Blues 2021

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300224726/super-rugby-aotearoa-blues-eye-crusaders-benchmark--were-still-not-good-enough

[Tim]

Disappointing that neither of the Roots brothers made any of the wider training squads.

[Daffy Jaffy]

This post is deleted!

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Bovidae]

No Blues teams yet for the game of 3 halves?

[Tim]

Forwards I think I recognized from the game of three halves photos:

Eklund
Apisai
Tolai
Lay
Renata
McElroy
Dyer
Fepulea'i/Paea
Goodhue
Pierce
Cowley-Tuioti
Dalzell
Plumtree
Choat
Rush
Jones?

[Tim]

Backs:

Ruru
Nock
Christie
Perofeta
Black
Plummer
Grindley
Fomai
Telea
Tele'a
Lam
Kneepkins
Sullivan

[Nogusta]

Blues vs Canes

Sullivan
Kneepkens
Grindlay
T. Tele'a
Lam
Black
Christie
Rush
Choat
Plumtree
Cowley Tuioti
Darry
Renata
Eklund
McElroy

[Nogusta]

Blues vs Chiefs

Kneepkens
Macilai
Fomai
Plummer
M. Telea
Perofeta
Nock
Rush
Jones
Plumtree
Pierce
Goodhue
Fepuleai
Tolai
Lay

Those were the starting lineups

[Duluth]

No AB's obviously. Interesting that they left out the next tier of loosies too. No Robinson, Hunt, Gibson

[nzzp]

Saw Hos, Akira, Rieko and Dalton down at the Weetbix Try this morning. They looked fit ... NZZP Jnr got selfies with them and declared himself happy

I'm excited about the Blues this year. Again. I can't help myself

[Nogusta]

@Duluth not sure about Gibson but Robinson was a late scratching, and Hunt hasn't been sighted at all during pre season. Head knock issues maybe?
Also Narawa out for a cpl of weeks with broken finger

[Tim]

Who do you guys think MacDonald will select for the first game? I wonder if a few ABs will start from the bench? I'm assuming that Niuia, Vikena, Hunt, Faiane, and Narawa will be unavailable. Probably Gibson too.

Big calls at 12 and lock. I'll guess this XXIII:

1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Laulala
4 Tuipulotu
5 Goodhue
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu
9 Christie
10 Black
11 Clarke
12 Plummer
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Perofeta

16 Tolai
17 Karl T
18 Ofa T
19 Cowley-Tuioti
20 Choat
21 Nock
22 Tele'a
23 Sullivan/Lam

Not sure all the ABs will be selected in round one, especially the loose forwards and maybe one of the props. Would like to see Ofa T start, as the Blues are his team. Akira Ioane or Sotutu to be subbed and the other two loose forwards to stay on the field. Hunt could've been handy as a turnover option in the early rounds. I'd prefer to have Nock and Pierce starting. Hope Plummer has improved his defence at 12!

[KiwiMurph]

I think that's a pretty good prediction.

Midfield is a big issue until Faiane returns. Laumape-PUJ combo will back themselves to cause havoc week 1.

I'd rather see Nock start at 9 but no doubt Christie will get first crack.

[Duluth]

@Tim

Looks about right

I think Sullivan might start at 15 though. MacDonald has made some very positive comments about him.

[Winger]

@Tim said in Blues 2021:

Hunt could've been handy as a turnover option in the early rounds

Is he injured? edit. Ok. Seen a comment on this

[Bovidae]

If the Blues don't play a preseason game will Ofa's ban then include the first SRA game? The 3-week suspension included the last 2 AB games and any rugby up until and including February 20. So he wouldn't have been able to play against the Crusaders this Sat.

[Tim]

@Bovidae What about the game of three halves?

[Bovidae]

@Tim said in Blues 2021:

@Bovidae What about the game of three halves?

The ABs weren't available for games last Fri/Sat so I doubt that counted.