Blues v Canes

Crucial

Coles bracketed. No news on Jane or NMS either
 
Hurricanes:
James Marshall,
TBA,
Vince Aso,
Ngani Laumape,
Julian Savea,
Beauden Barrett,
TJ Perenara,
Victor Vito,
Ardie Savea,
Brad Shields,
Mark Abbott,
Blade Thomson,
Jeff To'omaga-Allen,
Dane Coles/Leni Apiaai,
Reggie Goodes.
 
Reserves:
Apisai/Ricky Riccitelli,
Chris Eves,
Loni Uhila,
Vaea Fifita,
Callum Gibbins,
Jamison Gibson-Park,
Willis Halaholo,
TBA.

Canes4life

Interesting to see a centre combination of Male Sa'u and Melani Nanai instead of Moala & Ranger. Also no Patrick Tuipolotu. Crazy decisions by Tana again. If I was the Blues coach I would be starting my best side at home.
 
The Hurricanes still have injury clouds over Coles, Skudder and Jane otherwise its an unchanged side.
 
Blues: 1. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 5. Steven Luatua, 6. Jerome Kaino (c), 7. Blake Gibson, 8. Akira Ioane, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Ihaia West, 11. Tevita Li, 12. Male Sa'u, 13. Melani Nanai 14. Rene Ranger, 15. Lolagi Visinia
 
Reserves: TBC
 
Hurricanes: 1. Reggie Goodes 2. Dane Coles/Leni Apisai 3. Jeff Toomaga Allen 4. Blade Thomson 5. Mark Abbott 6. Brad Shields 7. Ardie Savea 8. Victor Vito 9. TJ Perenara 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Ngani Laumape 13. Vince Aso 14. Nehe Milner Skudder/Cory Jane/Jason Woodward 15. James Marshall
 
Reserves: 16. Leni Apisai/Ricky Rickitelli 17. Chris Eves 18. Loni Uhila 19. Vaea Fifita 20. Callum Gibbins 21. Jamison Gibson Park 22. Willis Halaholo 23. TBC

KiwiMurph

C4L where did you get your Blues team from? 
The Blues site has the following 
Ofa Tuâ€™ungafasi, James Parsons, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Josh Bekhuis, Jerome Kaino Â©, Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane; Bryn Hall, Ihaia West, Tevita Li, George Moala, Male Saâ€™u, Rene Ranger, Lolagi Visinia. 
Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Nic Mayhew, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Billy Guyton, Matt McGahan, Melani Nanai.

JK

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="563365" data-time="1457479246">
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C4L where did you get your Blues team from? 

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Yep was gonna say this too.
 
Blues site team is consistent with the intagram post too with Moala at 12

KiwiMurph

Much better side for the Blues this week. All the moves in the tight five are to shore up the set piece - not Tuipulotu's strength.
 
The backs look much better too.

Canes4life

NZHERALD originally had Melani Nanai at Centre with an unconfirmed bench.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="563421" data-time="1457488041">
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NZHERALD originally had Melani Nanai at Centre with an unconfirmed bench.
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That'll teach you for reading that rag and believing it.

SammyC

Big wakeup call for Tuipulotu, his scrummaging should have improved much more than it has.
 
 
......... Massive workrate though, just like those props.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="563437" data-time="1457497484">
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......... Massive workrate though, just like those props.
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Come on now let it go lol

broughie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="563373" data-time="1457480293">
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Much better side for the Blues this week. All the moves in the tight five are to shore up the set piece - not Tuipulotu's strength.
 
The backs look much better too. 
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Just wondering how it has been determined that Tuipulotu is the problem with the scrum? Not being argumentative just enquiring.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="563442" data-time="1457499585">
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Just wondering how it has been determined that Tuipulotu is the problem with the scrum? Not being argumentative just enquiring.
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I'm wondering the same thing. We were great at the set piece against the Highlanders with him there before bumping into a side who revolve their whole gameplan on their set piece and are very good at that part of the game. Looking at that side, I think Umaga is still rotating and trying out combinations and that Patrick being dropped is strictly rotation.

KiwiMurph

I think Patrick is A problem at scrum time, not THE problem. Blues not starting Charlie and starting Quentin MacDonald were other big problems in my opinion. I'm no scrum expert though as I understand it Tuipulotu has been part of some underwhelming scrum efforts in the past (Blues and ABs)

ACT Crusader

Good to see Ranger on the wing. IMO a much better winger than midfield player. He's very effective in using the sideline to his advantage in attack.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="563448" data-time="1457505356">
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Good to see Ranger on the wing. IMO a much better winger than midfield player. He's very effective in using the sideline to his advantage in attack.
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He is the kind of players that thrives of playing, he is not someone you really want to be rotating, probably makes him almost jumpy cos he wants out there, but yeah put him on the wing but use him as a 12/13 often to ensure he is heavily involved, especially on defence with his work on the ball

Canes4life

Coles has been ruled out for Friday. He was interviewed on the Breakdown tonight and said he didn't come through training today.

Siam

Am I the only one who doesn't really mind our 1st XV All Blacks doing recovery in Feb/Mar/Apr each year?
 
Brodie and Dane as examples

Canes4life

Updated Canes Side:
15 James Marshall 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder 13 Vince Aso 12 Ngani Laumape 11 Julian Savea 10 Beauden Barrett 9 TJ Perenara (c) 8 Victor Vito 7 Ardie Savea 6 Brad Shields 5 Mark Abbott 4 Blade Thomson 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen 2 Leni Apisai 1 Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves, Loni Uhila, Vaea Fifita, Callum Gibbins, Jamison Gibson-Park, Willis Halaholo, Cory Jane.
Unavailable due to injury: Matt Proctor (knee), Motu Matu'u (calf), James Blackwell (foot), Dane Coles (calf), Otere Black (leg)

raznomore

Julian Savea looks fat. Our mid field is ho-hum. Coles is not playing and Vito looks like hes already in France mentally. 
TJ looks sharp though. So too does Ardie Savea. 
I reckon we may just scrape past the Blues who were brought back down to earth with a sizable thud last week. 
I can see us losing just as easily though. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

Tim

TAB NZ odds:
 
Blues 1.67 
Hurricanes 2.20 
Draw 18.00

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Razbra" data-cid="563690" data-time="1457588510">
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Julian Savea looks fat. Our mid field is ho-hum. Coles is not playing and Vito looks like hes already in France mentally. 
TJ looks sharp though. So too does Ardie Savea. 
I reckon we may just scrape past the Blues who were brought back down to earth with a sizable thud last week. 
I can see us losing just as easily though. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk
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TJ Looks sharp? I dont know what game's you've been watching mate but Perenara is well below his best. His passing from the base of the ruck/scrum has been piss poor. How many passes were at the first receivers feet last Saturday night? Personally I lost count. Yes he was strong around the ruck but he has to pull his head in regards his passing game.
 
If the All Blacks were named tomorrow he wouldn't be anywhere near my team, hes far too erratic with his play all around and that's why he lost his spot to Kerr Barlow at the RWC. 
 
Ardie Savea and Nehe Milner Skudder are the only two players that have put in a full quality performance so far this campaign. They both ooze class and the rest of the squad need to pick it up if they are to beat a powerful Blues side.

The Silver Fern

Blues v Canes