Blues v Highlanders
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@nzzp yes they have the best 10 in the country (i'll ignore your descriptor) but right now the biggest advantage teh Crusaders have, and it's linked to my point on the Chiefs thread is
They have the only real veteran tight 5 in the country. Because 4 of them are AB squad members.
When you look at the average ages of the starting tight 5s, the Crusaders' is 30, the Hurricanes' is 24, the Chiefs is 23, the Highlanders is 27. Only the Blues go quite close at 28 (pretty much everyone is 28). That's a massive advantage in a tight game.
To be a success you need to build good players, and hope they get test jerseys, or you are back to square one really quickly.
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Speaking of trophies - the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy is obviously up for grabs across the two games between Blues and Highlanders (perhaps 3 games if there is a round 3 of SRA).
With the Highlanders losing it last year I can see them coming out of the blocks hard in this game.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
Speaking of trophies - the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy is obviously up for grabs across the two games between Blues and Highlanders (perhaps 3 games if there is a round 3 of SRA).
With the Highlanders losing it last year I can see them coming out of the blocks hard in this game.
I bloody hope so, Gordie was a top bloke and i want to see that back down south
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@kiwiwomble It ook us almost 10 years to get it so hopefully it stays put
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@african-monkey ...i like the spirit...but i cant like the post
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@kiwiwomble I'll like your post instead
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
Richard Dellabarca
That's a good strong Eastbourne name from way back. Bloody poachers.
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"Assistant coach Clarke Dermody said in both their opening games the Highlanders had been points-down after the first quarter. "
....and the majority of games last year, or at least that how it felt, glad they finally spotted that
i cant remember the last time we properly bossed a game from start to finish...not sure a resurgent blues will be the first but i like we're going to try
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
I'm assuming Dillon Hunt is who they are referencing?
Sam Darry
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anyone able to post the text?
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@kiwiwomble I don't think it's permitted to post the entire text, so here are a few snippets:
The Blues could be poised to unleash one of their prime offseason recruits against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. Height is a rare commodity in New Zealand rugby. The Blues, therefore, caused quite the stir when they plucked Sam Darry from the Crusaders' finely tuned system. Leon MacDonald was so keen to secure Darry's 2.03 metre frame that he offered the now 20-year-old prospect a three-year deal with the Blues before he had played a provincial match.
"It's good to have some tall timber up here. I can't remember the last time we had someone over two metres in our lineout. It's a pretty good option for us." Indeed some eight years ago, former All Blacks lock Anthony Boric was the last two-metre presence to stalk the Blues lineout. Before him you have to go back to Ali Williams, who last featured for the Blues in 2007. With the Highlanders using their lineout as an attacking weapon – kicking to the corner and attempting to rumble over their favoured pet play - this week may be the perfect opportunity to inject Darry's potentially disruptive height into the mix.
While Darry will be expected to continually add bulk, Tuipulotu revealed his locking partner has already packed on muscle during his time in Auckland. He's put on five or so kilograms. He's definitely a hard trainer.
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@stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwiwomble I don't think it's permitted to post the entire text, so here are a few snippets:
The Blues could be poised to unleash one of their prime offseason recruits against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. Height is a rare commodity in New Zealand rugby. The Blues, therefore, caused quite the stir when they plucked Sam Darry from the Crusaders' finely tuned system. Leon MacDonald was so keen to secure Darry's 2.03 metre frame that he offered the now 20-year-old prospect a three-year deal with the Blues before he had played a provincial match.
"It's good to have some tall timber up here. ****I can't remember the last time we had someone over two metres in our lineout****. It's a pretty good option for us." Indeed some eight years ago, former All Blacks lock Anthony Boric was the last two-metre presence to stalk the Blues lineout. Before him you have to go back to Ali Williams, who last featured for the Blues in 2007. With the Highlanders using their lineout as an attacking weapon – kicking to the corner and attempting to rumble over their favoured pet play - this week may be the perfect opportunity to inject Darry's potentially disruptive height into the mix.
While Darry will be expected to continually add bulk, Tuipulotu revealed his locking partner has already packed on muscle during his time in Auckland. He's put on five or so kilograms. He's definitely a hard trainer.
Scott Scrafton must have slipped his mind, although he is listed at 2.00m so technically is not over 2.00m!
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Pierce is 2.01 or 2.03 depending on what stats you read
Strange comment from Tuipulotu
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@duluth said in Blues v Highlanders:
Pierce is 2.01 or 2.03 depending on what stats you read
Strange comment from Tuipulotu
'listed as 2.01' doesn't mean 'actually 2.01'
This thread is ripe for an Ardie height joke
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
'listed as 2.01' doesn't mean 'actually 2.01'
Well it's the lower of the heights he's listed at. I think Tuipulotu said something off the cuff and then a NZH journalist followed up with something inaccurate
William Lloyd is the other name that immediately came to mind. He was very tall but not particularly solid (listed at 2.03)
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@duluth said in Blues v Highlanders:
Tuipulotu said something off the cuff and then a NZH journalist followed up with something inaccurate
No! The death of journalism as we know it ... inaccuracies from Granny
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William Lloyd sucked - he was like the kid that gets put into lock in a junior/schools team cos he is really tall and has nothing else.
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
No! The death of journalism as we know it ... inaccuracies from Granny
Well I'm not surprised they are wrong but it would be nice to have some accurate information from our rugby media.
Particularly ones that think their content is so valuable it belongs behind a paywall
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
William Lloyd sucked - he was like the kid that gets put into lock in a junior/schools team cos he is really tall and has nothing else.
Yes he was way out of his depth. I though Darry had a similar build during the NPC last year.
He's still young though.. I'm very surprised he's getting a run this early. I was expecting to see him lower in the rankings and pushing for a start in 2022
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In all fairness to Will Lloyd, he was only there in that horror 2015 season because of our massive injury toll.
I like how that article said Ali Williams last played for us in 2007 lol his last season for us was when he was captain in 2013.
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@african-monkey 2015 was a very good season for auckland, and he left after that, but agree regardless.
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Blues are already playing a 6 - 2 split on the bench, maybe they are going for Darry to get more mobility?
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@muddyriver For Auckland, yes 2015 was a good season, the Blues, it was a disaster.
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People were talking up Pierce but Darry gets picked ahead of him? Maybe Pierce should move to the Chiefs...
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@mofitzy_ There was a rumour on here pre season that Pierce was off to the Chiefs with Mafileo. Then we were told by someone that he had re-signed for one season only and would then be looking elsewhere if chances don't come. There's always seemed to be some sort of disconnect between Pierce and Coventry. Coventry rarely started him for Harbour, even starting inexperienced rookies ahead of him alongside Cowley-Tuioti. I know his first two seasons with the Blues were affected by injury but he's made only seven appearances in three seasons, with maybe one start? Makes me wonder if there is a perceived training, fitness or attitude problem because the few times he has got a run for the Blues he appears to contribute well on the field. Mystery. At 122kgs, 203cm (wiki stats) and still only 23 years old I think he would be a good fit at the Chiefs or Canes.
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@daffy-jaffy the Canes could do with some height, other than Ardie of course...
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bit of a change around, i thought MMT had been firing quite well
Collins might have been my preferred 13 once paea got injured but im nervous for his first start of the year against a good blues team
and i'll say it every week..sio? another card last week and still starts, whats TUJ got to do to get a run?
and no Alaimalo, will have t have a look around to see if he has an injury
is it me or does Hugh Renton look like hes in his earl 40's, 24?!
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@kiwiwomble said in Blues v Highlanders:
and no Alaimalo, will have t have a look around to see if he has an injury
If he isn't injured his move south is going well. Not!
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6-2 bench split.
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@kiwiwomble said in Blues v Highlanders:
bit of a change around, i thought MMT had been firing quite well
Bit of rotation. It’s only the Blues...
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That's a better defensive loose trio. Also gets around the field well.
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Coltman managed to earn a start by being so bad off the bench that they didn't want to try that option again.
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i think the forwards are an improvement from previous weeks bar Dixon/coltman so hoping we wont get bossed around too much
I think this is pretty much the backline from the second pre season game so hopefully there is some familiarity there
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Renton's still only 24. It seems a lifetime back when he was at the Canes. Had bad luck with injuries but hes looked good coming on. I will watch with interest to see how he goes
Likewise CGB (watching with interest) as he's in his right position now. As is Hunt
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