Blues 2019
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@steven-harris Waitemata are looking pretty good this year, aren't they? Are they a good chance for the playoffs? How did Adrian Choat go?
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@tim Waitemata have had a very good off season,they are very fit,not the biggest team I have ever seen,but they do have a couple really good athletes in the pack,Adrian Choat packed down at number 8,huge workrate..
I don’t know if you remember Ari Hunt who played number 8 for the Blues in 2015,not sure what happened to this kid,I know he picked up an injury in late 2015 with Auckland,did not train and in the space of a year,had his Auckland contact torn up and ,went from 118kgs to 165kgs,Still looks around 150kg,but is now playing loosehead prop..similar story to Kalolo Tuiloma from Counties Manukau..
Richie Harris from Auckland rugby was looking at Waitmata loose forward /lock,Jay Tuivati ex Kelston Boys,incredible physical specimen,around 6”3 or 6”4 similar in build to how Ari Hunt use to look..is in the Auckland wider training squad.
The halfback Godinet Tinei and the first five Dion Fraser are only young but both looked really good.. -
@steven-harris Sounds good. Thanks for the report.
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@steven-harris Did he refer to a rugby ball as "the nut" ... ?
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@majorrage he does actually..loves the Canes
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@tim said in Super Rugby News:
Now let's get Coventry in charge of the forwards, and a new defence coach.
If they're not firing Tana then the first guy's head on the block should be the forwards coach.
Against the Tahs the commentators were saying the Blues haven't scored from a lineout drive all season. That's no use. Probably cost two or three close games right there.
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@chris-b said in Super Rugby News:
Against the Tahs the commentators were saying the Blues haven't scored from a lineout drive all season. That's no use. Probably cost two or three close games right there.
Steve Jackson. His packs have had terrible maul defence too (Counties and North Harbour before the Blues)
I wouldn't be surprised to see him move sideways to defence coach -
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I agree I'd like to see a new forwards coach come in (ideally Coventry). The scrum has actually improved this year under Afeaki i'd keep him as scrum coach but yes the maul defense continues to be poor.
I fear though that with the 2nd coaching appointment not yet named it will be underwhelming and not a forwards coach - like a lesser known skills coach or something.
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@bovidae said in Super Rugby News:
Dave Ellis is listed as the skills coach so is his head on the chopping block? Or does Tana assume the role of backs coach in the current coaching team?
Umaga doesn't have responsibility for a single area. He opted to have specialists beneath him and take a hands off approach this year.
I think the Sunwolves loss was the catalyst for that. Thats the only time I can remember him taking responsibility and he said he would review his input. -
@kiwimurph It'll be the reconfirmation of Tana, won't it?
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