Blues v Rebels
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@Tim said in Blues v Rebels:
Kinda sucks that after four straight away games they won't running out Barrett at Eden Park.
Anyway, some selection guesses:
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu
9 Christie
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 RTS
13 Ioane
14 Lam
15 SullivanWill be interesting to see if Sullivan gets any time at 10.
Just highlighted Lam because while everyone else is getting wraps, he's been quietly doing the roles asked of him to a very good standard.
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Pre game stats -
The Melbourne Rebels won their most recent Super Rugby match in New Zealand against the Blues (20-10, 2 June 2018).The Melbourne Rebels have made dominant contact on 28% of their total carries (257/914) in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, the best rate of any team in the competition; the Blues (26%) are ranked third in this category (Hurricanes – 27%).
The Blues have crossed the gainline on 66% of their total gainline carries (611/932) this Super Rugby Pacific season, the best rate of any team in the competition and 11 percentage points higher than the Melbourne Rebels (55%).
The Melbourne Rebels (168) and Blues (156) have gained the most and third most metres from mauls of any teams this Super Rugby Pacific season (Crusaders – 165).
Beauden Barrett (Blues) has made 11 kicks in play per 80 minutes this Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any player in the competition and five more than any Melbourne Rebels player in this category.
James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels) has crossed for five tries in his last five starts in Super Rugby competitions, including a brace of tries against Moana Pasifika in Round 11 of this Super Rugby Pacific season.
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PLAYERS OUT TO SHOW ALL THAT GLITTERS IS BLUE AT EDEN PARK — Blues Rugby
The Blues are firmly focussed on a performance of quality to celebrate their return home to Eden Park where they take on the Melbourne Rebels in DHL Super Rugby Pacific on Friday night. While they return from two wins across the Tasman, the team were not satisfied with the level of their performan
1. Jordan Lay (5)
2. Kurt Eklund (32)
3. Ofa Tuungafasi (115)
4. James Tucker (7)
5. Tom Robinson (40)
6. Akira Ioane (89)
7. Dalton Papalii© (52)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (31)
9. Finlay Christie (25)
10. Stephen Perofeta (39)
11. Caleb Clarke (33)
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (6)
13. Rieko Ioane (81)
14. Mark Telea (33)
15. Zarn Sullivan (13)16. Soane Vikena (10)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (37)
18. Nepo Laulala (19)
19. Sam Darry (13)
20. Adrian Choat (14)
21. Sam Nock (46)
22. Bryce Heem (15)
23. AJ Lam (16) -
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@Tim said in Blues v Rebels:
It's a work in progress at the moment. I've connected with Taranaki and Neil Barnes. My ambition is to stay. If my form dies off towards the end of the season or I'm not as consistent then overseas is a viable option but I'm more leaning towards staying in New Zealand as long as possible.
this is a huge quote for NZ rugby as a whole
I want to be an AB, but if my form drops off? I'll take the easier, and probably bigger pay off.
And we lose another player before they get to the finished article. Because your wages are dogshit unless you are an AB (relatively speaking)
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@Duluth said in Blues v Rebels:
Hopefully Vikena gets plenty of minutes
Telea must be under pressure after his drop in form.. and Lam has looked comfortable
Yea I thought Lam mightve been rewarded for his recent good form with another start.
Blues still don't trust JRK by the looks as that lineup suggests fullback/wing cover on the bench is needed. -
@Bovidae maybe RTS would benefit from having more time and space with the ball…. Also why is RTS a 12 and only a 12… who made that call. I think he’d do better at 13 or in the back three which would play to his strengths. Only reason everyone thinks he should be a 12 is because that’s the only gap in the blues team I guess.
I still think he’ll be a decent 12 and hopefully a decent international 12, if given the chance, but I’d hate to see him never have a proper go with more space out wide in union.
The reverse of the Jordie situation where he, and everyone outside the Canes, want to see what he can do at 12 but the Hurricanes need him at 15 so doesn’t get a proper crack.
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Injury clarifications:
Aside from Barrett, they are missing a couple of experienced second-rowers (Luke Romano and Josh Goodhue) and former All Black loosehead prop Alex Hodgman (elbow injury).
With veteran locks Luke Romano (rest) and Josh Goodhue (broken thumb) both out this week, the versatile Robinson pairs with James Tucker in the second row, while Sotutu links with Akira Ioane and skipper Dalton Papalii in a powerhouse loose trio.
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Not fussed with Telea over Lam. Both have been very good this year and will both likely feature regularly until the end of the season.
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@Tim said in Blues v Rebels:
Some really good stuff in that article about Perofeta growing as a person and having to be more assertive and that helping his game. I could not agree more - you could tell by the way he used to play 10 that he would 'sit back' and not take control and this year he has much better at driving the team so to speak.
"We talk a lot ... funnily enough not about rugby ... it’s about who he is as a person that very much reflects the way he shows up on the field. He needs to be a big personality for us. When Stephen is involved in the game and he’s assertive, usually that means good things for this team. “We all remember that kick against the Chiefs from the sideline that put us ahead at home. That was on Stephen. He chose to take that kick and that’s something he didn’t do two years ago. He’s grown as a man, and we’re really proud of who he is as a person.” Halangahu even went as far as to suggest Perofeta had had to shrug of his natural personality to become an even better rugby player. “You guys know Stephen, he’s as humble as they come, and sometimes it almost holds his rugby back because he’ll let everyone else go first. What we’re seeing with him, he’s not necessarily growing his technical and tactical skills – he’s always had those – but Stephen is growing into a man his family are proud of, and who stands up and takes control when this team needs it.” -
Rebels
Matt Gibbon, James Hanson, Pone Fa'amausili, Matt Philip (c), Josh Canham, Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick, Rob Leota, Joe Powell, Carter Gordon, George Worth, Stacey Ili, Lukas Ripley, Andrew Kellaway, Reece Hodge
Reserves: Efi Ma'afu, Cameron Orr, Cabous Eloff, Daniel Maiava, Tamati Ioane, Moses Sorovi, Nick Jooste, Glen Vaihu
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'That hurts': Blues determined to avoid repeat of 2018 Rebels loss at Eden Park
Four years after suffering the ignominy of a home loss to the Rebels, the Blues are out to ensure history doesn't repeat itself on Friday.
2018 was the last time the Rebels played at Eden Park.
This was the last year Umaga was in control, it was a really rough year for home fans. I was lucky enough to attend all these games: Blues 2018 Home Matches
Here's the highlights of that match. The last play of the match from Michael Collins is special
