Sharks vs Blues
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The team is getting announced at 2pm
A few comments from Tuipulotu and MacDonald about the Shark match:
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The Blues laughable record vs the Sharks:
Date Winner Score Venue Sat, 31 Mar 2018 Sharks 40-63 Auckland Sat, 16 Apr 2016 Blues 23-18 Auckland Fri, 23 May 2014 Sharks 23-29 Albany Sat, 29 Jun 2013 Sharks 20-22 Durban Fri, 13 Apr 2012 Sharks 23-29 Auckland Sat, 26 Feb 2011 Sharks 12-26 Durban Sat, 24 Apr 2010 Sharks 10-23 Durban Sat, 07 Mar 2009 Sharks 31-35 Auckland Sat, 08 Mar 2008 Sharks 17-22 Durban Sat, 12 May 2007 Sharks 18-34 Durban Sat, 14 Apr 2007 Sharks 25-32 Albany Sat, 22 Apr 2006 Sharks 15-32 Durban Sat, 16 Apr 2005 Blues 36-13 Auckland Fri, 30 Apr 2004 Blues 37-26 Durban Sat, 26 Apr 2003 Blues 25-16 Auckland Sat, 06 Apr 2002 Sharks 13-20 Durban Sat, 07 Apr 2001 Sharks 27-41 Auckland Sun, 30 Apr 2000 Blues 30-19 Durban Sat, 24 Apr 1999 Sharks 6-12 Auckland Sat, 28 Feb 1998 Sharks 8-24 Durban -
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Yeah this is going to be very interesting I think - you'd imagine the Blues players would be well fired up for this one knowing what happened last year.
I can't imagine there'll be too many changes to the lineup other than perhaps the ABs props starting this week instead of bench - I note Papali'i had a hip issue so he might be a question mark and what do they do with the midfield is probably the other.
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@KiwiMurph said in Sharks vs Blues:
I can't imagine there'll be too many changes to the lineup other than perhaps the ABs props starting this week instead of bench - I note Papali'i had a hip issue so he might be a question mark and what do they do with the midfield is probably the other.
Yeah, as mentioned elsewhere I don't think we have an option to replace Collins. He'll probably be the fullback for the 3 rounds at least
I think MacDonald will keep as many combinations as possible for this one. Maybe only Ofa coming in at TH?
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@Duluth said in Sharks vs Blues:
Yeah, as mentioned elsewhere I don't think we have an option to replace Collins. He'll probably be the fullback for the 3 rounds at least
I've managed to watch teh first half, and the direct running of the back three is noticeable - particularly Collins. He wasn't awful in teh first half - the bad kick pass drop aside.
So far (again, first half only), our defence is OK aside from the mauls. Again. And hopefully next year some new people will shore that up ... it astonishes me that we can be so weak in an area for so long.
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@nzzp said in Sharks vs Blues:
He wasn't awful in teh first half - the bad kick pass drop aside.
The running sideways to destroy a 2 on 1 for Nonu and Rieko was unforgivable. Even worse than the dropped catch and consistent with his efforts at this level.
It's not that he doesn't do anything good.. the problem is he keeps making basic costly errors game after game.
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@Cyclops said in Sharks vs Blues:
@Duluth said in Sharks vs Blues:
It was much better when they were Natal
4-0 before the name change
Wasn't there a draw in 96?
30-23 & 45-21 in 1996
The only draw against a Saffa side seems to be 40-40 in 1997 against Northern Transvaal
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@Duluth said in Sharks vs Blues:
@Cyclops said in Sharks vs Blues:
@Duluth said in Sharks vs Blues:
It was much better when they were Natal
4-0 before the name change
Wasn't there a draw in 96?
30-23 & 45-21 in 1996
The only draw against a Saffa side seems to be 40-40 in 1997 against Northern Transvaal
Wrong on year and opponent, I was way off!
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15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Reserves: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Tanielu Tele’a
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@Duluth said in Sharks vs Blues:
Wasn't expecting that many changes
Collins dropped from the 23. Black covering 15?
Not sure about TJ at 13 on defence. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
Man, we are so used to no accountabilty for poor form in the Tana years we were all expecting Collins to stay.
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@Duluth should be alright alongside SBW?
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@taniwharugby said in Sharks vs Blues:
should be alright alongside SBW?
It's a small sample size, but I don't think he has ever had a strong game on defence at this level.
Asking him to defend in a new position is a concern
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@Duluth said in Sharks vs Blues:
@nzzp said in Sharks vs Blues:
Last years, though, was bloody woeful
Possibly the worst ever Blues game? It's a toss up between that and the Sunwolves one for me.
I lean towards the Sharks because it was at Eden Park
Massive recency bias. Got toweled by the Rebels in 2015 away which is up there with the Sunwolves performance in terms of losing a game comprehensively they had no business losing at all.
Blues have been beaten 40+ vs not many, against teams that have made the finals plenty of times the past decade. Not even sure that performance was more embarrassing that the final round "effort" against the Crusaders.
