Blues 2019
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@steven-harris To be fair to Nee Nee he's only there due to injuries. He's barely mitre 10 cup standard and only ever got a run there due to injuries as well.
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My feeling is they need to try the house down to get some rugged, experienced guys who could create a backbone and gel nicely with their stars.
A loose trio of Whitelock, Ioane and Papalii springs to mind as a good start. Maybe a Proctor type for the midfield. That kind of thing...
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@african-monkey fair call,it was probably more around the point,if we have injuries,it’s best to have quality cover,glad to be proved wrong on NeeNee.
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@steven-harris Pretty sure Dunshea played No. 8 for the Barbarians vs the Lions and made a good fist of it. I'd have liked to have seen him get time either there or at blindside flanker for the Crusaders. He would be an excellent pick-up, but I hope we can keep him - despite being an injury magnet. He's still only 22.
One of Jack Stratton or Ere Enari is likely to be available. Similarly Billy Harmon or Jed Brown. Bidwell-Curtis or Ethan Blackadder. All useful if they're required.
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Posted on fb by an ex ferner.
“I’m going to put the BOOMFA back in Blues! Oh me oh my you are gonna enjoy this yes boy!”
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@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor. -
@duluth heard through good source,they were going to announce Umagas extension after the Jaguaries game,but they were hoping to announce it on a victory to soften the blow..I think we can safely assume the announcement might be put on hold for a while..which is just madness..announce him already and at least you can start planning for 2019..
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I wonder what they will do if there are no more wins??
Not surprising. About the best that can be hoped for is a clean out of the assistants. Someone like Coventry can be the real coach and Umaga is just a figurehead.
Perhaps they can wheel out the pirate ship and Umaga can dress up as Bluebeard if he gets bored. -
@duluth give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
If they were going to announce it, you assume the paperwork is all signed, but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season and the blip (actually, continuation of norm) of the Jaguares has made them think about invoking said clause, so delaying any announcement for fear of even more egg on face?
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
give him a 'Director of Rugby' type title and let someone else loose on the actual coaching.
..and selecting.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
but maybe there is a clause in there about performance over the rest of the season
Damn you. Don't give me hope.
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@duluth said in Blues 2019:
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
It depresses me that every season I have to start looking at optimistic options for next season, before the cricket finishes.
Also, we're stuffed unless we get
- a good coach
- a good board
- a good 8/9/10 axis
We're unlikely to have a change at coach, because it's almost certain they'll be no change at board level. Fuck.
So about that 8/9/10 axis..
We know who the 8 is. He's still developing and hopefully he gets some good instruction at AB level because he isn't getting it at SR level.
At 10, I don't have much hope Gatland will improve.
Perhaps Plummer(currently on a dev contract), Black or Perofeta grows into the role (listed in order of how likely that is IMO).The biggest immediate concern is probably 9.
Nock has gone backwards this year, which is an achievement considering where he started. I'm fine with Pulu as an impact sub, but that is all.
Letting Nock go and signing Enari might be the best option. Enari has strong links to the region which should still be a factor.The Board is the most important component, and the least likely to change. A good Board appoints a good coach and ensures a good environment. After that, wati three years and we start to populate the team with talent.
The counter-argument is take a top franchise, add an arrogant and out of touch board, wait 15 years and then mop up the tears.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@tim plenty of smiles all around. We won last week boys, nothing to worry about....
Winning papers over a lot of cracks. It's also a habit.
Our weaknesses were there, but beating the Aus conference leaders away from home should be smile time
