR decide they were happy to subsidise Oz rugby.
Anyway, the Chiefs got lucky that the Canes were a shit show so they got Cruden, and then the Canes got lucky because Barrett came through, the Highlanders got lucky because the Canes didn't think that much of Lima, and the Crusaders apparently have a 10 factory somewhere. Sadly, the Blues haven't got lucky and the 10s they've taken a punt on haven't quite reached the standard expected of them.
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Props to Tana for going out and getting Perofeta. He may not turn into 'the guy' but at least you can see the thinking - much better than the go-nowhere journeyman they have brought in previously - Francis and Noakes especially spring to mind. Now what Perofeta needs is game time
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@kiwimurph fair enough...I wasn't meaning specifically at 10 either, if Pulu and/or SBW aren't there you end up with a very inexperienced 9/10/12 axis. Having someone in the background is always a good thing, Dan Bowden said playing alongside Holwell was invaluable for him (years ago) and his learning (given Bowden saw himself more as a 10)Yeah my view is the Blues have lacked the proper all around talent at 9/10/12 rather than experience.
Francis was better as a 12 than 10, West didn't have the all round game for a starting 10 (his field kicking game for one), Moala was too limited as a 12, Faiane and SBW have both lacked recent rugby before this year. Pulu's not a traditional 9 and his distribution is slower than ideal.
For my view Gatland is a bit too limited as a 10 so the Blues are better off rolling with Perofeta - he's had a year in the system, he's played the British Lions, he's been part of a Mitre 10 Cup team that's won the round robin and won the Shield.
The good news for the Blues is that Nock, Ruru, Perofeta and Gatland (if Gatland plays?) will all be getting Mitre 10 Cup playoff experience this weekend - it's not exactly Super Rugby but it can only help.
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Intel on players who will not be there next year. The following players profiles have been moved to the Blues website 2017 'past players' page along with those already transferred out..
Matt Vaega
Brandon Nansen
Sam Prattley
Declan O'Donnell
Plus obviously Guyton and Faiva who were already replaced.
I think Tom Robinson may get Nansen's place as he impressed last pre season before his long term injury. Any wish lists or speculations on others? -
@daffy-jaffy Nice find.
Interesting that Taramai isn't on that list. His best position is 7, but there are three good 7s in the squad already (Gibson, Pryor, Papali'i). Really not sure about him covering number 8.
Disappointed to see Vaega has left. Maybe replacing Fekitoa at the Highlanders?
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@tim I was just thinking the same thing. There seems to be many stronger options out there for a loose forward utility. (Matich or especially the fijian guy from Taranaki comes to mind). Maybe Papalii will be developed as an 8-6 he has bulked up alot.
If that list is complete I am also surprised they kept Trainor as he could not even keep a place in the Auckland team and seems a bit frail for super level to me.
