Blues v Hurricanes
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@Kirwan said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Hooroo said in Blues v Hurricanes:
What's the forecast for Sunday's game?
Who's going? Mr and Mrs @Duluth I imagine, but who else? @Kirwan?
Think we are all going to go, just waiting on the weather forecast to confirm the kids.
Great time for kickoff to bring the family
Fully! with 37k sold already it is going to be a ripper of an atmosphere.
We would have come if it was on a Saturday so we could stay the night but too hard basket to do it all on a Sunday.
Mate has his bar set up so will be watching at his place so I don't have to put Sky sports back on.
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15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Otere Black, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Reserves: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Matt DuffiePlayers not considered with injury: Karl Tu’inukuafe (leg strain), Jack Heighton (quad), Jared Page (pec), Stephen Perofeta (fractured foot). Season ending: Ray Niuia, James Tucker, Tanielu Tele’a.
https://blues.rugby/selection-headaches-for-hurricanes-clash/
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has had his toughest selection job to decide his team for the opening match of the Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa. MacDonald said ‘Competition for selection has been intense throughout a number of positions’, as the Blues prepare to meet the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. “It has been the hardest team to select in my time here,” said MacDonald. “There are some disappointed players not in the 23 this week. But they will get their chance and we will need them.” Two-time world player of the year, Beauden Barrett will make his long-awaited debut for the Blues against his former team at fullback, while another former Hurricanes player, halfback Finlay Christie will make his debut off the bench. Upfront prop Alex Hodgman and Northland lock Josh Goodhue are both fully fit and return to the starting pack that includes All Blacks Ofa Tu’ungafasi and captain Patrick Tuipulotu, with Blues centurion James Parsons at hooker. The loose forward trio is one of the most competitive selections with Tom Robinson, Blake Gibson and early-season standout Hoskins Sotutu given the start, meaning All Black Dalton Papalii will come off the bench. The backline has a similar look to pre-Covid-19 times with TJ Faiane and All Black Rieko Ioane again pairing in the midfield outside San Nock and Otere Black. Caleb Clarke returns from New Zealand Sevens to take his place on the left wing to form a potent back three with Mark Telea and Barrett. There is familiar appearance to the reserves that include utility back Matt Duffie, who will earn his 50th Blues cap if he gets on the field. “Beauden has fitted in to our team seamlessly and has come in great shape and with real enthusiasm. This week we felt that he can best help us at 15 being his first game for the Blues with a mindset of graduating into the 10 role,” said MacDonald. “Otere (Black) was one of our best players earlier in the season and guided us well around the field, while Caleb (Clarke) has been outstanding since returning from the Sevens. “Picking the loose forwards was one of the hardest jobs where we are blessed to have so many quality players. “The team is naturally excited. This is a special occasion for us all – and something none of us expected, to be playing so soon and in front of our fans. It will be the same for the Hurricanes and I hope we can produce a real spectacle. “Our good form from earlier this year is a bit irrelevant now. That said the team know that if they put in the quality hard work during the week then they can take some confidence into game day to focus on their execution. “This is going to be a monumental 10 weeks of local derby battles which will be a battle of attrition, so we will need our whole squad if we are to realise our goals.” -
Hurricanes team to play the Blues: Chase Tiatia, Wes Goosen, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Jackson Garden-Bachop, TJ Perenara (co-captain), Gareth Evans, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles (co-captain), Fraser Armstrong. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Tevita Mafileo, Alex Fidow, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Vaea Fifita, Ardie Savea, Jamie Booth, Billy Proctor.
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@Canes4life A 6:2 split on the bench ...
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@Stargazer Perenara to cover 1st five?
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@Canes4life Yeah, TJP or Tiatia (in that case, Proctor to fullback).
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What has Prinsep ever bought to the Canes lol - such an odd ongoing selection considering our options
Also IWL needs to start to add some size to that tight five.
Rest of the team I'm happy with (aside from our 10's but not like we have a choice there!) Strong bench.
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@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Prinsep.
Prinsep & Blackwell
Oh shit, I was laughing so much at Prinsep I didn't notice the midget lock.
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No point having a strong bench when we have Prinsep and Blackwell starting.
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@Canes4life only chance we have at this point is if our bench comes on in the 2nd minute.
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Happy that Clarke is getting a start.
It would have been very easy to stick with the pre-covid wing combos of Telea/Duffie or Telea/Marchant. Especially considering Marchant in the 23 would've given better midfield cover
Clarke is much more of a threat than those other guys
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Very happy with that Blues backline on paper.
I'm not taking anything for granted though. A long lay off, new rules, anything can happen.
Am I the only one in the country actually wanting Rieko to play on the wing?
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@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Very happy with that Blues backline on paper.
I'm not taking anything for granted though. A long lay off, new rules, anything can happen.
Am I the only one in the country actually wanting Rieko to play on the wing?
nope, me too. But I don't think he wants to - I think he wants to play 13. Not sure why, but ultimately you have to do what your passion is
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@Hooroo said in Blues v Hurricanes:
We would have come if it was on a Saturday so we could stay the night but too hard basket to do it all on a Sunday.
The Chiefs game at Eden Park is on a Sunday too (26th July). You have plenty of time to plan a sickie
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@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Very happy with that Blues backline on paper.
I'm not taking anything for granted though. A long lay off, new rules, anything can happen.
Am I the only one in the country actually wanting Rieko to play on the wing?
Did you miss the last 2 Blues games? The Faiane-Rieko combo was brilliant.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Did you miss the last 2 Blues games? The Faiane-Rieko combo was brilliant.
It was building nicely. Ioane getting lots of attention and TJ picking when to throw the skip pass etc
