Blues 2020

[Duluth]

@Tim said in Blues 2020:

The team is shaping up now, but there's a lot of inexperience at the back.

1. Karl T
2. ? Abel or Niuia?
3. Ofa T
4. Tuipulotu
5. ? Maybe one of the Harbour boys or Whetton?

I'd give Pierce the first chance along side Tuipulotu

If the rumours are correct we'll need a new TH

[Tim]

@Duluth said in Blues 2020:

I'd give Pierce the first chance along side Tuipulotu

Yeah, he's looked handy at times. Goodhue might be in danger of missing out, especially if they look to bring in some like Paripari Parkinson from outside.

[Canes4life]

@Tim pretty strong forward pack if the Blues can grab a decent-ish lock. Maybe taking a punt on someone like Cridge from the Bay, even though he has had injury troubles in the past.

My ?? are in the backs. I think the Blues would look far stronger if they leave Ioane on the left wing and attempt to sign more of a distributing 13. Also wouldn't Clarke be your starting 11 if Ioane was your 13?

[African Monkey]

@Canes4life Clarke is playing 7s next year.

[Canes4life]

@African-Monkey oh yup.

[Dice]

Really happy with the Narawa signing. Just grab Tima from Ta$man and that's the wings sorted.

[Yeetyaah]

Good signing in Narawa, was hoping the Chiefs would grab him as he's a BOP player.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/116174395/highlanders-recruit-michael-collins-leaves-door-open-for-uk-switch

Regardless of how the future plays out, Collins looks back at his time with the Blues with some fondness and dismisses criticism of the Auckland franchise's culture.

"Auckland's interesting because you've got such a wide area from where people would have to travel in from for training, whereas in Dunedin everything is obviously five minutes away," he said.

"So, there's obviously restrictions but at my time at the Blues the management found ways around it.

"In the past the Blues used that as excuse. There's a lot of comments about the culture not being good enough but I never found that at all. I loved the culture up there, turning up at training. I'm part of the Highlanders now but I still want the Blues to do well at some stage."

[KiwiMurph]

Player who has never experienced another Super Rugby culture defends culture of Super Rugby team in which he was treated very favourably.

[Snowy]

@KiwiMurph Yes, but he communicated it well.

[Stargazer]

[Nepia]

@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:

WTF - he doesn't have a good reputation ...

[KiwiMurph]

@Nepia he's gonna fit right in.

Experience with underperforming franchise in biggest market.

[Chris]

@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:

That does not seem like a good appointment Waratahs would be glad to get rid of him

[voodoo]

@Chris that's the understatement of the year. He was a fucking disaster.

[antipodean]

@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:

[rotated]

Look for Warratahs to dominate next year like Ta$man have this year.

[Tim]

Here's some background on the Blues new CEO:

Hore, 47, originally from Canterbury, was previously CEO of Ospreys Rugby Club in Wales and before then, was High Performance Manager for New Zealand Rugby. He has a deep background in rugby as director of physical conditioning and player development for the Welsh Rugby Union and conditioning coach for the Crusaders.

https://blues.rugby/former-ospreys-and-waratahs-head-takes-over-at-blues/

[Daffy Jaffy]

From BOP Mafia Twitter - thoughts?
Congratulations to Baden Wardlaw, the Bay Steamers lock, who has been signed by @BluesRugbyTeam - not linking to the Herald article as it is behind the paywall #SteamTeam

He is 1.98m, 115kgs and 29 years old, but hey Alex Ainley was 33 when he debuted for the Highlanders. I have noticed his play and he does go well for the Steamers, seems physical and accurate in his core roles. His tackle stats are at 94%. The interest for me - is he replacing Scrafton who's gone or have they released Goodhue or Pierce? I hope they keep Pierce myself.

[African Monkey]

@Daffy-Jaffy From what I was told, Pierce was kept ahead of Scrafton.