Blues 2022
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@tim said in Blues 2022:
the Harbour training shirt?
Harbour players standout at the moment. I just realised there's only two. I assume that's a record low?
Not helped by the cancelled NPC season, GCT & Pierce going overseas, Hunt retiring, Tolai going to MP..
Provinces of Blues Players
Province Players Auckland 15 Northland 5 Counties 4 Taranaki 4 Ta$man 3 Canterbury 2 North Harbour 2 BOP 1 Waikato 1 Wellington 1 -
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@bovidae said in Blues 2022:
I was looking at the provincial representation the other day. NH has more players in the Chiefs than in the Blues.
Here's all the Harbour SR players
4 Moana Pasifika
3 Chiefs
2 Blues
1 Crusader
1 Highlander -
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@duluth Realistically the only 2 of those players could have been in contention for a Blues call up for next season, Tolai and Marshall.
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@daffy-jaffy Would have been interesting to watch Harbour's scrum this season. Lay and Renata aren't the strongest scrummagers.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2022:
@bovidae said in Blues 2022:
@nzzp I've been to a Chiefs home game at NHS. It was a bloody Friday night match so driving up was a mission.
that's rarer than being at Woodstock, right?
I'm sure Woodstock would have been much more fun! The Chiefs lost to NSW that night.
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@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@themojoman said in Blues 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
@duluth said in Blues 2022:
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@duluth I'm guessing, but I reckon they may have only locked together in one or 2 games back in 2019, games when both have been available usually had Tom at 6.
Only 5 NPC starts at lock for Robinson. He has 1 start at SR level too
So yes, there's not much evidence that it would work.
I hope they experiment with it though. The question is how the scrum goes. It would allow the four AB standard loosies to start, plus would make room for a guy like Plumtree to make the bench
He's pretty similar to Itoje in terms of size, isn't he?
Maybe he's need to add a bit of bulk, he might be 5 kgs light.
Anyway, I think the Blues have missed a trick by now trying it before, and if it came off it could be huge for the ABs, as he would be the obvious Scott Barrett replacement.
There is a big difference between being the size of a lock and actually playing lock TBH. Robinson may have the size but the temperament and comfort to play lock? I remember when they chucked Jerome Kaino in at lock against the Irish, didn't go well.
No I think keep him at Blindside, he'll have to rotate with Akira and/or come off bench. For Akira's long-term development at 6 he needs to play there regularly IMO. He faded away towards the end of the tour but again so did a few of them, you can't expect them to tour for almost 3 months and not get faded and fatigued.
I think that's fair, but I'd put it to the player as a question: Would you try to take on playing in this position as well if it would increase your chances of a Black jersey?
I don't know whether he would be successful or not, but he is much more of a lock than Kaino (I don't think he ever played there except for that atrocity) and we would be able to see whether he can develop there or is just a six.
My rationale is funnily enough also similar yours in that Akira (and perhaps Paps) need as much time at 6 as possible, so I don't see him busting into the starting team.
I mean Robinson has the tools - height/lineout capability, big motor/workrate, defensive game. He probably is the best of the flanker/lock combo's we've had in a while too. I haven't seen a flanker make a successful transition to lock yet. Jimmy Tupou was OK. Brad Thorn wasn't a natural flanker or 8 anyway. Luatua never really played lock at top level. Fifita was serviceable at Super Level but again, not a top level lock.
Maybe Robinson can make the transition?
Cameron Woki (France) is a flanker who played lock against the All Blacks last weekend. He did well so I don't know why Tom Robinson wouldn't make it. However, the problem is that the All Blacks need a big munter in the second row (à la Brad Thorn) to partner a 2m+ one.
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@dice really looking forward to seeing him out there!
If handled right, he will make a smooth transition, has footwork like 2015 NMS, but looks to have more size, pace and has some excellent skills.
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@taniwharugby I saw Caleb Clarke in an interview saying that RTS had stepped him a few times already at practice then he smiled and said "but I was social distancing".
