Blues vs Jags
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="569675" data-time="1459716814">
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<p>Blues big struggle looks to be confidence and identity.</p>
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<p>Continuity too...Tana needs to settle on some combinations, allow players time next to one another.</p>
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<p>Was great awareness of West to run off Ranger's shoulder as he went to ground the other night, and that's what you need, but was surprising given how little those 2 have played together.</p> -
<p>Are the Blues actually going that bad considering their squad (worst squad in NZ and no world class players, and Kaino apparently reduced to an also ran ;)) and their performance over the past few years? 2-1-2 at this stage is pretty decent for a team of their ability I would have thought?</p>
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<p>Obviously I'm not a fully invested Blues fan so my expectations might be a bit lower.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="569746" data-time="1459733438">
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<p>Are the Blues actually going that bad considering their squad (worst squad in NZ and no world class players, and Kaino apparently reduced to an also ran ;)) and their performance over the past few years? 2-1-2 at this stage is pretty decent for a team of their ability I would have thought?</p>
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<p>Obviously I'm not a fully invested Blues fan so my expectations might be a bit lower.</p>
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<p>I agree. Especially when 3 of the 5 games they have played have been vs other NZ Conference teams.</p>
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<p>Realistically - given the squad - they are ticking along ok. They still have a tendency to shoot themselves in the foot (most of the first half vs Jags for example) but they are also showing good heart on defence, and they seem to finish games strong too (almost pipped Canes, got 10 points to draw v Reds, wound down the game well v Jags).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="569744" data-time="1459733216">
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<p>I agree on combinations in the backs. If Francis is fit i'd roll with the same backline for the Blues - Tana looked to finally find a backline mix worth sticking with. </p>
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<p>I thought he got man handled a bit out there on Saturday.</p>
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<p>On the radio they were saying the last time a NZ team lost was 11 or 12th of March, when the Blues lost to another NZ team....(only 3 weekends I know but...)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="569746" data-time="1459733438">
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<p>Are the Blues actually going that bad considering their squad (worst squad in NZ and no world class players, and Kaino apparently reduced to an also ran ;)) and their performance over the past few years? 2-1-2 at this stage is pretty decent for a team of their ability I would have thought?</p>
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<p>Obviously I'm not a fully invested Blues fan so my expectations might be a bit lower.</p>
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<p>100% correct. We're obviously a work in progress but we get compared to all the other sides in our conference which makes us look worse than what we are, and the way that some on here and the media go on about us, you'd think we were 0-5 like last season.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="569760" data-time="1459735585">
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<p>I thought he got man handled a bit out there on Saturday.</p>
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<p>On the radio they were saying the last time a NZ team lost was 11 or 12th of March, when the Blues lost to another NZ team....(only 3 weekends I know but...)</p>
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<p>He might have got a tad bit man handled but I thought his decision making of when to pass and when to hold was on point and he defended well too - he brought something different to the table which I think is what the Blues need in their bacls - that 12 for the Jags really carved up the Stormers the week prior but the Blues were able to keep him pretty quiet - whereas Moala lost the ball looking for an offload (when it wasn't on) and it resulted in the Jags sole try.</p> -
Moala tried too much when he came on (ridiculous fucking offload), but I think that if Tana is really about developing for the future - he'll put him in and let him develop. He and Ranger should be great there with a bit of time, a 10 who knows how to use them, and a better strategy than flinging it to them without any go forward.<br><br>
Personally, I thought Francis looked like a 10 playing 12. Maybe he deserves a shot running the ship from 10, but I'm not really convinced that the midfield was that much better than it has been.<br><br>
Even though I thought West would step up, he doesn't really take on the line enough to hold the defense, kind of like a poor man's Barrett slinging it along then occasionally running. He doesn't seem to be going to make it at this level, sadly. I wonder if he'd be better in the James Marshall role at the canes, but then who runs at 10. Perennial Blues problem.
