Blues v Waratahs

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300309712/super-rugby-blistering-blues-challenged-to-show-some-transtasman-consistency

[Duluth]

From the nzh:

The Blues have opened as $1.01 favourites for Saturday's clash against the Waratahs at Eden Park with both the New Zealand TAB and Australian betting agency Sportsbet.

Sportsbet has the Waratahs as a $26 outsider, which according to the Sydney Morning Herald will be the longest price at which the Waratahs have started a Super Rugby match.

The New Zealand TAB has the Waratahs listed as $21 outsiders. Both betting agencies have the Waratahs as a 34.5 point start.

Seems a bit excessive

Tahs will defend a bit better assuming Tizzano is back. He cleaned up a lot of breaks against them in SR AU

The Tahs can score a few points to so that points start is huge

[NTA]

@duluth said in Blues v Waratahs:

The Tahs can score a few points to so that points start is huge

So basically they're saying the Blues will win by 34 points?

[Duluth]

@nta

35 or more

[NTA]

@duluth said in Blues v Waratahs:

@nta

35 or more

OK how much do win when the Tahs lose by only 34?

(Not that it matters - Blues are going to do evil things to the Tahs scrum and I'll be surprised if they hold the margin under 40)

[Kirwan]

@nta said in Blues v Waratahs:

@duluth said in Blues v Waratahs:

@nta

35 or more

OK how much do win when the Tahs lose by only 34?

(Not that it matters - Blues are going to do evil things to the Tahs scrum and I'll be surprised if they hold the margin under 40)

I don't think it be that high scoring, not two weeks in a row.

[NTA]

@kirwan said in Blues v Waratahs:

@nta said in Blues v Waratahs:

@duluth said in Blues v Waratahs:

@nta

35 or more

OK how much do win when the Tahs lose by only 34?

(Not that it matters - Blues are going to do evil things to the Tahs scrum and I'll be surprised if they hold the margin under 40)

I don't think it be that high scoring, not two weeks in a row.

Not from the Tahs, anyway. Not at Eden Park.

[Tim]

Super Rugby, Sport, Rugby

'Chance for redemption': Why Blues could get even better in transtasman comp

The Blues' buoyant spirit was a world away from the dark clouds of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Now the reinforcements have arrived. Captain Patrick Tuipulotu, All Blacks loose forward Dalton Papalii, rookie lock Sam Darry and prop Alex Hodgman, following his three-week suspension for a high shot, are all available for selection.

Hope Darry isn't picked, doesn't have the bulk yet.

[KiwiMurph]

@tim If you are going to play Darry then this is the game to do it. The Tah locks aren't giants.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Blues v Waratahs

Saturday 22 May, 4:35pm

Eden Park, Auckland

Referee: Brendon Pickerill

Assistant 1: Angus Mabey

Assistant 2: Lauren Jenner

TMO: Shane McDermott

[taniwharugby]

@tim scrum seems to struggle when he's there too.

Hes young, plenty of time and I expect he's had more gametime this year than expected already

[Tim]

Wonder if we'll see some rotation this week?

Complete rests for GCT, Sotutu, and R Ioane. Karl T to the bench. Goodhue starting with Tuipulotu.

[nzzp]

@tim said in Blues v Waratahs:

Wonder if we'll see some rotation this week?

this would be the game to do that. Get into the wider squad. If they're smart coaches, they would have been trianing backup combos already for just this scenario

[Bones]

@tim haven't really thought about it.....who's at centre if there's no Roane?

[Tim]

@bones Tele'a, Heem, Faiane, Lam.

[Nogusta]

@tim can't see much if any changes besides Patty T and Papalii back in if fully fit.
Back to the conservative selections....trotting out the 'best' side every week amd not deviating from that. Riekos played every minute of every game!
Maybe Telea back on the wing in place of Heem?

[Bones]

@nogusta like I've been saying, Leon has a plan! He's hardly going to let everyone in on the secret against the Tahs though...

[KiwiMurph]

This would probably be the game to give Kneepkens his debut.

[Tim]

[Tim]

Sotutu and Laulala get a rest, but not Rieko Ioane. Tuipulotu and Papalii return via the bench. Robinson maintains captaincy. I assume Choat is injured, and Gibson starts. Kneepkins makes his debut from the bench.