Blues 2021
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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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@Tim defection?
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
@Tim defection?
yeah, that word choice was terrible.
Inigo Montoya: I do not think that means what you think it means
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
@Tim defection?
following up on this, as 'retirement' would have been far better.
Word choice hates - lazy sportswriter bingo (and in fairness, some are lazy subeditors):
- Stanza
- Pill
- 'run the cutter'
- Code
- REVEALED: ...
- 'slams' (as in coach slams players)
- ...
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@nzzp said in Blues 2021:
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
@Tim defection?
Word choice hates - lazy sportswriter bingo (and in fairness, some are lazy subeditors):
- Stanza
Reading that I was taken straight to the half time break at Mt Smart with Stephen McIvor's voice ringing in my ears
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This post is deleted!
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The worst kept secret is now official:
ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK CONFIRMS TWO YEAR DEAL
New Zealand Rugby and the Blues have confirmed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has signed a two-year contract that will also see him link with Auckland through to the end of 2023.
He will link up with Auckland later in the year and kick off his Sky Super Rugby career with the Blues in 2022.
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So in what position do we see RTS playing in 2022? Right wing seems to be the position with no clear first-choice.
11 - Clarke
15 - BB or maybe Sullivan -
@Bovidae said in Blues 2021:
So in what position do we see RTS playing in 2022? Right wing seems to be the position with no clear first-choice.
11 - Clarke
15 - BB or maybe Sullivan15 unlikely to be BB - I think he's wanting to go back to 10 and compete with RM ... if he ever comes back from Japan of course
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@Tim said in Blues 2021:
@Bovidae 12?
he'd be competing with Rieko.
/shudders. goddamn I hope to god that is a tongue in cheek throwaway that won't come back to haunt me.
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@Tim said in Blues 2021:
@Bovidae 12?
Long term that’s what I want. Might be asking too much in the first year though. His stepping and ability to burst through contact is freakish.
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@Tim said in Blues 2021:
@Bovidae 12?
Would he be up to it defensively?
I did read that the AB coaches believe midfield is where RTS should play.
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