Blues 2021
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@kiwimurph @tim I don't disagree the halfback management has been poor, but who's going to be a better coach? I'm willing to give him more time; changing the coach is not going to fix the problem.
That said, if you want to start a Nock Supporters Campaign and picket Blues HQ if Nock isn't playing, I'll rock down to that and bring placards and a bbq
Nock had the best passing and kicking game of the three halfbacks. Finlay was noticeable at the weekend for not playing heads up - he was determined to pass no matter what, and ignored gaps in front of him to do that. Ruru is definitely not as aware of space, but his ruck work and defence is superior.
Reckon when BB comes back next year he'll have a strong say in the qualities he wants in a 9
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Whew.
I was a bit concerned that if Nuggie got injured, we'd be stuck with Brad Weber and TTT for the All Blacks.
But, it turns out we've got a guy called Nock who's so good the Blues fans are going to sack their best coach since Sir Gram if he doesn't get a game.
My main question now is whether Nock will be starting and Aaron's going to be watching from the bench!
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@chris-b said in Blues 2021:
Whew.
I was a bit concerned that if Nuggie got injured, we'd be stuck with Brad Weber and TTT for the All Blacks.
But, it turns out we've got a guy called Nock who's so good the Blues fans are going to sack their best coach since Sir Gram if he doesn't get a game.
My main question now is whether Nock will be starting and Aaron's going to be watching from the bench!
Nock hasn't been selected this year because he's not playing well. He had opportunities and didn't take them, once being dragged just after halftime.
You could say the same for Christie and to a lesser degree Ruru (who has been playing better than both, despite his flaws). Not the coaches fault, up to the players to fit the gameplan and do the basics.
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@kirwan said in Blues 2021:
@chris-b said in Blues 2021:
Whew.
I was a bit concerned that if Nuggie got injured, we'd be stuck with Brad Weber and TTT for the All Blacks.
But, it turns out we've got a guy called Nock who's so good the Blues fans are going to sack their best coach since Sir Gram if he doesn't get a game.
My main question now is whether Nock will be starting and Aaron's going to be watching from the bench!
Nock hasn't been selected this year because he's not playing well. He had opportunities and didn't take them, once being dragged just after halftime.
You could say the same for Christie and to a lesser degree Ruru (who has been playing better than both, despite his flaws). Not the coaches fault, up to the players to fit the gameplan and do the basics.
It is absolutely the coaches fault.
Firstly they chop and change the 9 almost every week and then wonder why said starting 9 can't get into a rhythm. Nock up until this last game wasn't playing as well as he played last season but he also hasn't been given a proper crack. They gave Nock a proper crack last season and the Blues went undefeated for like 6 or 7 games that he started.
Secondly, the one 9 they give more opportunities than the other is the one that struggles the most in attacking phase play and then wonder why their attack is struggling.
Do you notice that no other NZ team is playing a 9 that plays the same style as Ruru? Funny that.
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What is clear, is Ruru is not the answer for the Blues at 9 (esp to start) neither Nock or Christie have been given the repeated chances to play into form that Ruru does.
It is not like fucking around with the 9s is a new thing under McDonald though.
I said at the start of the season Nock or Christie needed to be given a shot to start, and backed them to start and form combinations and get some form, yet any hint of a substandard kick, pass or 50-50 ref call and they get dropped, yet Ruru can have a shocker and gets to start the following week, although he then gets dropped even if he has a half decent game.
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@kirwan said in Blues 2021:
Not the coaches fault, up to the players to fit the gameplan and do the basics.
I think the bench halfback has performed better than the starting halfback in every match? Look at the MOTM voting the only times the halfbacks registered were from the bench.
(starts were Ruru 4, Nock 2, Christie 2)It's time to move on from Ruru at least. It appears Nock has not been rated by multiple coaches. Remember last year he missed a match because of an off field fight? I hope it's not that bullshit again.
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Let's break down the halfback usage for the Blues this season.
Game 1 - Nock Start, Ruru Bench
Game 2 - Ruru Start, Nock Bench
Game 3 - Ruru Start, Christie Bench
Game 4 - Christie Start, Ruru Bench
Game 5 - Nock Start, Ruru Bench
Game 6 - Ruru Start, Christie Bench
Game 7 - Ruru Start, Christie Bench
Game 8 - Christie Start, Nock BenchA total mess.
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@duluth said in Blues 2021:
@kirwan said in Blues 2021:
Not the coaches fault, up to the players to fit the gameplan and do the basics.
I think the bench halfback has performed better than the starting halfback in every match? Look at the MOTM voting the only times the halfbacks registered were from the bench.
(starts were Ruru 4, Nock 2, Christie 2)It's time to move on from Ruru at least. It appears Nock has not been rated by multiple coaches. Remember last year he missed a match because of an off field fight? I hope it's not that bullshit again.
That's not something that happens only at the Blues.
A couple of years ago at the Mako, we had Christie as the No.1 halfback and Keisuke Uchida coming off the bench looking like an absolute gun.
It seemed like a no-brainer that they should switch roles - but, when they did - Uchida looked like a roughie and Christie looked like a gun.
I concluded that it's a lot harder being a starting halfback when everyone is fresh and you've got fractionally less time.
I think the same thing happens regularly at the Crusaders with Hall and Drummond. Whomever comes of the bench tends to look slicker.
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25K views · 671 reactions | When you find out points differentials...
When you find out points differentials are meaningless 😂 #BluesAllDay #WeAreTheBlues
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@chris-b it isnt quite as bad when you have 2 9s alternating starting/bench roles, but the Blues do it with 3 halves, and while Ruru has a longer rope than the other 2, none really have had much chance to get going, as I think only Christie has had an injury but that was in the 1st game.
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@taniwharugby From Murph's post above, looks like Ruru has played in every game, except this latest dead rubber.
Otherwise there's a bit of a pattern of everyone getting some game time.
Maybe Leon has an eye to future and is trying to develop all three, while none is clearly standing out over the others (but, perhaps Ruru is a little bit ahead - in LM's eyes)?
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@chris-b oh I am sure he is, but I also dont think there 'seems' to be any real pattern (horses for courses) given until last week, the 8 & 10 remained unchanged.
I think all 3 have really been given a bit of a raw deal with limited chances to really claim the spot.
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@chris-b said in Blues 2021:
Maybe Leon has an eye to future and is trying to develop all three, while none is clearly standing out over the others (but, perhaps Ruru is a little bit ahead - in LM's eyes)?
I've always assumed that MacDonalds preference was for Christie (based on some media comments he's made)
My guess is the other two were trialling against each other for the bench spot while Christie was still out. Then Christie came back from illness/injury and kind of sucked
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2021:
@chris-b it isnt quite as bad when you have 2 9s alternating starting/bench roles, but the Blues do it with 3 halves, and while Ruru has a longer rope than the other 2, none really have had much chance to get going, as I think only Christie has had an injury but that was in the 1st game.
After game 1, Ruru has had 4 starts in 6 games and came off the bench in the other two - so he's arguably had a pretty decent run. I'd guess he'd have a similar pattern of starts to Hall and Drummond, who have switched around a fair bit - and maybe even Smith and Fakatava.
The other two have had a decent amount of game time, so neither can sit there like Ere Enari thinking, "I'm clearly number 3, I think I'll try my luck elsewhere".
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