Super Rugby News
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<p>Bekhuis will leave a hole in our side. Don't mind Tupou, but agree with Tim, he's no better than what we already have.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="584518" data-time="1464761167">
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<p>I think he's a considerable step up from matenga (sp?)</p>
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<p>That's good to hear. I'm hoping that Scrafton makes a big step up next year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="584517" data-time="1464760992">
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<p>I don't think he's bad, and maybe useful for depth, just not a step up on what's currently available.</p>
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<p>What Tupou does offer is leadership - something the Blues are currently lacking. As SammyC says the Cantabs rate him highly. Tana obviously does too.</p> -
Tupou is better than all the current blues locks, tuipolotou excepted.
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<p>am hoping they will pick up Josh Goodhue as well...is plenty talented.</p>
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<p>Why do you refer to Tupou as a lock? As far as I know, he's mainly a loose forward (6/8) who can also play lock. That's why he's such a handy man to have on the bench! Good leader, too. It's unfortunate for Tupou that there are so many All Blacks in the Crusaders forward pack and that Taufua is playing so extremely well, because they keep him out of the squad (not sure why they prefer Tim Boys on the bench). The Blues pack is not so stacked with great players, so he may finally get more game time if he indeed makes the move. I think he would be a good signing for the Blues.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="584575" data-time="1464785601"><p>Why do you refer to Tupou as a lock? As far as I know, he's mainly a loose forward (6/8) who can also play lock. That's why he's such a handy man to have on the bench! Good leader, too. It's unfortunate for Tupou that there are so many All Blacks in the Crusaders forward pack and that Taufua is playing so extremely well, because they keep him out of the squad (not sure why they prefer Tim Boys on the bench). The Blues pack is not so stacked with great players, so he may finally get more game time if he indeed makes the move. I think he would be a good signing for the Blues.</p></blockquote>
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The Blues are stacked in the loose forwards, so he likely wouldn't even get a bench spot there. Getting the bench lock spot is more likely. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="584575" data-time="1464785601"><p>Why do you refer to Tupou as a lock? As far as I know, he's mainly a loose forward (6/8) who can also play lock. That's why he's such a handy man to have on the bench! Good leader, too. It's unfortunate for Tupou that there are so many All Blacks in the Crusaders forward pack and that Taufua is playing so extremely well, because they keep him out of the squad (not sure why they prefer Tim Boys on the bench). The Blues pack is not so stacked with great players, so he may finally get more game time if he indeed makes the move. I think he would be a good signing for the Blues.</p></blockquote>
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The Blues have Luatua, Ioane, and Kaino as loose forward/lock options. They also have Edwards. They need locks, not loose forwards. -
<p>Looking at a Canes perspective we will probably have too many Locks next season so there will be an opportunity for the Blues to snap someone like Mark Abbot who would compliment Patrick Tuipolotu really well.</p>
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<p>We will have Isaia Walker-Leawere (NZ Under 20s), James Broadhurst (If he doesn't retire), Michael Fatialofa (Originally from Auckland but has cemented himself in the Canes), Blade Thomson, Geoff Cridge, James Blackwell and Vaea Fifita. There are also rumors of Nelson Asofa Solomona coming back to union. That means there is a prime opportunity to target someone that will be at the back of the pack.</p>
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<p>I believe Mark Abbott is our best lock but Boyd continues to leave him out of the 23 to his utter frustration. Im sure he will be looking for more game time so the Blues may be the best option for him next year.</p>
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<p>Any of you Blues fans keep to swap Abbott for Faumauina?? :good1:</p>
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<p>Also after waching the Breakdown last night Kirwan was giving it to Cullen about the Blues signing Barrett. Is there maybe something he knows that we don't??. I know he is off contract and his girlfriend is from up that way so maybe he is looking to shift.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="584604" data-time="1464815893">
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<p>I believe Mark Abbott is our best lock but Boyd continues to leave him out of the 23 to his utter frustration. Im sure he will be looking for more gametime so the Blues may be the best option for him next year.</p>
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<p>What is it you rate about Abbott? I sorta viewed him as being similar to Mark Reddish, in a way. Pretty mobile, but a bit of a light-weight and perhaps not up to starting at SupeRugby level. </p> -
Abbott is much better than reddish,he gets through a lot of work,very good in line outs and tackles all day<br><br><br>
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<p>Im not sure if you've been watching any of the Canes games this year but he has been a workhorse and rarely makes mistakes. He isn't the biggest lock but he has a massive ticker and rarely gets injured. He's not too shabby in the air, great on defence and Ian Jones even had him in his top XV for the first half of the season so he must have been doing something right.</p>
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<p>I suppose the one black mark against his name is size and that has probably been the main factor towards him falling behind Fatialofa. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="584604" data-time="1464815893">
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<p>Looking at a Canes perspective we will probably have too many Locks next season so there will be an opportunity for the Blues to snap someone like Mark Abbot who would compliment Patrick Tuipolotu really well.</p>
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<p>We will have Isaia Walker-Leawere (NZ Under 20s), James Broadhurst (If he doesn't retire), Michael Fatialofa (Originally from Auckland but has cemented himself in the Canes), Blade Thomson, Geoff Cridge, James Blackwell and Vaea Fifita. There are also rumors of Nelson Asofa Solomona coming back to union. That means there is a prime opportunity to target someone that will be at the back of the pack.</p>
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<p>I believe Mark Abbott is our best lock but Boyd continues to leave him out of the 23 to his utter frustration. Im sure he will be looking for more game time so the Blues may be the best option for him next year.</p>
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<p>Jeez you talk up Mark Abbott.</p>
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<p>Nothing more than a journeyman club player down here, I could name 8-10 locks who I'd pick up from Christchurch club rugby instead</p>
