Blues 2019
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@nzzp said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@pakman said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
May be behind here but bumped into Ted tonight in Dublin.
Hope you bought him a drink for us. Dead set legend.
Would have done, but his wife was demanding he leave.
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taniwharugbyreplied to KiwiMurph on 22 Nov 2018, 03:32 last edited by taniwharugby 22 Nov 2018, 03:32
@kiwimurph if he (continues to) surrounds himself with yes men/women then he is safe.
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@taniwharugby I wouldn't call John Hart a yes man. He's already demoted Tana ahead of schedule.
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@kiwimurph woulda thought his role shoulda been one of the first to go then given some of the shite he has overseen, Hart or no Hart...but he is still there...
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
woulda thought his role shoulda been one of the first to go then given some of the shite he has overseen
The window to get rid of him is longer than the window for changing coaches. Umaga needed to be sacked quickly so MacDonald could start preparing for the new season.
Hopefully he is next on NZR's hit list. Then Hanks.
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@duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
woulda thought his role shoulda been one of the first to go then given some of the shite he has overseen
The window to get rid of him is longer than the window for changing coaches. Umaga needed to be sacked quickly so MacDonald could start preparing for the new season.
Hopefully he is next on NZR's hit list. Then Hanks.
this board is showing the previous boards what governance looks like. Actually taking actions that directly affect the franchise in a positive way - and taking some tough decisions. Has Hart's fingerprints all over it; he's astute and fearless.
I'm more positive about the long term future of the Blues than I have been for years.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
I'm more positive about the long term future of the Blues than I have been for years.
This is our decade!
"This is our year" is for Warriors fans.
Remember this - Warriors success story?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/103368330/blues-chief-michael-redman-says-hes-ready-to-learn-from-warriors-success-story -
@snowy not even the Mrs gives me that many chances..!
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Is that Matich and Olmstead training with the Blues?
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@tim had heard Matich had taken an injury cover contract with the blues.
Good old bronco, wonder if Tom Robinsons record still stands.
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@tim It is, and also I have seen Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, i think Jonno Kitto and Tomas Aoake (former warriors u20 wing/centre now with Ta$man. was in Crusaders dev team this season) in photos and a video on the Blues facebook page.
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taniwharugbyreplied to Daffy Jaffy on 29 Nov 2018, 06:33 last edited by taniwharugby 29 Nov 2018, 06:33
@daffy-jaffy comments on the IG page would indicate Aoake is there
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@daffy-jaffy Looks a bit like Mark Telea?
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@daffy-jaffy Who's the guy with the dread top-not? Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa? Jacob Umaga?
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Rugby non-genius Ali Williams is picking the Blues to make the semi-finals. Heard that one before ...
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@tim I'm sure that is Riedlinger-Kapa and you were right about Telea.
Here is a video of Tomas Aoake playing for Warriors u20.
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I was impressed in the little I saw of Aoake for Ta$man. He's got some talent.
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Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.
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@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.
Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?
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@stargazer said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.
Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?
Well Jacob Pierce definitely has - he is in the 38 man Blues squad and NeeNee isn't
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Good to see Perofeta a part of this week's preseason training group. With his injury history I wasn't sure how long he might be out for.
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From instagram stories it looks like Scrafton is training with the team, which is good news. Tanielu Tele'a might be in there too.
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Two more 'development' players training with the team are Robb Cobb (NZ U20 prop) and Hawaii Ahokovi (young Pakuranga outside back who played preseason with Auckland).
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Looks like the full training squad is in the last picture:
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@hooroo wasnt there an AB prop who was/is very good at Judo.
Can't recall,, but I think it was John Timu back in the day used to do ballet training for strength and balance.
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@hooroo said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Interesting that it appears they have judo(?) coach helping them out. I can see how that would be helpful and moving bodyweights about
UFC fighter Dan Hooker
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@taniwharugby Don't know about Judo, but Joe Moody is a former NZ wrestling rep.
Edited to add that Moody won a junior Commonwealth Games bronze medal (freestyle wrestling) and competed at the world junior championships.
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McDowall had a judo background.
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@stargazer just asked Aunty/Uncle Google...
Was Steve McDowell, coulda gone to Moscow Olympics.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11209385
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in the pre-season isn't unusual. I think the Crusaders did it first? That was at least 12 years ago. Pat Lam did similar sessions with the Blues
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@tim I see Lewis Gjaltema and Mike Tamoaieta there. Does anyone recognise the front row looking guy between Umaga and Mafileo?
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@daffy-jaffy Looks like Jarred Adams and Marco Fepulea'i might be in there? Be interested if someone could spot Lua Li.
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@tim I can't pick out Adams or Fepulea'i in the team photo. I have spotted Harrison Groundwater. I think the prop that I could not identify may well be Lua Li as you wondered. Seems to be a lot of 'extra' North Harbour players with the team this week.
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Players are named here
The 13 current replacement players are Mikey Tamoaieta (North Harbour), Luatangi Li (North Harbour), Danny Drake (North Harbour), Evan Olmstead (Auckland), Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Auckland), Matt Matich (Northland), Jono Kitto (Northland), Lewis Gjaltema (North Harbour), Jack Heighton (North Harbour), Harrison Groundwater (North Harbour) Hawaii Ahokovi (Auckland), Tomas Aoake ( Ta$man) and Mark Telea (North Harbour). In addition to the replacement group, two young players from the Blues Under-20s who have recently been selected for the New Zealand Under-20 training squad, will join the Blues for 10 weeks fulltime training as part of the Interim Training Contract scheme. They are Rob Cobb (Auckland) and Brad McNaughten (North Harbour). Scott Gregory (Northland) is currently with the NZ Sevens team.
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This post is deleted!
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@daffy-jaffy I'd have taken Ross Wright over Tamoaieta, added versatility of playing hooker.
But then I am bias
Post 999 of 2005