Blues v Hurricanes
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@kiwi_expat we as fans observe players in the heat of the battle, the place where they are tested to their limits. If the Canes coaches are selecting players purely on good training habits and leadership ability alone then I’m afraid they’ve failed already. Player X still has to perform on game day.
I’m not sure if you’ve actually watched the Canes over the last two seasons because it’s blatantly obvious that James Blackwell falls well short on the paddock (excuse the pun). If you’re happy with a 1.90m lock, who gets man handled in almost every carry, who drops about half the passes that come his way, and just looks like an ordinary NPC player at best, then good on you.
Fans, including myself sometimes get it wrong but on this occasion (other Canes fans would agree) the best players aren’t starting for the Canes atm. Flanders is blatantly better than Prinsep, IWL is blatantly better than Blackwell and it was super obvious at the start of the season (until Holland finally woke up) that Rayasi should have been there earlier aswell. The coaches have to take some accountability as to why they are 1 and 3 because the players that are apparently superb at training, aren’t cutting it where it matters - that’s where the issue is.
Also if you don’t like fans having an opinion or questioning selections, I don’t think the Fern is the right place for you.
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@kiwi_expat said in Blues v Hurricanes:
I'd say the reason for Blackwell being continually selected is because he's a key leader in the group, he's a senior player, he was the Hurricanes player of the season in 2019, was pretty outstanding in Super Rugby Aotearoa last year too. Also isn't he the Wellington Lions captain?
Welcome to the 'Fern, Mrs Blackwell
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Well I'm bias, but I think Nock has by far the best pass of the 3 blues 9s (up there as one of the best in NZ) better kicker than Ruru and Christie, better defender than Christie, and an under used running game (something I've long been critical of in Nocks game) given his acceleration and pace.
But for me one if the key improvements I've noticed in nocks game (inc M10 Cup last year) is his talking and bossing his forwards. In the past he seemed so passive and at times, deer in headlights, but seems to have grown and realised he has the game and playing to it.
I still think he (and 9s in general) fuck around with the ball too much at the back of rucks though.
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@kiwi_expat said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@kiwi_expat I want the Canes to be challenging for titles year in and year out and I’ve also been a fan for too long just to be content with their selections at the moment. If you’re happy with your team cruising along winning a game every so often and not making the playoffs then that’s on you.
Also isn’t that what this forums about, discussing the selections and looking for areas where teams can improve?
I’m not saying we can’t win on Saturday with the players that have been selected, in fact I think we have a very good chance. It’s just that the selections being made atm are making it very difficult for us to get the result, when it could be a hell of a lot easier if we picked the right cattle.
The issue here is that you're making the assumption that you know exactly who the right cattle are AND what the best selections for the team would be in a given situation. The coaches are the only ones who know what's going on behind the scenes, they are in the best position to make that judgement, as they observe the players at training, they will be picking-up on & taking into account various other factors such as: training habits, work-rate, attitude, work-ethnic etc.. that us rugby fans aren't able to discern because we aren't coaching them.
The coaches also select their team accordingly based on the opposition, that's another factor that we as fans don't really think about.
We are the ones that are forced to endure what is going on in the public domain. All we can see is that the team is not going well and that some players continue to get selected when it is obvious they are not up to it. This is hard to take when there are better players available eg players that have played for the All Blacks in the last two years.
A business would not stay in business long if they have the best training and support systems in place and their salesmen ace every exam by scoring 100% on the theory questions if they are useless salesmen when out on the sales floor. Come to think of it I have probably described how they allocate rating to referees as well!!!! -
@pukunui said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@kiwi_expat said in Blues v Hurricanes:
I'd say the reason for Blackwell being continually selected is because he's a key leader in the group, he's a senior player, he was the Hurricanes player of the season in 2019, was pretty outstanding in Super Rugby Aotearoa last year too. Also isn't he the Wellington Lions captain?
Outstanding last year? You’ve got to be kidding.
The guy has never looked remotely Super rugby level.He is fit, no doubt. But having watched him closely during games i have never seen someone with such an ability to be near the play and actually contribute fuck all in terms of positive impact.
When he carries he makes zero metres consistently . When he takes a lineout he often fires it at the feet of the 9 without looking, causing them to knock it on.
For every one of his no look passes that gets caught by a team mate about 5 go to ground. He makes Brad shields look good when it comes to handling.One thing he is a master at is the whole “simulated” rugby thing like you see on the training pitch and get taught from the under 10s.
Standing with your hands out looking ready to catch the ball near a ruck, even though you are in a shit position and not going to get passed the ball. Getting in the way of your own ball carrier and therefore being first to the breakdown yet having no impact as a cleaner because you were busy getting out of the way.
Arriving late at a defensive ruck and putting your hand up and then pointing at someone in the attacking line as if that is your man, even though none of your team mates are paying any attention to your defensive positioning. And lets not forget the useless little jump in the air with arms up even though the opposition player taking the lineout ball is 2m above you.Im convinced this stuff is why he is getting selected constantly. He looks like he is doing lots of stuff. The GPS data probably looks good too. But in reality he makes very little positive contribution at best. At worst he is a liability.
not sure what your point is here Puku. Do you rate Blackwell or not?
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@booboo said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@pukunui said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@kiwi_expat said in Blues v Hurricanes:
I'd say the reason for Blackwell being continually selected is because he's a key leader in the group, he's a senior player, he was the Hurricanes player of the season in 2019, was pretty outstanding in Super Rugby Aotearoa last year too. Also isn't he the Wellington Lions captain?
Outstanding last year? You’ve got to be kidding.
The guy has never looked remotely Super rugby level.He is fit, no doubt. But having watched him closely during games i have never seen someone with such an ability to be near the play and actually contribute fuck all in terms of positive impact.
When he carries he makes zero metres consistently . When he takes a lineout he often fires it at the feet of the 9 without looking, causing them to knock it on.
For every one of his no look passes that gets caught by a team mate about 5 go to ground. He makes Brad shields look good when it comes to handling.One thing he is a master at is the whole “simulated” rugby thing like you see on the training pitch and get taught from the under 10s.
Standing with your hands out looking ready to catch the ball near a ruck, even though you are in a shit position and not going to get passed the ball. Getting in the way of your own ball carrier and therefore being first to the breakdown yet having no impact as a cleaner because you were busy getting out of the way.
Arriving late at a defensive ruck and putting your hand up and then pointing at someone in the attacking line as if that is your man, even though none of your team mates are paying any attention to your defensive positioning. And lets not forget the useless little jump in the air with arms up even though the opposition player taking the lineout ball is 2m above you.Im convinced this stuff is why he is getting selected constantly. He looks like he is doing lots of stuff. The GPS data probably looks good too. But in reality he makes very little positive contribution at best. At worst he is a liability.
not sure what your point is here Puku. Do you rate Blackwell or not?
First name on the sheet every week.
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@gt12 dam right
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He’s basically the younger, better line out option Cane. He’s started this game very strongly
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Be interesting to see if Pickerall is consistent on the early hits ,because Campbell has delayed on all 3 scrim feeds
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@gt12 said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@gt12 said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Black down there?
Kirifi was it?
He’s in trouble
