Blues v Highlanders

Duluth

So there will be some changes in the backs this week with RTS & Plummer probably injured

Who should start at 12 and who should be the cover is the big question?

Also, I thought Mark Telea struggled on defence in the weekend. It's probably time to look at some one else. Lam? JRK?

I assume the pack will remain relatively unchanged

The backs might be something like this?

9 Christie
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 Tele'a
13 Ioane
14 Lam
15 Perofeta

Nock, Tua, Sullivan

Dice

Plummer was probably Leon's preferred 12 after RTS and he looks gone too.

Time for Tele'a or Tua to step up. I think both will likely be in the 23 next week.

Nogusta

@dice Leon's a fan of Corey Evans. He may well leapfrog the both of them!

taniwharugby

@nogusta he certainly looks to have something special about him!

Purely from a Northland POV, I'd love Tua to get some decent gametime, seems he is starting to mature as a player the past couple of years and could really move his game to the next level, easy to forget he is still only 24.

Dice

@nogusta said in Blues v Chiefs:

@dice Leon's a fan of Corey Evans. He may well leapfrog the both of them!

I'm unsure if he's ready for a derby game. In the couple of games for Auckland last year, he was tackling at 50% and had a low workrate.

If he does start next week, he'll be up against the form 12 in the comp at the moment.

Nogusta

@taniwharugby yea I'm a fan of Tua as well and would like to see him get his chance

KiwiMurph

Count me in with Tua. I think he's better suited to 12 than 13. I'd like to see him get first crack.

Dice

Lam lined up at centre during the last 10 minutes. Didn't really need to do much during that period though.

Duluth

Also is Funaki injured?

I would like to see him get a run off the bench ahead of Nock

Kiwiwomble

three games in an already not looking forward to this...could be a real hiding

Kirwan

@duluth said in Blues v Highlanders:

Also is Funaki injured?

I would like to see him get a run off the bench ahead of Nock

God, Nock has been so fucking terrible. We need Christie to be on for 70mins at least. Nock's kicking has gone massively backwards (hah that's like a pun).

Tele'a would be a good option for 12 IMO.

KiwiMurph

Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.

Kirwan

@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:

Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.

They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.

Duluth

@kiwimurph

Yeah, he'll run straight and he'll tackle. Tua offers more on attack but might be more risky

Then there's Evans. He didn't look ready in his brief NPC last year. But who knows, maybe he's kicking arse at training?

bobily2

@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:

Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.

They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.

It'd also be useful to have someone of his size to stop TUJ on the crashball. Particularly if Barrett is shying away from contact.

Kirwan

@bobily2 said in Blues v Highlanders:

@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:

Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.

They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.

It'd also be useful to have someone of his size to stop TUJ on the crashball. Particularly if Barrett is shying away from contact.

Let's not let one Cantab fan invent a fact. 40mins of rugby after a significant period away, and he brought calmness to the team and good kicking. Didn't see him Merhtsing out of tackles.

bobily2

@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

@bobily2 said in Blues v Highlanders:

@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:

Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.

They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.

It'd also be useful to have someone of his size to stop TUJ on the crashball. Particularly if Barrett is shying away from contact.

Let's not let one Cantab fan invent a fact. 40mins of rugby after a significant period away, and he brought calmness to the team and good kicking. Didn't see him Merhtsing out of tackles.

I definitely thought he looked a bit hesitant. Admittedly that was on attack, and I'm extrapolating out to contact in general.

TheMojoman

Gutted for RTS. Thus far he's been very good given the early stage of his development.

I think Tele'a is next cab off the rank and he's played 12 with Reiko Ioane before. He's pretty serviceable at 12, strong in the carry and defends well. Not sure about his kicking game.

Mr Fish

Tele'a was rightly dropped after a dire performance off the bench against the Canes. Maybe MacDonald will ignore that, given he'd be going into midfield instead of on the wing, but I wouldn't be surprised if other guys are given a chance first.

Duluth

@mr-fish

I know he made that bad decision to come off the wing and created an overlap. Was there anything else?

It's certainly a bad mark against his ability to cover midfield and wing from the bench. Not sure how much it affects his chances at 12 though

The Silver Fern

Blues v Highlanders