Blues 2022
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Warning - positive post below.
I continue to be impressed with the organisation that the Blues are building. Everything has stepped up since a few years ago - Board, Coaching, Admin, facilities, relationships between stakeholders, talent identification and so on. The board has led the creation of an org that should result in playoff contention every year, strong talent identification, and a place people want to play. In the medium term, putting yourself in contention each year is critical, and we're not so reliant on one or two key pieces.
You can see it with the development of depth across the squad. We've gone from significant areas of weakness, to worrying about backups (or backups to the backups). The pool of talent has expanded, and the squad has built year on year to be in a good place. It is really fantastic to see.
We may not win the comp this year (knockout rugby is a thing), but there's a culture building that is really high quality. You have to expect that next year we'll be contending again - and with the talent scouting we have finally started to do, there's a steady stream of talent starting up.
Feels really good right now. Really proud of both the team and the organisation, and what they are delivering. The challenge now is to take contention and turn it into titles, and then do it consistently.
I was reflecting at the game on Friday with a mate that the nadir of Blues was the loss to the Rebels 4 years ago. We left at half time - honestly, the rugby was so bad we couldn't stay. To go from there to putting 70 up is a huge turnaround, that isn't achieved without lots of really hard work behind the scenes. Beating the Crusaders away was huge for the mental game - win that, and the mental belief of the players really kicks in. Ideally we're at home through the playoffs (barring a banana skin), and have a real shot at winning a title in front of the home fans.
So, really, the future is bright ... the future is Blue.
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Joe Schmidt's intensity a key influence at Blues, says Christie
The former Ireland head coach has added international experience and a demanding attitude to Super Rugby Pacific's high-fliers.
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@chimoaus said in Blues 2022:
Please post when we find out what RI injury is, I really hope it's not long term.
Hamstring.
Iced on the sidelines on TV. The replay shows him favouring it very very sightly if you squint hard😀
What they didn't show on TV was him having a trainer shaking his leg around on the field. Looks more a niggle I hope, not limping or clutching it. There is three weeks to the playoffs, so hopefully it's minor enough to shake off.
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@chimoaus From Rugby Pass -
There didn’t appear to be any major damage done and although MacDonald quelled any immediate fears following the game, the Blues could be faced to front the Brumbies next weekend without their star centre.“He pulled up with [what] looked like a hamstring [strain] initially,” MacDonald told media after the match. “We’ve just got to monitor him. He’s smiling out there at the moment so hopefully, it’s not too bad.”
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@Daffy-Jaffy so then, I know it won’t happen, but a Heem 12 and TVS 13 would be nice. It would give TVS more space and less wear and tear.
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'That's the Brodie Retallick-like mindset': The potential All Blacks bolter at lock
James Tucker has been in great form the Blues so far this season, and may just be rewarded with a maiden call up to the All Blacks squad.
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Or summarising comments from the Breakdown..
I think Tucker has a shot though. Assuming he maintains form and fitness. Injuries have ruined his career so far
His carrying and linking play stands out compared to other NZ locks
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@Duluth The thing is I can more or less name their weekly squads, it all gets a little tedious. Would prefer more objectivity. My thoughts on Tucker, bloody awesome for the Blues damn good signing and is having a good season in Goodhue's absence.
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@Bovidae said in Blues 2022:
I think Parsons must just go through the list of Blues players to talk up each week.
I'm a big Tucker fan but he is under-sized to be an international lock.
Tucker is bigger than Scott Barrett, Ah Kahoi, Dunshea, Strange and Ghallagher.
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@Asterik6 said in Blues 2022:
@Bovidae said in Blues 2022:
I think Parsons must just go through the list of Blues players to talk up each week.
I'm a big Tucker fan but he is under-sized to be an international lock.
Tucker is bigger than Scott Barrett, Ah Kahoi, Dunshea, Strange and Ghallagher.
yeah but Barretts fluctuate massively in general size depending on who is posting on here.
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@Asterik6 said in Blues 2022:
@Bovidae said in Blues 2022:
I think Parsons must just go through the list of Blues players to talk up each week.
I'm a big Tucker fan but he is under-sized to be an international lock.
Tucker is bigger than Scott Barrett, Ah Kahoi, Dunshea, Strange and Ghallagher.
Based on the All Blacks app, which appears to get updated more often than a lot of teams pages (in most cases), I believe all of those players are either taller or heavier than Tucker (some are taller, some are heavier).
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@Asterik6 said in Blues 2022:
@Bovidae said in Blues 2022:
I think Parsons must just go through the list of Blues players to talk up each week.
I'm a big Tucker fan but he is under-sized to be an international lock.
Tucker is bigger than Scott Barrett, Ah Kahoi, Dunshea, Strange and Ghallagher.
No he isn't my Son played Cricket with him at St Beds and is still mates with him Barrett,Gallagher are bigger than James.
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BLUES U20s SET FOR SUPER RUGBY NEXT GEN COMP — Blues Rugby
The Blues have named their 27-strong team for the Super Rugby Next Gen presented by Bunnings Warehouse to be held in Taupo starting this weekend. This week-long event provides a great development experience for New Zealand’s best young players and features six teams, five from the Super Rugby clubs
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@Bovidae said in Blues 2022:
I think Parsons must just go through the list of Blues players to talk up each week.
I'm a big Tucker fan but he is under-sized to be an international lock.
He seems to be similar sized to Scott Barrett who when not getting red carded is a decent international lock.
IMO he'll have to do more than have one good season given Whitelock, Retallick, Va'ai, Lord and a returning Patty Tuipulotu. Let's see if he can back it up next season.
