Highlanders v Blues

Kiwiwomble

@Bovidae when on form yeah...but no one knows whats up with Walden and Thomo has been out of sorts, personally think he's been looking lie hes carrying the weight of the world...or at least our backline on his shoulders

ACT Crusader

@Bovidae said in Highlanders v Blues:

Thompson is on the outer too. I rate Tomkinson below both he and Walden.

I think Thompson has played every minute so far this season.

Whilst Ioane should have too much class, I thought Collins looked the goods when moved to centre last week. He looked far more assured and comfortable. Have Josh at 1st 5 might open it up a bit more for him too.

Duluth

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15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Dalton Papalii, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.

Reserves: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black, 23 Harry Plummer

Players not considered with injury: Jared Page (hamstring), Stephen Perofeta (fractured foot), Tom Robinson (knee), James Parsons (concussion), Hoskins Sotutu (knee), Jared Page (hamstring), Dan Carter (calf). Season ending: Ray Niuia, James Tucker, Tanielu Tele’a

https://blues.rugby/sights-set-on-gordon-hunter-memorial-trophy/

The Blues have named an unchanged squad to head south in search of the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy in their Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Sunday afternoon.

The only change is a swap in the front row where All Black Karl Tu’inukuafe, fully recovered from a niggling hamstring, has his first start in this competition while hard-working Alex Hodgman will come off the bench after six straight starts.

While the Blues share top-of-the-table status on four wins with the Crusaders and Hurricanes, the firm focus is on bringing the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy back to Auckland.

The trophy was established in memory of the late Gordon Hunter, coach of both the Highlanders and the Blues, who he guided in 2000 and 2001. It has been won on eight occasions by the Blues and 10 times by the Highlanders who have had possession for the past eight years. The challenger can only win the trophy at the home of the holder.

“Gordon was a special man who held a special place for both the Blues and the Highlanders, something we are well aware of,” said Blues coach Leon MacDonald.

“We would like nothing more than to take the trophy back to Auckland with us.

“We know that we will need to be at our best to achieve that. Every time we play the Highlanders it is a close affair, as are all the games in this competition.

“We have worked hard again this week and focussed on being more accurate and disciplined at the breakdown but at the same time we want to continue to be physical in the collisions.

“We have to get the job done upfront and give our backs the time and space to show their skills, be both patient as well as capitalise on our chances.”

The Blues are looking forward to playing under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium with the surface suiting their open running style.

MacDonald said that Tu’inukuafe had earned a start with an eye-catching effort off the bench last week and offers a chance for Hodgman to freshen up after some big minutes in this campaign.

The backline is unchanged with Beauden Barrett again at first-five, the exciting three-quarters in Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Mark Telea have 15 tries between them, and dual international Matt Duffie again at fullback, one of eight Blues starters with more than 50 Super caps to their credit.

MacDonald is looking for a positive and powerful input from the bench later in the game.

Tim

Christie again!

shakes fist

nzzp

wonder if BB is starting 10 partly because of his experience under the roof. It' s a weird place - seems to have swirling winds.

Tim

Seems tough on Goodhue to be on the bench.

taniwharugby

@Tim Nock musta really pissed off Leon with whatever he did.

nzzp

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Tim Nock musta really pissed off Leon with whatever he did.

My wristband says WWLD. He's our new saviour.

Hooroo

@nzzp said in Highlanders v Blues:

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Tim Nock musta really pissed off Leon with whatever he did.

My wristband says WWLD. He's our new saviour.

I just read your comment and not rest of thread and smiled at "What Would Lucifer Do"

nzzp

@Hooroo said in Highlanders v Blues:

@nzzp said in Highlanders v Blues:

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Tim Nock musta really pissed off Leon with whatever he did.

My wristband says WWLD. He's our new saviour.

I just read your comment and not rest of thread and smiled at "What Would Lucifer Do"

?

Bones

Come on, no word about the traps on Walden? Surely someone has heard something.

Yay Josh!

Oh and whatever marketing egg with a passing interest in rugby at the blues came up with that team graphic needs to be exited.

Kiwiwomble

@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:

Yay Josh!

glad you've finally come around to McKay.....

Bones

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:

Yay Josh!

glad you've finally come around to McKay.....

FABJM

Kiwiwomble

@Bones Fabulous Josh McKay?

Bones

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Bones Fabulous Josh McKay?

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ACT Crusader

@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:

Yay Josh!

glad you've finally come around to McKay.....

FABJM

I thought Johnny McNicholl had that trademark 😎

pakman

Expect Clan starting 8 to be mullered at scrum time.

Will be interesting to see how loosies fare. Papa’ili facing form 6 in comp.

Bones

@pakman said in Highlanders v Blues:

Expect Clan starting 8 to be mullered at scrum time.

Heard that before a few times....

pakman

@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:

@pakman said in Highlanders v Blues:

Expect Clan starting 8 to be mullered at scrum time.

Heard that before a few times....

I don’t rate Thwaites at scrum, albeit good around track.

Expect him to have his hands full with Karl T!

Bones

@pakman said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:

@pakman said in Highlanders v Blues:

Expect Clan starting 8 to be mullered at scrum time.

Heard that before a few times....

I don’t rate Thwaites at scrum, albeit good around track.

Expect him to have his hands full with Karl T!

Mate, no-one in the Highlanders pack was rated before SRA. Most still aren't rated. Yet look at them go!

The Silver Fern

Highlanders v Blues