Blues v Drua
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@Nepia said in Blues v Drua:
@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
I love Rieko’s speed. I cant see any reason why he needs to be on the wing, he’s showing how he can use it on offense and defense.
I think he's out best centre currently but would still prefer him on the left wing, which I think he'd also be our best (if he played there).
At any rate he's clearly going to be one of the first names on the teamsheet I'd assume.
captaincy aside, it's him and Aaron Smith that are in the first XV. Everyone else has questions about the gameplan/fit with others.
Also, Sam Cane has been a monster the last few weeks. His passing has been noticeably awesome in a way I haven't seen from him before. We are blessed with both him and Dalton as 7's in a similar mould
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@nzzp said in Blues v Drua:
@Nepia said in Blues v Drua:
@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
I love Rieko’s speed. I cant see any reason why he needs to be on the wing, he’s showing how he can use it on offense and defense.
I think he's out best centre currently but would still prefer him on the left wing, which I think he'd also be our best (if he played there).
At any rate he's clearly going to be one of the first names on the teamsheet I'd assume.
captaincy aside, it's him and Aaron Smith that are in the first XV. Everyone else has questions about the gameplan/fit with others.
Also, Sam Cane has been a monster the last few weeks. His passing has been noticeably awesome in a way I haven't seen from him before. We are blessed with both him and Dalton as 7's in a similar mould
If Jordan is not in the starting 15, I'm overthrowing the coaches.
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@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
@nzzp said in Blues v Drua:
@Nepia said in Blues v Drua:
@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
I love Rieko’s speed. I cant see any reason why he needs to be on the wing, he’s showing how he can use it on offense and defense.
I think he's out best centre currently but would still prefer him on the left wing, which I think he'd also be our best (if he played there).
At any rate he's clearly going to be one of the first names on the teamsheet I'd assume.
captaincy aside, it's him and Aaron Smith that are in the first XV. Everyone else has questions about the gameplan/fit with others.
Also, Sam Cane has been a monster the last few weeks. His passing has been noticeably awesome in a way I haven't seen from him before. We are blessed with both him and Dalton as 7's in a similar mould
If Jordan is not in the starting 15, I'm overthrowing the coaches.
I'll play Jordie on the wing to accommodate Beaudy at the back. No space for Will, sorry.
I am Ian Foster. -
@nzzp said in Blues v Drua:
@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
@nzzp said in Blues v Drua:
@Nepia said in Blues v Drua:
@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
I love Rieko’s speed. I cant see any reason why he needs to be on the wing, he’s showing how he can use it on offense and defense.
I think he's out best centre currently but would still prefer him on the left wing, which I think he'd also be our best (if he played there).
At any rate he's clearly going to be one of the first names on the teamsheet I'd assume.
captaincy aside, it's him and Aaron Smith that are in the first XV. Everyone else has questions about the gameplan/fit with others.
Also, Sam Cane has been a monster the last few weeks. His passing has been noticeably awesome in a way I haven't seen from him before. We are blessed with both him and Dalton as 7's in a similar mould
If Jordan is not in the starting 15, I'm overthrowing the coaches.
I'll play Jordie on the wing to accommodate Beaudy at the back. No space for Will, sorry.
I am Ian Foster.
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Some stats -
The Blues are undefeated in their last nine Super Rugby games against the Western Force (W8, D1), conceding an average of just 17 points per game in that span; their only defeat to the Force in Super Rugby came in Round 5, 2008 (27-17).
The Blues have crossed the gainline on 66% of gainline carries in the 2022 Super Rugby campaign, six percentage points higher than any other team in the competition.
The Blues have scored a try with 47% of their attacking 22m entries in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition, the highest rate of any team in the competition and 19 percentage points higher than the Western Force (28%).
The Western Force have lost 12 of their last 14 Super Rugby games (W2), including their last three in succession; they’ve lost their last 21 consecutive games against New Zealand opponents, last winning such a fixture in Round 6, 2014 against the Chiefs (18-15).
The Blues have won 15 of their last 16 Super Rugby games (L1), including their last eight on the bounce; the last and only previous time they won more in succession was a 12-game run to the clinch the 1997 Super Rugby title. -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Drua:
their only defeat to the Force in Super Rugby came in Round 5, 2008 (27-17).
that was at EP too, and IIRC Craig Joubert was reffing and didnt have a good day at the office!
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@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
I love Rieko’s speed. I cant see any reason why he needs to be on the wing, he’s showing how he can use it on offense and defense.
The dude is lightning..reminds me of Rokocoko 2003-2005 period.
I understand why some are reluctant to see him at 13 given some of his brain farts - think dropped ball over try line vs Wallabies in 2020, but I think we need to accept that as part of him as a player. What he brings in attack/defence more than makes up for the odd brain fart.
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@TheMojoman We should also remember that he only turned 25 last month. He is just starting to mature as a player, let alone as a Centre.
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@Bovidae said in Blues v Drua:
Rieko still has defensive lapses at centre but he has the speed to usually recover and make up for his mistake. It's also that pace which sets him apart from all other midfielders on attack.
And he's not small either, not huge, but still big. But for tackles I do like K.E. = 1/2 m v2
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@Bovidae said in Blues v Drua:
Rieko still has defensive lapses at centre but he has the speed to usually recover and make up for his mistake. It's also that pace which sets him apart from all other midfielders on attack.
I like his combination with Clarke too, I think he often takes the left side when the midfield splits, and the two of them together can be dynamite.
Thinking about it that way, the argument for Havili/Goodhue and Jordan/Reece works too, although there is a bit of a lack of size.
TUG with Jordan off his shoulder…
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@TheMojoman said in Blues v Drua:
@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
I love Rieko’s speed. I cant see any reason why he needs to be on the wing, he’s showing how he can use it on offense and defense.
The dude is lightning..reminds me of Rokocoko 2003-2005 period.
I understand why some are reluctant to see him at 13 given some of his brain farts - think dropped ball over try line vs Wallabies in 2020, but I think we need to accept that as part of him as a player. What he brings in attack/defence more than makes up for the odd brain fart.
Huh. He really doesn't have that many brain farts (and especially no more than Jordie) - one dropped ball, hell Cullen and Jonah both did the same thing in the same match.
I'm only reluctant because I think he's our best weapon on the left wing.
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@Nepia said in Blues v Drua:
@TheMojoman said in Blues v Drua:
@gt12 said in Blues v Drua:
I love Rieko’s speed. I cant see any reason why he needs to be on the wing, he’s showing how he can use it on offense and defense.
The dude is lightning..reminds me of Rokocoko 2003-2005 period.
I understand why some are reluctant to see him at 13 given some of his brain farts - think dropped ball over try line vs Wallabies in 2020, but I think we need to accept that as part of him as a player. What he brings in attack/defence more than makes up for the odd brain fart.
Huh. He really doesn't have that many brain farts (and especially no more than Jordie) - one dropped ball, hell Cullen and Jonah both did the same thing in the same match.
I'm only reluctant because I think he's our best weapon on the left wing.
Brain farts was prob an exageration but I have noticed at times not giving to support players and going himself, defensive lapses which he covers well with his pace. Last week in 49th minute he drifted hard on the Drua fullback which allowed Drua winger to get outside RTS and place a dangerous kick downfield which Telea covered. Again, I'm probably nitpicking but just something I noticed.
