Blues 2019
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@Steven-Harris Yeah, he's a good player and if he hadn't been injured, he'd be one of the first picked every week. Great pickup from the Hurricanes.
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@cgrant all Plumtree needs to do is move Blackwell to six and we are sorted. He went well for the Lions there through the NPC so I don't know why Plum has this drive to turn Blackwell into a lock. With Mitchell, Leaupepe, Scrafton and the pending Walker-Leawere as options there is no need to look at Blackwell as a lock option.
Anyway it won't matter too much if they decide to re-sign the likes of May and Eves as our propping options.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2019:
@Tim That would be nice but doubtful. Also maybe Whetton might be looking for more game time?
I could see Whetton coming back up. I'd be happy with him as a signing.
Another option is maybe playing Tom Robinson at lock at times next year, then just roll out Akira, Gibson and Papali'i in the backrow. That would get all our best talent on the field at once.
Even starting Robinson at 6, then letting him finish the last 20 or so minutes at lock should be seen as an option going forward. Surprised it hasn't been tried even once this year.
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@Dice given he has played the bulk of his M10 Cup rugby at lock (IIRC only very small minutes at 6) you'd have thought they would have seen him there (assume he was probably even signed as a lock who can play 6?) or at least an option there.
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The future All Blacks that could turn the inconsistent Blues from mediocre to genuine playoff contenders
If MacDonald is looking to make amends for in his bid to get the Blues back into the realm of Super Rugby title contenders, then these personnel changes within his squad could very well be the remedy he needs.
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Emoni Narawa starting interesting and is that asaeli tikoirotuma? The former chief?
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@KiwiMurph Is "S Vikena" Soane Vikena from last year's NZ Schools team?
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@Tim yes.
Good Tua finally having a run too, been missing in club footy.
Northland having a trial of sorts on Saturday so shame a few out in this fixture...although obviously good for them.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
Northland having a trial of sorts on Saturday so shame a few out in this fixture...although obviously good for them.
where is it? I may be in Whangarei and pop along for a look
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@KiwiMurph Team looks weaker than I thought it'd be.
Seems like many of the Auckland guys weren't considered for the game, probably because of the short turnaround from Monday.
Patrick's little bro on the bench - he was part of the champion St Peters team last year. Also, Eric Rush's son at 6. Quite a few rugby connections in that team.
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One player definitely leaving is lock Scott Scrafton, who has signed with the Hurricanes. Scrafton has been a good performer for the Blues over the last three years and recently returned from a serious knee injury.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12236630
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@Tim with most of the better midfielders locked in at other franchises ,looks like we are looking heavily towards the Mitre 10 Cup or possibly offshore to fill vacancies ..
I just suspect with the Blues they don’t always look to select a player that fits the needs of what is required ,it’s been a while since we have had a real thinking midfielder, we had one in Micheal Little but we were too quick to offload him and once given a chance in Sunwolves colours you just got to see how good this guy is..little is the sort of player I believe would enhance a player like Tumua Manua if he returned to the Blues because of his creative ability
Nonu and Faiane have been solid but to me at times lacked real creativity which showed up in a couple of games.
Nonu is always at his best either on off the top lineout ball or very quick ball with time something our forwards don’t always supply..I really think given the options they don’t have I would be working overtime to keep one of the 2 ,more likely Nonu, I have got plenty of time for SBW who incidentally will be available for selection against the Reds this weekend..I just think with SBW if injuries are starting to bite..
But if we can’t one the other will do ,still think we are gonna need experience.Wearing my Northland hat, I was up watching the Northland trials in Whangarei on Saturday it was great to see both Matt Johnson and Tamati Tua oppose each other ;I thought Johnson looked very solid and I was impressed Tua, looked like he’s bulked a bit and looked very solid, defensively he looked after Johnson very well...
Given that both have been with the Blues before,I will watching their Mitre 10 Cup form with great interestIf the rumours of Scott Gregory heading to the Highlanders are to be believed ,that’s a bit of blow in my opinion he would have been a great utility option who can also play wing..has a great left foot as well something we lack in the Blues especially when it comes to red zone exits.
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