Blues v Sunwolves
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15 Melani Nanai, 14 Tanielu Tele’a, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams ©, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Augustine Pulu; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
Reserves: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Lua Li, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black, 23 Levi Aumua
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The Blues welcome two long term injured players to add spark to the team to take on the Sunwolves at QBE Stadium in North Harbour on Saturday. Loose forward Blake Gibson will make his first appearance, starting on the openside flank after being sidelined with long term injury. His return allows All Black Dalton Papalii to come off the bench after playing high minutes in the opening three games. The 2m lock Scott Scrafton will come off the bench after nearly one year out of the sport after damaging both his ACL and LCL in the knee and ripping the tendon off the bone. There’s a homegrown look to the tight five with All Black Karl Tu’inukuafe, James Parsons and Sione Mafileo forming a potent front row and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti starting at lock – all from North Harbour and starting on their home turf. In-form Northland lock Josh Goodhue will partner Cowley-Tuioti in the middle row while Tom Robinson and Akira Ioane again start in the loose. Outstanding rookie Harry Plummer gets his first start at first-five, swapping spots with Otere Black, who comes off the bench, and Sonny Bill Williams starts and will captain the side. Northland’s Sam Nock has recovered from a calf injury and is included on the bench as is big Ta$man midfielder Levi Aumua. The Blues will spell Ofa Tuungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu with prescribed All Blacks rest, while Alex Hodgman has also been rested with a slight knee injury suffered in Argentina. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks of long travel, short turnarounds, hot conditions, and performances that were below our capabilities,” said coach Leon Macdonald. “It’s good to have some of our key injured players back to inject some freshness both in the starting team and off the bench and give us a chance to rest some who have had a big start to the season. “We also expect our North Harbour boys to really stand up on their home ground and set the platform upfront for our backs to prosper. Overall we are looking for a more physical job at the breakdown, and more accuracy and patience. “Clearly the Sunwolves are a vastly different team with a lot of New Zealand and Australian players with Super Rugby experience. They proved their capability last week with the win against the Chiefs and we are under no illusions of the challenge they will bring. “We are looking forward to it and hopefully produce a game of real quality. -
@Duluth @Stargazer Fark, I thought swapping 10s would be out with Tana (and Pat, and JK). Not a fan - you should know your best 10, and stick with them. So much of the game goes through them.
Feels like we're back to mix and match selections, and I don't know why.
that said, welcome back Scott and Blake!
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Is Ruru injured? Ideally you'd start him with Nock on the bench, cos Pulu was all kinds of average last time out.
Nock needs a big season now, really grew alot last year for Northland, needs to replicate that into super rugby.
Hasnt Robinson played same minutes as Dalton? I'd like him to cut his bloody hair, or do something else cos I noticed one ruck he got up from he spent the next 5 or so seconds tying it back instead of running up field.
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@taniwharugby Wait what? Pulu was fine in his last start. One of his better Blues games. Ruru was the one who butchered the scrum at the end.
As for Plummer at 10 - excellent. I'm pleased Plummer will get a crack at 10 from the start - so far he's had to come on late at 10 and then once late at 15. Now he gets his shot. @nzzp Depending on how Plummer goes who could very well be the Blues new starting 10. Otere has done some good things but hasn't played so well that his jersey should be unchallenged imo.
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@Tim said in Blues v Sunwolves:
Big game for Cowley-Tuioti. Hasn't impressed so far this season. We've lacked grunt off the bench from him.
Looking forward to seeing Renata off the bench. Be interesting to see what kind of shape Aumua is in.
i thought C-T put in a couple of pretty decent hits last week, one of which resulted in a turnover.
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@KiwiMurph I thought Pulu was all over the shop, yes Ruru wasnt great either, but thought he still looked better than Pulu.
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@mariner4life Fair play. I didn't see all the last game due to a shit stream.
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@taniwharugby Fair enough. I disagree.
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@KiwiMurph tis funny how we can be watching the same player and have different views of how they played
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@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?
I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.
What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.
Black will get on the field, so it’s not like he’s getting rusty.
The big plus with Plummer is he’s a very vocal player, and really drives the team around. Should give us good direction and isn’t afraid to take the line on.
Also won’t have to dick around hiding Black on the wing in defence as well.
Downside is goal kicking form.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@KiwiMurph I thought Pulu was all over the shop, yes Ruru wasnt great either, but thought he still looked better than Pulu.
Main problem with pulu still is how slow he is to clear the ball. He’s like trying to race with the handbrake on.
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@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?
I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.
What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.
Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.
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@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?
I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.
What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.
Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.
I’m sure he knows, and like with other positions that are using the full squad, you can’t play every game.
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@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:
@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?
I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.
What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.
Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.
Look at this way, we’ve rotated the props, locks, back row, halfback, centres, and back three so far, but swapping the ten is what’s going to do us in?
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