SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues
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@taniwharugby said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
@dan54 last year they ran Smith 80 most games, I think Fakatavas injury certainly thrown a spanner in the works on managing Smiths workload.
I think the Blues really started to wobble and lacked direction after Big Red went off
Wasn't that in the first 5 minutes? Ginga Messiah indeed.
Actually it looks like Akira is carrying an injury so him coming of when he did would appear to be a double blow. When Akira was chasing MMT he looked like he was struggling to run at pace so I wonder if that strapping is for something ongoing?
Do you know how long the Messiah is out for? I was hoping that Rangi might give Akira a go at 8 with the Messiah at 6 as I don't think Sotutu has been going as well this year as last year.
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Just watched the replay after missing most of the game last night. Haven't read the thread.
Fun game - especially on mute - a lot of ball in play under the roof which is always fun.
Aaron Smith is amazing to watch - even when he's destroying your team. Crazy to think he's been chugging along for a decade. Has to be in the conversation for the best 9 NZ has ever produced.
Thought the Highlanders loose forward trio had the edge. Highlanders did a really nice job taking care of Papali'i.
Highlanders attack is really good to watch - Tony Brown has them humming even with all the injuries. I think Tony Brown is a far superior coach to Leon MacDonald.
Thought the Blues attack looked better once Ruru went off. I had to laugh when Ruru got tackled for a knock on after Caleb Clarke's huge break. It sums Ruru up.
Good to see Caleb Clarke look a bit more like his old self.
Blues discipline awful once again.
Just a note on Sotutu - he really is not playing very well - has one or two big plays per game but otherwise just floats along with very little impact on the game.
The Blues fan in me wants Blues to make the final. The rugby fan in me hopes Blues don't - Crusaders will smash them next week and in the final if Blues make it.
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@nepia they looked good for 5-10 mins, maybe just a coincidence but they they started to lose shape after he went.
Not sure how long he's out, sounded like a cut, so could be back next week with a bandaged head.
Ruru def the better of the Blues 9s, but it is Christies turn to start next week.
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@nepia said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
Actually it looks like Akira is carrying an injury so him coming of when he did would appear to be a double blow. When Akira was chasing MMT he looked like he was struggling to run at pace so I wonder if that strapping is for something ongoing?
He just looked unfit to me. He spent most of the 2nd half jogging slowly around the field, moving at barely more than walking pace and trying to look busy whilst not contributing much.
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@cantab79 said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
@nepia said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
Actually it looks like Akira is carrying an injury so him coming of when he did would appear to be a double blow. When Akira was chasing MMT he looked like he was struggling to run at pace so I wonder if that strapping is for something ongoing?
He just looked unfit to me. He spent most of the 2nd half jogging slowly around the field, moving at barely more than walking pace and trying to look busy whilst not contributing much.
Well of course you’d think that AC. 😏
Odd that he’s already lost the fitness from the early rounds (where he wound up playing 7 in parts) and the strapping has nothing to do with it ....
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@nepia I expect he could lose some fitness and condition in a couple of weeks if he wanted too, but you'd be surprised if he would let himself go or the trainers would let him slip.
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@taniwharugby said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
@nepia I expect he could lose some fitness and condition in a couple of weeks if he wanted too, but you'd be surprised if he would let himself go or the trainers would let him slip.
It would be quite an effort to lose that much condition in that time - well not for us fat keyboard warriors but it must be fairly difficult for a pro player who is training and playing.
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@nepia id argue it would be much easier for some of them to lose condition quicker than us, further to fall.
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@taniwharugby said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
@nepia id argue it would be much easier for some of them to lose condition quicker than us, further to fall.
I don't know, a three day trip to Melbourne and I turn into a Klump.
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@kiwimurph it’s been quite interesting watching the way sides like Chiefs and Highlanders operate without anywhere near the cattle of what the Blues have but they seem to have plans built around lightning quick ball from the ruck and swift ball movement..
The try that Josh Ioane scored off a simple scrum was so easily constructed because Mitch Hunt is a genuine runner at the line drawing in 2 defenders because he has a step leaving a hole for Ioane to score ..
Whilst the Blues did score a very good try of their own , the number of times we see players just shoveling the pass and someone does the individual brilliance thing is annoying to say the least .
I am wondering , you can have all the best ingredients in the world , but you have not got the right chef to put it together , you have got start wondering if it’s time to actively seek out a decent attack coach...
Just on a final note , whilst Stephen Perofeta has played well at fullback , I still think he would offer a point of difference in the 10 jersey .,also disappointing that they have not given Zarn Sullivan a run , it seemed pointless having Harry Plummer coming off the bench on Friday night .would have preferred to have seen Perofeta slot into 10 or a Zarn Sullivan off the bench at fullback..and to me Jacob Ratumaitavuki Kneepkins would have been a much more impactful player than what Bryce Heem has offered off the bench ..
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@steven-harris said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
@kiwimurph it’s been quite interesting watching the way sides like Chiefs and Highlanders operate without anywhere near the cattle of what the Blues have but they seem to have plans built around lightning quick ball from the ruck and swift ball movement..
The try that Josh Ioane scored off a simple scrum was so easily constructed because Mitch Hunt is a genuine runner at the line drawing in 2 defenders because he has a step leaving a hole for Ioane to score ..
Whilst the Blues did score a very good try of their own , the number of times we see players just shoveling the pass and someone does the individual brilliance thing is annoying to say the least .
I am wondering , you can have all the best ingredients in the world , but you have not got the right chef to put it together , you have got start wondering if it’s time to actively seek out a decent attack coach...
Just on a final note , whilst Stephen Perofeta has played well at fullback , I still think he would offer a point of difference in the 10 jersey .,also disappointing that they have not given Zarn Sullivan a run , it seemed pointless having Harry Plummer coming off the bench on Friday night .would have preferred to have seen Perofeta slot into 10 or a Zarn Sullivan off the bench at fullback..and to me Jacob Ratumaitavuki Kneepkins would have been a much more impactful player than what Bryce Heem has offered off the bench ..
Almost like, um, Japan!
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Not really been online much since the game but very enjoyable evening despite the blues loss.
Blues looked good in parts but too many mistakes and failure to capitalise on some great line breaks. Plus poor discipline. Highlanders were excellent and very consistent throughout. Deserved the win.
Great little stadium too and excellent to watch the game from. Nice to be able to get on the pitch post game and the kids got lots of pics with the players. Good times
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Also Dunedin’s a farking great spot for a few days away with the family. In addition to rugby, we got a couple of surfs in, mountain biking, saw the penguins and Larnach castle plus lucked it with some rally action. And some mint weather too. No rain, high of 24 today and about 5deg the other night. Will be be back!
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@steven-harris said in SRA round 8: Highlanders v Blues:
@kiwimurph it’s been quite interesting watching the way sides like Chiefs and Highlanders operate without anywhere near the cattle of what the Blues have but they seem to have plans built around lightning quick ball from the ruck and swift ball movement..
The try that Josh Ioane scored off a simple scrum was so easily constructed because Mitch Hunt is a genuine runner at the line drawing in 2 defenders because he has a step leaving a hole for Ioane to score ..
Whilst the Blues did score a very good try of their own , the number of times we see players just shoveling the pass and someone does the individual brilliance thing is annoying to say the least .
I am wondering , you can have all the best ingredients in the world , but you have not got the right chef to put it together , you have got start wondering if it’s time to actively seek out a decent attack coach...
Just on a final note , whilst Stephen Perofeta has played well at fullback , I still think he would offer a point of difference in the 10 jersey .,also disappointing that they have not given Zarn Sullivan a run , it seemed pointless having Harry Plummer coming off the bench on Friday night .would have preferred to have seen Perofeta slot into 10 or a Zarn Sullivan off the bench at fullback..and to me Jacob Ratumaitavuki Kneepkins would have been a much more impactful player than what Bryce Heem has offered off the bench ..
Black does much well, and goodish marshall of backline. But doesn't really offer a running threat.
The difference when Plummer came on at ten a couple of games ago was marked.
Having Plummer or Perofeta/TJF/Rieko for a chunk of game would make teams stop and think a bit.
I like Faiane at 12, because he is savvy. Possibly even Blues version of Crotty.
On game itself, it seemed we switched off once we got ahead. Penalty at end of first half ought to have had someone covering, rather leaving it to bounce into touch.
The try which resulted was arithmatically the difference in result.
Then we played all the rugby in first 15 of second, but consistently tried to overplay and didn't get over. 2017 Blue miracle ball time. May have been exacerbated by very slow Blues support.
Wondering if Auckland provinical problems may have knocked a few of the key players -- Akira, Sotutu, etc. -- off their stride?
Well played, Highlanders!
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Can’t deny that the Landers fully deserved the win or that the Blues gave them opportunities to do so.
However the Blues could have easily ended up on the right side of the score as well. They aren’t the disaster some are making them out to be and small adjustments could make the difference.
