Blues all time XV

[Duluth]

@steven-harris said in Blues v Jaguares:

@duluth who would you have at fullback centre and 2nd five..?

12/13 would be Stensness/Clarke

Eroni Clarke is my favourite Blues player of all time. I thought Stensness was always underrated because he had more spectacular players around him

15 depends on how you want the team to play. I would go for the 2003 fullback Howlett and go for all out attack.

[Duluth]

Ok, I'll be the first to stick my neck out.

Criticise away..

1 Dowd
2 Fitzpatrick
3 Brown
4 Williams
5 R Brooke
6 Kaino
7 Jones
8 Z Brooke
9 Tonu'u
10 Spencer
11 Caucaunibuca
12 Stensness
13 Clarke
14 Rokocoko
15 Howlett

16 Mealamu
17 Woodcock
18 Faumuina
19 Luatua
20 D Braid
21 Devine
22 Nacewa
23 Toeava

In summary its mostly the 95-98 team, a bit of the 2003 team and some reserves from late in Lam's tenure.

Not a single player that had a debut post Lam

I've picked based on what they did for the Blues.

I'm sure some people would squeeze others into the midfield like Ranger, Mils, Gear, Tuitupou etc. Where it's close of gone for the most consistent over a long time for the Blues

Hardest selections? Wing by a mile. I had to leave out Lomu. So many other good wingers don't make the 23

The next hardest was backup flyhalf. I gave up and it will be covered by utilities - Stensness or Nacewa

[Nepia]

@duluth Did MJ ever play 7 for the Blues? He was almost an exclusive 6 by then wasn't he ... not that I'm arguing with the selection, he'd be my 7 too

Also, surprised Dowd was with the Blues so long ... I'd still have Woodcock over him.

[Nepia]

This post is deleted!

[Duluth]

@nepia

Yeah it was mostly Blowers and Carter at 7 in those years

[Steven Harris]

@duluth

My 23 would be

1 Woodcock
2 Fitzpatrick
3 Famauina
4 Williams
5 R Brooke
6 Kaino
7 Jones
8 Z Brooke
9 Tonu'u
10 Spencer
11 Caucaunibuca
12 Stensness
13 Clarke
14 Lomu
15 Howlett

16 Mealamu
17 Dowd
18 brown
19 Luatua
20 Luke Braid
21 Devine
22 Nacewa
23 Toeava

Really unlucky Rocokoko,

[Nepia]

This is a hard team to get into, a 100 test AB fullback can't make the squad and the best wing in the world doesn't get a mention (TBF he only has a season or two under his belt).

Mine:
Woody
Fitzy
Brown
Williams
Brooke
Kaino
Jones
Brooke
Devine
Spencer
Rupeni
Tuitupou
Clarke
Lomu
Howlett

Mealamu
Dowd
Faumuina
Reichlmann
Braid
Stensness
Mils

I've picked Tuitupou over Stensness for the same reason people are picking Howlett on his 2003 form. He was the perfect foil for Spencer. Same with Devine at 9.

Reichlmann over Luatua as lock/6 cover as he's a better lock then Luatua.

Had Evans as last back reserve but then realised he only played one season. Didn't rate Nacewa as highly as a 10 as others on here so Stensness is back up 10 and midfield.

I wonder who will be the certainties from every poster - Spencer (unless Joe Schmidt is voting), Kaino, Williams? Maybe Fitzy, Zinny and MJ unless there are few youngins on here? Rupeni?

Edit: Realised I too had left out Mils, he goes on to my bench and Toeava slips off (he could be bracketed with Stensness I guess).

[MN5]

Joeli Vidiri was sensational for them back in the day. That list of potential wings is ridiculously good. Waisake Sotutu hasn't even been mentioned yet!

[Nepia]

@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:

Joeli Vidiri was sensational for them back in the day. That list of potential wings is ridiculously good. Waisake Sotutu hasn't even been mentioned yet!

For good reason, he wasn't close to being as good as the other wings named and only player 4 matches for the Blues.

[MN5]

@nepia said in All time Blues XV:

@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:

Joeli Vidiri was sensational for them back in the day. That list of potential wings is ridiculously good. Waisake Sotutu hasn't even been mentioned yet!

For good reason, he wasn't close to being as good as the other wings named and only player 4 matches for the Blues.

Well when you put it like that....

Very good for Auckland though. My memory is clearly fading...

[Steven Harris]

@nepia Certs on any poster would be

Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
Howlett

Rocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything

[Nepia]

@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:

@nepia Certs on any poster would be

Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
Howlett

Rocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything

Not so sure on Howlett, Mils was a better long term fullback and he'd be competing with Lomu, Rupeni on the wing so one of those three miss out if someone only sees him as a wing.

Younger posters might not select MJ 'out of position' at 7 either?

[canefan]

@nepia Iceman was far and away the best 7 for the Blues and top 2 or 3 all time ABs. Put him in there and free up a spot for R Brooke. Put him in at 6 and who makes it in the 7 jersey? Daniel Braid? Don't say Mark Carter

[Nepia]

@canefan said in All time Blues XV:

@nepia Iceman was far and away the best 7 for the Blues and top 2 or 3 all time ABs. Put him in there and free up a spot for R Brooke. Put him in at 6 and who makes it in the 7 jersey? Daniel Braid? Don't say Mark Carter

Are you drunk (or didn't read any of the preceding posts)? MJ was a 6 for the Blues and there's no way Robin Brooke is better than Kaino at 6 .

[canefan]

@nepia said in All time Blues XV:

@canefan said in All time Blues XV:

@nepia Iceman was far and away the best 7 for the Blues and top 2 or 3 all time ABs. Put him in there and free up a spot for R Brooke. Put him in at 6 and who makes it in the 7 jersey? Daniel Braid? Don't say Mark Carter

Are you drunk (or didn't read any of the preceding posts)? MJ was a 6 for the Blues and there's no way Robin Brooke is better than Kaino at 6 .

Option A mate Excuse me for butting in where I don't belong. Unforgiveable that I forgot Kaino (even though Brooke won more Super titles). Carry on.....

[MN5]

No love for Andrew Blowers at 7? Unlike MJ he did actually play there and won consecutive titles there. I'd pick him.

A bit of a stop start AB career might mean he gets forgotten by some I guess.

[MN5]

@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:

@nepia Certs on any poster would be

Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
Howlett

Rocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything

I remember watching this live in Oz in the 03 WC. As you say he was just lethal, thank fuck he didn't get more ball from a Scots perspective.

[canefan]

@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:

@nepia Certs on any poster would be

Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
Howlett

Rocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything

Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah

[MN5]

@canefan said in All time Blues XV:

@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:

@nepia Certs on any poster would be

Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
Howlett

Rocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything

Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah

Rokokoko saved his best for the black jersey if I remember rightly.

[canefan]

@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:

@canefan said in All time Blues XV:

@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:

@nepia Certs on any poster would be

Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
Howlett

Rocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything

Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah

Rokokoko saved his best for the black jersey if I remember rightly.

How shit was that pass to the big man? Went sideways and back to gather then it's all over