Blues 2022

[Bovidae]

@african-monkey said in Blues 2022:

@dice Yeah if you fall short in an area you just call in an uncontracted player. Guys like Nathan Vella do it all the time for teams.

That might not be so easy in Queenstown if the teams are in separate bubbles. The teams will have to take enough players to cover all positions.

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae maybe they might have 'pool' players to call on?
Some squads will have players they can loan, and maybe if only for a week while someone is in iso after.a call up?

[Bovidae]

The plan would have to be to avoid movement of players in and out of team bubbles. Otherwise, what is the point!

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae but if they play against one another, how is that keeping a team bubble? I would have thought they are essentially operating one large bubble at multiple locations?

[Nogusta]

Blues backline for tomorrow will probably look something like this

1st half
9 Milo Harris
10 Plummer
11 Clarke
12 RTS
13 Tele'a
14 Kneepkens
15 Perofeta

2nd half
Nock
Perofeta
Lam
RTS/Evans
Tua
Kneepkens/Tele'a
Sullivan

Funaki M.Telea Heem not quite 100%

[Dice]

@taniwharugby The NRL had a lot of player movement in their bubble over the last two seasons. Not sure if they'd allow that here though.

[taniwharugby]

@dice not suggesting they do it willy nilly, if they are playing against one another, there is no way they can see that as still say a Blues bubble and a Chiefs bubble, so i wouldnt see how the Chiefs 3rd hooker couldnt be available for the Blues if they needed him due to injury (or vice versa)

[KiwiMurph]

[Dice]

Don't think I've seen Plumtree at 8 before, but it's worth trying.

If he can cover more spots, then it increases his chance of getting a bench spot. He's got the game to be a good impact player off the bench.

[Duluth]

I assume there's no stream of this game?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@kiwimurph Reserves/Second Half: Jordan Lay, Ricky Riccitelli, Sione Ahio, Sam Darry, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Sam Nock, AJ Lam, Corey Evans, Tamati Tua, Zarn Sullivan

Not considered because of injury: Taufa Funaki, Bryce Heem, Mark Telea, Soane Vikena, Alex Hodgman.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Confirming Nogusta's oil -

DALTON PAPALII PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN — Blues Rugby

Twenty-four-year-old All Black loose forward Dalton Papalii has been named as captain of the Blues for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

[KiwiMurph]

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Crap!

[taniwharugby]

@kiwimurph that sucks, I was just going to comment how good it is Goodhue must be over his, and hoping he has an injury/knock free season, but tempered somewhat now with BB having concussion symptoms.

[nzzp]

@taniwharugby at least they're cautious. One of the real benefits of central contacting

[Daffy Jaffy]

Karl Tu’inukuafe out until at least April after having a back operation before Christmas.

[Frank]

So curious to see how Tuivasa-Sheck goes.
The next rugby star or the next Benji Marshall?

[taniwharugby]

@frank 100% he will be a success at Super, whether he can make that next step up will be the bigger ask of him, but I reckon he looks to have the skills and mental ability to do it.

[Tim]

Super Rugby, Sport, Rugby

Barrett to miss Blues opener as he eases back from concussion

All Blacks playmaker taking cautious return from concussion blow sustained last November.