Blues 2021
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Seems like a genuinely nice guy too. Hope he's okay in the long run.
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I didn't read anything in that media release about replacement. I assume that will be Eklund, who formally doesn't have a contract for this season?
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@Stargazer Yeah it's a weird one as Eklund was originally in there as replacing Vikena who is out injured for the year.
You've also got Ray Niuia injured currently hence why Tolai and Apisai are training with the Blues at the moment.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2021:
Parsons has retired
That's a shame. He cops a lot of stick on here, but he's been a great team man and more than a handy player.
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Parsons has played SR for nearly a decade so has had a decent career.
He needs to donate his headgear to the Rugby Museum.
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A good servant for us over the years. All the best to him in retirement.
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2021:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2021:
Parsons has retired
That's a shame. He cops a lot of stick on here, but he's been a great team man and more than a handy player.
My issues were more with the Blues than Parsons himself. For many years Parsons was rolled out as the unquestioned starter, playing huge minutes, and there was little to no development plan behind him. That has improved since Leon has become head coach and some other options have been identified (e.g. Eklund, Tolai, Vikena).
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End of a wonderful career.Always a leader and his knowledge of the game undeniable.Congratulations ,as you once said”if I am part of the problem,I want to be part of the solution”I think at the Blues you have been part of the solution.
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@Kirwan wasnt his fault he kept getting selected and then used as a battering ram ball carrier
I was critical of his ability at that level (as a starter) but was never any question about his work rate or dedication to the team!
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
@Kirwan wasnt his fault he kept getting selected and then used as a battering ram ball carrier
I was critical of his ability at that level (as a starter) but was never any question about his work rate or dedication to the team!
Yep, wasn't a dig at the critics, as you say he was a crucial part of the team. It's a shame he didn't get to choose when to retire.
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@taniwharugby..just checking to see who is the next cab off the rack
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@Steven-Harris Leni Apisai is training with the team, so I guess he's third hooker. Hope his throwing has improved. There's the young guy from Hawkes Bay who might be available. How about Olsen?
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@Tim think Olsens age (28ish?) probably works against him and while I dont think he turned out for them, he was named in the Canadian squad in 2019.
But I think he would to a good job if given the chance
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@Tim It would be great if Kereru-Symes got a chance, even if he has a queue in front of him. He suffers from being stuck behind Ash Dixon in the Magpies squad, but he was one of the few players who performed well in the NZ U20s team that he captained. Parsons rated him when he replaced him in the squad, last year. Turns 22 end of Feb.
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@Tim said in Blues 2021:
Leni Apisai is training with the team, so I guess he's third hooker. Hope his throwing has improved.
You'd assume so. They've had plenty of hookers at training so I can't see them going outside that group. I doubt the Parsons call was a surprise..
So Eklund, Tolai and Apisai?
When are full squad members Niuia or Vikena meant to be over their injuries?
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Anyone know if North Harbour tighthead Jimmy Roots is with any of the squads? NZ U20 trialist (no 2020 team selected), and looks promising.
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Not sure whether anyone has already posted this, but here's a link to the headshots:
Didn't realise George Dyer was in the wtg and players I don't know or remember are Fatongia Paea, Teague McElroy and Marco Fepulea'i.
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Dyer is an interesting selection. He's a young, promising TH prop but didn't get that many opportunities for Waikato last season.
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@Stargazer Hamdahn Tuipulotu was training with the squad but is missing from those photos so Dyer may be replacing him in the wtg. Maybe Tuipulotu has picked up an injury?
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@gt12 said in Blues 2021:
@KiwiMurph I hope he has a future as a commentator, although I wonder if some of his more interesting stuff comes from being a player, he also can discuss and explain modern preparation, tactics, and stats much more clearly than, well, pretty much everyone else out there.
If the commentary career doesn’t work out he can do the next best thing and join the Fern and share his insights here.
James we know you are lurking... 😉
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@ACT-Crusader Lets be honest here a lot of players do lol.
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If the Blues are looking to replace James Parson , personally I would prefer if they used a hooker from one the 3 unions that’s part of the franchise ..wether it be Leni Apasai (Auckland ) ,Luteru Tolai ( North Harbour )or Jordon Olsen (Northland )let’s make the provincial teams that are part of the Blues stronger and let’s not be in the business of helping other unions keep players on their books .
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2021:
If the Blues are looking to replace James Parson , personally I would prefer if they used a hooker from one the 3 unions that’s part of the franchise ..wether it be Leni Apasai (Auckland ) ,Luteru Tolai ( North Harbour )or Jordon Olsen (Northland )let’s make the provincial teams that are part of the Blues stronger and let’s not be in the business of helping other unions keep players on their books .
Could you pass these thoughts on to the Hurricanes?
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@Tim that token dive by Marshall about 2 mins in always cracks me up.
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@Tim Were those tries actually that stunning? In the first Crusaders one he went through the defensive wall that is Aaron "traffic director" Mauger and Ben "the Hobbit" Blair and then in a later Crusaders one he pivoted past an invisible man and then barrelled through the Hobbit.
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I don't know if the tries were necessarily stunning in and of themselves, so much as the athleticism and skill he showed. He is outpacing international wings in 4th gear, changing direction on a dime despite not being the slimmest of blokes. And to be able to pass to another outside back, run around them and still be in a supporting position to score the try is pretty impressive.
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@Tim said in Blues 2021:
@bobily2 His ability to change direction without barely slowing down may not have looked that spectacular, but it was absolutely devestating, and made him unstoppable in 2003.
That was also one of Cullen's greatest assets too.
To clarify, I think the he and the tries were stunning, just couldn't resist the chance to get a dig in on the Suitcase, The Hobbit, and the Traffic Conductor.
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Photos taken at yesterday's training (link to Getty website).
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When does the comp start?
As much as I enjoy looking at the finely chiseled bodies of professional rugby players in pre season training 🙄, I’d really prefer to log on here and read about some actual footy.
Probably should go in the main thread as it relates to all the team threads, but I’m way too lazy to start my post again over there....
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@Gunner Preseason games start in a week and a half and season proper starts 2 weeks after that - 26/27 Feb.
This time last year there was already 1 full regular season round completed of Super Rugby.
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@Gunner said in Blues 2021:
When does the comp start?
too soon I'm a fan of summer = cricket, and winter = rugby. Naive, but it also sucks when your team is out of the running for Super before the cricket season finishes
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Should of been in original squad
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@Cpt-Kumera Explanation on that from the Blues website -
Eklund’s outstanding performances for Bay of Plenty in 2019 led to his inclusion in the Blues team on a one-year contract in 2020. He played 13 games for the Blues in 2020 including seven as starting hooker and was roundly lauded for his energetic performances.However, there was no place for Eklund initially in the 2021 Blues squad with Parsons and Ray Niuia each with one year remaining on their contracts, and outstanding teenage talent, Soane Vikena, the Blues Development Player of the Year, earning a multi-year contract.
The Blues indicated their interest in Eklund for the future, signing him for 2022 and 2023 season, which left him with options for this season. He had opportunities to play for other Super sides across the Ta$man, but eventually decided to accept a position as a temporary replacement at the Blues pre-season with Parsons, Niuia and Vikena all injured.
When Blues centurion Parsons announced his retirement last week, coach Leon MacDonald approached Eklund for a fulltime contract.
“It has all worked out well for me. Obviously it’s sad for James to be forced to retire. I learned so much from him last year,” said Eklund.
“I have my chance now and I will take it with both hands. I owe it to James to be the best I can be – because he has left some big shoes to fill both on and off the field.”
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Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry is rapt they have such a proven and reliable fallback option after Parsons’ defection, and with Nuia (short term) and Vikena (4-5 months) also facing stints on the sideline.
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