Blues 2020
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@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
@Nepia said in Blues 2020:
Hopefully he can exert his leadership mana to ensure the Blues don't use him as a ball runner.
He's actually a decent option off the bench, or as a squad hooker. We're seeing that- leadership, commitment, team activities; it's almost late stage Mealamu; not a great player any more, but hugely influential in the team. I like him as a person, but his carrying and physical presence isn't at starting hooker level. He's been much better this year off the bench
He may not be a great ball runner, but he's crucial to our lineout and is a good scrummager. Just have him hit rucks and let any number of the other big boppers run it up.
Only replace him if we have someone better, and at the moment we don't.
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2020:
et any number of the other big boppers run it up
thats the funny thing, he still gets called on to do carries.
TBF, despite his relatively small ball carries, he doesnt often get turned over, guess thats cos the support dont have as far to go to secure the ball
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
@Tim Lamborn has actually been bloody useful.
one of the real strengths that the coaching team has is developing fringe players. It means we have depth in so many positions that we didn't previously. You go through:
Front row,
Locks
Loosies (multiple backups)
Midfield
Back 3really, the only area that's thin is 9/10.
A lot of those players have come from nowhere too - Jacob Pierce, Mark Telea - despite the injuries some have already suffered (BoP lock, and that hooker)
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@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
really, the only area that's thin is 9/10.
You've got so much depth at 10, Beaudy hasn't played a game yet!
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
Jacob Pierce, Mark Telea
Pierce was NZ U20, and Telea was in the 7's dev squad, so not really out of nowhere.
OK, out of nowhere for me. Not front of mind for many folk I suggest, when looking at the year. Patty and J Goodhue were probably the first choice locks; Jacob has come in and performed really well.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
Not front of mind for many folk I suggest, when looking at the year. Patty and J Goodhue were probably the first choice locks; Jacob has come in and performed really well.
I wanted Pierce to have the first chance this year. Regardless of that, the other locks have raised their game. Goodhue probably played his most physical game of SR just before getting injured, Robinson did a good job and GCT had his best ever 40mins last weekend
Completely agree with your point about internal competition
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Happy for Mark and his family that he's playing so well, especially with what they've had to go through the last year with the brutal death of his brother.
I really like our winger depth going forward.
Mark Telea
Rieko Ioane
Tanielu Telea
Emoni Narawa
Caleb ClarkeThat's probably the best wing depth we've had in about a decade. I don't think Rieko will play much wing in the future though.
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@Dice said in Blues 2020:
Mark Telea
Rieko Ioane
Tanielu Telea
Emoni Narawa
Caleb ClarkeThat's probably the best wing depth we've had in about a decade. I don't think Rieko will play much wing in the future though.
Really looking forward to seeing Clarke back in XV's next year. He's got a lot of good bulk now and he's still fast. Relatively low error rate too.
I guess a few of those guys will drift into other positions. Tanielu Tele'a to the midfield & Narawa is more suited to fullback
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@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
really, the only area that's thin is 9/10
I don't think 10 is thin.
Otere is better than most sides second choice
Otere is great, I have been really impressed with him.
Perofeta at 15 is a revelation too; the nous of Michael Collins, but with some speed
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Podcast interview with Craig Dowd about playing for the Blues.
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Blues A to play Chiefs Dev in Hamilton this afternoon:
15 Jared page, 14 Tomas Aoake, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Tamati Tua 11 Joel Cobb 10 Jack Heighton 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Tony Lamborn, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa ©, 5 Sam Caird, 4 Samipeni Finau, 3 Ropate Rinakama, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Fatongia Paea.
Reserves: 16 Michael Lea, 17 TBC, 18 Teague McIlroy, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 25 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Patrick Elia, 23 Kade Banks.
https://blues.rugby/blues-a-take-on-chiefs-in-super-rugby-curtain-raiser-in-hamilton/
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If you are going to this game, please, report back to the Fern!
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@KiwiMurph
Looks like it might be Tamati Tua.The game will provide further valuable game time for Blues players who have returned from injury including Jack Heighton, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Finlay Christie and Jared Page and other Super Rugby squad players Tony Lamborn and Tamati Tua.
