Blues 2023
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@Winger said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Crucial said in Hurricanes 2023:
@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2023:
I've said it here before but B Sullivan gives me massive C Smith vibes. Similar build and a slick pass. That pass to Ardie against the Blues to win was a beaut.
Not as defensively sound as Smith (who is?) but on attack a lot to like.
Can be very hot and cold still though. He has dished up some shocking games at different levels. Hopefully it is all ironing out the wrinkles and he is learning lots because he does have something about him.
His brother needs to get away from the Blues logjam as well but The Highlanders would be his only realistic prospect to get lots of time.
One day we could see them together but the planets don't seem to align that well.If Barrett plays 2nd 5 Sullivan's brother would surely be an option for the starting FB at the Canes. Zarn seems to be a level above his older brother and from the little Ive seen of him better than Love and Moorby.
I am a big of Zarn's, but I am yet to be convinced he has the attacking game from 15 that we have become accustomed to. I am not saying he doesn't have an attacking game, but he is more of a facilitator than a finisher. Would his style at 15 be a good fit for the Canes? At the risk of being a broken record, the kid has 10 written all over him.
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@Crucial said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Winger said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Crucial said in Hurricanes 2023:
@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2023:
I've said it here before but B Sullivan gives me massive C Smith vibes. Similar build and a slick pass. That pass to Ardie against the Blues to win was a beaut.
Not as defensively sound as Smith (who is?) but on attack a lot to like.
Can be very hot and cold still though. He has dished up some shocking games at different levels. Hopefully it is all ironing out the wrinkles and he is learning lots because he does have something about him.
His brother needs to get away from the Blues logjam as well but The Highlanders would be his only realistic prospect to get lots of time.
One day we could see them together but the planets don't seem to align that well.If Barrett plays 2nd 5 his brother would surely be an option for the starting FB at the Canes. He seems to be a level above his older brother and from the little Ive seen of him better than Love and Moorby.
I doubt he would look to go into a three way battle though and possibly thinks he can learn more being around BB and Perofeta.
I would really like him to find somewhere to get time at 10 though. He is one of those players that have time on the ball and an accurate, as well as strong, boot.Have you seen him play 1st much? Ive only seen him at FB and in the Maori game he was very impressive. But I haven't seen too much of him at FB
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@Winger said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Crucial said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Winger said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Crucial said in Hurricanes 2023:
@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2023:
I've said it here before but B Sullivan gives me massive C Smith vibes. Similar build and a slick pass. That pass to Ardie against the Blues to win was a beaut.
Not as defensively sound as Smith (who is?) but on attack a lot to like.
Can be very hot and cold still though. He has dished up some shocking games at different levels. Hopefully it is all ironing out the wrinkles and he is learning lots because he does have something about him.
His brother needs to get away from the Blues logjam as well but The Highlanders would be his only realistic prospect to get lots of time.
One day we could see them together but the planets don't seem to align that well.If Barrett plays 2nd 5 his brother would surely be an option for the starting FB at the Canes. He seems to be a level above his older brother and from the little Ive seen of him better than Love and Moorby.
I doubt he would look to go into a three way battle though and possibly thinks he can learn more being around BB and Perofeta.
I would really like him to find somewhere to get time at 10 though. He is one of those players that have time on the ball and an accurate, as well as strong, boot.Have you seen him play 1st much? Ive only seen him at FB and in the Maori game he was very impressive. But I haven't seen too much of him at FB
Only snippets and when he comes into first receiver but he stands out instantly as a prospect when you see him.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Hurricanes 2023:
I am a big of Zarn's, but I am yet to be convinced he has the attacking game from 15 that we have become accustomed to. I am not saying he doesn't have an attacking game, but he is more of a facilitator than a finisher.
So far that is true. If he's involved in a try scoring movement it's usually at the end of the chain of he's the guy giving the last pass.
I would like to see him play more selfishly occasionally and and try to beat defenders more often
There were signs of him doing that early in this NPC (gif from @Dice )
There's reasons he's suited to fullback too. He's one of the best under the high ball in the country. The length of his kick is massive too which is important 50/22's. It would be a close call between Sullivan/Jordie/Rayasi for the longest boot in the country (although Rayasi is inaccurate)
It's worth remembering how disruptive the last 18months have been too. The COVID destroyed NPC affected has had an impact on his progress. Then he had a few unfortunate niggles during SR and now has missed most of another NPC.
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@Crucial said in Blues 2023:
@Duluth I would add Stevenson to the 'big boot' list.
Watching that gif, who is the last 'support' runner there? Terrible positioning to offer anything other than a 'congrats bro'.
Yeah Stevenson would be in that group. I thought there was another obvious one I was missing
3rd player was Rayasi. He looked like he moved from a wider support line to get ready to clean out/drive him over. The pass wasn't on but the tackle should've been
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For one season - then off to France after the WC I would guess. They love a scrummaging Tighthead over there -
LAULALA EXTENDS BLUES TENURE — Blues Rugby
The Blues front row club has been further enhanced with forty-one Test All Black prop, Nepo Laulala, re-signing with the club on a one-year contract. Laulala is one game away from 100 Super Rugby caps, with 26 for the Blues along with 73 games for the Crusaders and Chiefs. The tighthead prop retur
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Based on news reports and rumours we have the following player movements
Departing players:
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Josh Goodhue
Luke RomanoTamati Tua
New or returning players:
Joshua Fusitua
Patrick Tuipulotu
Robert RushMoses Leo
Caleb TangitauForwards with unknown contract status:
Renata
Riccitelli
Tucker
Plumtree
SuafoaBacks with unknown contract status:
Tanielu Teleʻa
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
AJ LamTele'a is an intereting one - he may not be available due to injury. If the rumours are to believed, then based on a bit of supposition, I would say that we will see the following players leave: Plumtree and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Plumtree and Rush seem fairly similar, whereas Suafoa is more of a large power 6/8. Robinson may be out with injury for a while too. Hopefully Plumtree is not used as a lock.
Tele'a may need an injury replacement, which could see Lam move into midfield, providing a place for Kneepkens. Kneepkens has been a bit disappointing however, and may look for more game time elsewhere. Could also see Kneepkens depart for McKenzie.
Big questions over who will be the new lock in the squad, whether Renata and Riccitelli can keep their spots, and a possible injury replacement for Tele'a. Rest of the squad seems pretty certain.
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If Nogusta's oil about Leo and Tangitau signing is accurate (it rarely isn't) I wonder what that means for a second back moving on? Leo as a centre/winger is a natural replacement for Tamati Tua. Tangitau is a winger/fullback, so that suggests he is replacing either JRK, Heem or Lam or do they use Heem or Lam in midfield and move on from the forever injured Tanielu Tele'a? Or could Tangitau be on a WTG deal this season then replacing Heem in 2024. He is still only 19. I was surprised to see that Leo is 25, then read how he missed basically 2 years with multiple injuries/surgeries then went straight into Sevens so has hardly played senior rep rugby until this season.
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First choice 23 will be largely unchanged from last season, but what they do at lock will be interesting - especially how they use Robinson. Huge year for Darry, can he bulk up to 120 kg+, and play like he's that size? Would love to see Vikena take 1st choice hooker spot by season's end.
1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Tu'ungafasi
4 Darry
5 Tuipulotu
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu9 Christie
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 RTS
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Perofeta16 Vikena
17 James Lay
18 Laulala
19 Tucker
20 Choat/Robinson/Suafoa
21 Funaki
22 Heem/Evans
23 Sullivan -
@Daffy-Jaffy McKenzie could replace Kneepkins too.
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@Crucial said in Blues 2023:
@Duluth could be. I just liked how Sullivan's instinct was to immediately drift wide a touch after passing and be there for the return. The same positioning from Rayasi would have offered an option to Sullivan if he was caught.
And the move started with him where the 10 usually stands.
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@Tim said in Blues 2023
Hopefully Plumtree is not used as a lock.I would rather keep Suafoa than Plumtree if Rush is to replace one of them. However with the concern re: Robinsons health I would be ok with keeping Plumtree also to cover that 6/lock role (though its disappointing that he has not been able to maintain a regular starting spot for the Lions). Then if Robinson is OK he plays as the 4th Lock. If we pick new Lock I I would be OK with Hallam-Eames who seems to be a hard worker and goes well for Northland.
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