Drua v Blues

[Tim]

@Duluth Yeah, that's a good call for the bench. Might see Robinson replace Tuipulotu, Suafoa replace Ioane, with Choat also on the bench.

[Tim]

Possible XXIII:

1 Jordan Lay
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Ofa Tuungafasi
4 Patrick Tuipulotu
5 Sam Darry
6 Akira Ioane
7 Dalton Papalii
8 Hoskins Sotutu

9 Finlay Christie
10 Beauden Barrett
11 Caleb Clarke
12 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Mark Telea
15 Zarn Sullivan

16 Soane Vikena
17 James Lay/Josh Fusitua
18 Marcel Renata
19 Cameron Suafoa
20 Adrian Choat
21 Sam Nock
22 Bryce Heem
23 Tom Robinson/Anton Segner

I'd like to see Taufa Funaki get a game this weekend, and not sure about putting RTS straight back in.

[SBW1]

These games are becoming real banana skins, very humid conditions and fanatical home crowds.

[Machpants]

I'm looking forward to those one, esp after crusaders fall

[Dan54]

@Machpants Me too Matchp, got the makings of a good one!

[taniwharugby]

@Tim I'd rather see Heem start at 12, or they need to keep going with Plummer or give Evans a run there or at least have one on the bench

Have to assume Robinsons lack of play is due to him leaving, so they need to be consistent with RTS too.

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby said in Drua vs. Blues:

Have to assume Robinsons lack of play is due to him leaving

Apart from one match early on he hasn’t added much. Other players have gone well at 6 & lock. In particular, I think he's getting squeezed out because Suafoa has out played him

My preference is for a Heem/Ioane midfield for the rest of the year. Heem would be good on a 6/2 bench though

Evans should get a run the following week v MP

[Machpants]

@Dan54 said in Drua v Blues:

@Machpants Me too Matchp, got the makings of a good one!

Mach! My undies don't match they've been supersonic

[Stargazer]

CULTURE ROUND SQUAD NAMED | Fijian Drua

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Head Coach Mick Byrne has named his round 10 squad against the Blues in this Saturday’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match.

Halfback Frank Lomani returns to the starting 15 after missing out the last two rounds, alongside Eroni Sau, Iosefo Masi, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Selestino Ravutaumada. Also returning to the run-on team are flankers Kitione Salawa and Vilive Miramira.

[Duluth]

BLUES OUT TO STOP DRUA HOME DOMINANCE — Blues Rugby

 The Blues are out to halt the home dominance of the Fijian Drua this Saturday in Lautoka at 2:05pm with the home side unbeaten on home soil this Super Rugby Pacific campaign. Fijian-born Hooker, Soane Vikena, is elevated to the starting line-up this weekend, with the bustling front rower

1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Soane Vikena
3 Marcel Renata
4 Cameron Suafoa
5 Sam Darry
6 Adrian Choat
7 Dalton Papalii (c)
8 Hoskins Sotutu
9 Finlay Christie
10 Beauden Barrett
11 Caleb Clarke
12 Harry Plummer
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Mark Telea
15 Zarn Sullivan

Reserves:
16 Ricky Riccitelli
17 Jordan Lay
18 James Lay
19 James Tucker
20 Akira Ioane
21 Sam Nock
22 Bryce Heem
23 AJ Lam

Players not considered: Alex Hodgman (shoulder, season), Nepo Laulala (calf), Stephen Perofeta (shoulder), Patrick Tuipulotu (knee)

[Duluth]

Good to see Vikena get a run. With Eklunds drop in form, he has a good chance of getting himself into the top 23

Dual opensides makes sense

I would've been tempted to try Heem at 12

[KiwiMurph]

Surprisingly pleased that RTS doesn't feature

[antipodean]

@KiwiMurph said in Drua v Blues:

Surprisingly pleased that RTS doesn't feature

Plummer has been laying better than him. Undeserved status as an All Black.

[Duluth]

300th first class game for Barrett

[kev]

@taniwharugby said in Drua v Blues:

@Tim I'd rather see Heem start at 12, or they need to keep going with Plummer or give Evans a run there or at least have one on the bench

Have to assume Robinsons lack of play is due to him leaving, so they need to be consistent with RTS too.

Robinson would be a first choice player in every Blues team so interesting they have decided not to play him.

[Duluth]

@kev

His last two performances from the bench have been poor. Meanwhile other players have taken their chances

With players returning from injury he’s been squeezed out.

[kev]

@Duluth said in Drua v Blues:

@kev

His last two performances from the bench have been poor. Meanwhile other players have taken their chances

With players returning from injury he’s been squeezed out.

Absolute rubbish. But you do you. Tom’s a big loss to the team.

[Steven Harris]

@kev Robinson is in a no win situation has been told by Ian Foster hes not in the frame but is obliged to forfill his contract with NZR
The way hes been treated by the Blues is disgraceful ,how you go from skipper to not even making the 23 is beyond me but a certain first five can stumble his way through the season and not get dropped ..No offence to Adrian Choat and hes a great bloke but how you woukd leave a 6’5 lineout specialist ,ball carrying ,tackling energiser bunny is beyond me .
The Blues would be better off releasing Robinson and letting him head off to Japan

[Machpants]

@kev he was last year, he's been a negative when he's made it to the field this year

[Duluth]

@kev said in Drua v Blues:

@Duluth said in Drua v Blues:

@kev

His last two performances from the bench have been poor. Meanwhile other players have taken their chances

With players returning from injury he’s been squeezed out.

Absolute rubbish. But you do you. Tom’s a big loss to the team.

If he was playing as good as previous years he would be in the side. In previous years I’ve said he should be in the ABs. On current form people like Suafoa, Choat & Segner have got in front of him