Blues 2024

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Duluth]

The simple lesson from Toulouse that Vern Cotter is emphasising at the Blues

"Stern Vern" as he is affectionately named by past members of his teams, has steered the Blues to three pre-season wins over Japanese foes and the Chiefs

[Tim]

While the Blues are now two-and-two to start their campaign new head coach Cotter has issues at lock after losing Sam Darry to a serious knee injury. Darry’s injury further compounds captain Patrick Tuipulotu’s absence with a broken jaw.

Super Rugby, Sport, Rugby

Dropped All Black sets tone in Blues win

There is nothing subtle about Vern Cotter’s Blues.

[Tim]

@Duluth Interesting that de Groot nearly signed with the Blues.

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim said in Blues 2024:

@Duluth Interesting that de Groot nearly signed with the Blues.

I took that as a joke from Cotter i.e. he tried to talk De Groot into signing whilst they shared the plane to Melbourne.

[Tim]

I certainly hope that Darry isn't out for long. As McWhannell is injury prone too, we could soon be down to one specialist lock, and a rookie at that.

Currently fit are McWhannell and Beehre, and the lock/sixes Suafoa and Thompson (also a rookie). Who is the next choice to bring into the squad? Annandale? Not many others are available. Maybe Hallam-Eames?

[nostrildamus]

@MN5 said in Blues 2024:

@Tim said in Blues 2024:

A new hope? Six talking points ahead of Blues season

Darry is 2.07m? The Blues website has him at 2.03m.

Measured by the same guy who measured Ardie Savea

I'd understand if they were overseas players (people seem to slip up on metric conversions)...

[taniwharugby]

@Tim Hallam-Eames is in MLR as far as I know, Caird has been with the Blues for a few weeks I believe.

[Duluth]

@Tim said in Blues 2024:

I certainly hope that Darry isn't out for long. As McWhannell is injury prone too, we could soon be down to one specialist lock, and a rookie at that.

Currently fit are McWhannell and Beehre, and the lock/sixes Suafoa and Thompson (also a rookie). Who is the next choice to bring into the squad? Annandale? Not many others are available. Maybe Hallam-Eames?

Annandale played a preseason game but went off with an injury. No idea what the injury was or if he is healthy now

Yeah we can’t afford anymore injuries but I’m pretty comfortable going into most games with McWhannell, Beehre & Suafoa

On the positive side the lock injuries have built depth fast. Everyone has stood up so far. When (if) everyone gets fit it’s going to be a tough selection. Similar to the loosies - two guys good enough to start won’t make the 23

[Duluth]

SEGNER’S FUTURE LOCKED WITH BLUES — Blues Rugby

Loose-Forward Anton Segner has re-committed to the Blues for a further two years, cementing his future at the club until the end of 2026. German-born Segner who has been with the Blues since 2022 has played in all three Loose-Forward positions since joining the club and has impres

Segner with the Blues until the end of 2026

[Duluth]

Segner also signed with Auckland

[Tim]

Bring on the German's GDR preparation.

[Machpants]

Love the contract

[Chris B.]

@Duluth Can you take the $ sign out of Ta$man now!

[Duluth]

It's going to strange hearing TJ be critical of Segner now

[Daffy Jaffy]

From the herald -
Despite confronting stiff competition from past or present All Blacks Dalton Papali’i, Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu in the stacked Blues loose forwards, Segner knocked back overtures from other Super teams - namely the Crusaders - to commit to a fulltime Auckland base.

As Cotter adopts a full squad policy to this season, having already rested All Blacks Rieko Ioane and Finlay Christie, Segner is expected to return to start at blindside flanker for the Blues’ trip to Wellington this weekend after sitting out last week’s win over the Highlanders, with Akira Ioane shifting to the back of the scrum and Sotutu reverting to the bench after a standout start that includes five tries from two outings.

Sam Darry is also set for a six-to-eight-week spell on the sidelines with an MCL injury to further deplete the Blues locking stocks, while captain Patrick Tuipulotu continues his recovery from a broken jaw.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/super-rugby-anton-segner-knocks-back-rivals-to-go-all-in-on-blues-and-auckland/

[Crazy Horse]

Shame about Darry. I thought he was looking good.

[African Monkey]

@Crazy-Horse Yeah he's had a few bad injuries in his career now, just like last year when he was also looking good.

[Duluth]

Segner is expected to return to start at blindside flanker for the Blues’ trip to Wellington this weekend after sitting out last week’s win over the Highlanders, with Akira Ioane shifting to the back of the scrum and Sotutu reverting to the bench after a standout start that includes five tries from two outings.

Good to hear. This is correcting an error the previous coaching made. In some seasons one or two players played excessive minutes and faded

Segner can play 3 positions, Papali'i and Ioane 2 positions and Sotutu is a specialist. So it's easy to rotate amongst that four. Then there's still Choat, & Suafoa who are can easily slot in too

Ioane at 8 is something worth using at times. A couple of the tries for Auckland last year had Zinzan like control at the base.. a lost art

[Kirwan]

Ioane was also very dangerous from 8 with 5m scrums, would love to see more of that.