Blues 2020
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The Blues apparently have signed a lock already to replace Wardlaw , but it’s not Sam Caird or Temo Mayanavanua, Caird will stay onboard as injury cover..Mayanavanua is treated as an overseas players so he falls out of consideration ..
Hoping if it’s anybody, Geoff Cridge would be my pick with what’s left around ..
Ben NeeNee or Jamie Lane have never quite done it for me..
Then again, this is the Blues.. -
@Steven-Harris Ben Nee Nee and Jamie Lane are barely Mitre 10 Cup standard. I guess it could only be Cridge if it isn't one of those 2.
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hold on, my phone is ringing, I think it is Hanks...I'm not tall, but I did play lock once.
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@taniwharugby just give him some friendly advice 🤬
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2020:
The Blues apparently have signed a lock already to replace Wardlaw
Is it a lock? I still wouldn't be surprised if they go for another loosie
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@Duluth I am not 100% sure wether it’s a lock or Loose forward, but they have signed someone, but another loose forward would make sense as well..can we just swap out Lamborn..?
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2020:
I am not 100% sure wether it’s a lock or Loose forward, but they have signed someone, but another loose forward would make sense as well..can we just swap out Lamborn..?
It makes sense to me
The squad had 5 specialist locks plus Tucker and Robinson as a loosie/locks.
7 options for the 2nd row
There's not much point picking another lock if they would be rated behind Tucker. If Tucker moves up in the lock rankings then we need more loose forward cover
What's Matich up to?
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I would have to go for Geoff cridge as a replacement can play loosie or lock
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2020:
I'm not tall, but I did play lock once.
Sounds like you'd fit perfectly in the Hurricanes.
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Have they comfirned a lock replacement
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@Jonty-lean The replacement Lock/loosie appears to be Aaron Carroll from BOP -
https://blues.rugby/players/baden-wardlaw/
He was Chiefs development player of the year this season.
26 y/o
193cm
112kgs
Was excellent at lock last year but played more often at 6 for BOP this season i think.
Previously played for the mighty Swamp Foxes!
Look at that beautiful pitch. -
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Look at that beautiful pitch.
that's some old school rugby right there. Quality. The comparison to the turf in the first photo is amazing
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@Jonty-lean The replacement Lock/loosie appears to be Aaron Carroll from BOP -
Was excellent at lock last year but played more often at 6 for BOP this season i think.
More on the bench I think, as Franklin played at 6. I thought Carroll was taller but he is another in the long list of NZ undersized locks.
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@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@Jonty-lean The replacement Lock/loosie appears to be Aaron Carroll from BOP -
Was excellent at lock last year but played more often at 6 for BOP this season i think.
More on the bench I think, as Franklin played at 6. I thought Carroll was taller but he is another in the long list of NZ undersized locks.
I wonder why they didn't pick up Cridge? He got picked on his U20s form and had three years as a Super player (arguably undeserved and didn't excel too much at NPC early on) and in the last two seasons he's actually gone well at NPC and is a lock sized lock who can play loose forward as well. Seems strange to pick up an undersized lock instead.
Ah well, the vagaries of Super Rugby team selections.
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@Nepia said in Blues 2020:
@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@Jonty-lean The replacement Lock/loosie appears to be Aaron Carroll from BOP -
Was excellent at lock last year but played more often at 6 for BOP this season i think.
More on the bench I think, as Franklin played at 6. I thought Carroll was taller but he is another in the long list of NZ undersized locks.
I wonder why they didn't pick up Cridge? He got picked on his U20s form and had three years as a Super player (arguably undeserved and didn't excel too much at NPC early on) and in the last two seasons he's actually gone well at NPC and is a lock sized lock who can play loose forward as well. Seems strange to pick up an undersized lock instead.
Ah well, the vagaries of Super Rugby team selections.
Cridge was injured most of the time and therefore hardly played during his first two NPC seasons, but when he played, he showed plenty of promise. Same situation for the Canes; he had at least two surgeries with long rehab periods, making him unavailable for most of his two first SR seasons (Cridge's rugby career has been very similar to Hugh Renton's in that respect). For the 2019 season, the Canes signed the never-seen South African and then Leaupepe. Cridge never got an opportunity once he was fit to play.
I think he would have been a good (better) pick-up for the Blues. Wait and see what happens with Selby-Rickit and whether the Landers still need another lock.
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@Nepia As others have said, the Blues have plenty of locks in their squad so it depends on what type of player they wanted. All subjective, of course.
Blues high performance manager Tony Hanks said Carroll was an idea replacement for Wardlaw.
"We've looked closely at targeting players with high workrate, who are physical, mobile and bring great character for our team," he said. "Aaron fits that profile."
