Blues vs Hurricanes
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Starting this thread early noting that it's almost a double point game at this stage of the year. Winner will get a huge boost to their chances of finishing top at the end of the regular season.
Plenty of key match-ups across the park but three I want to highlight are:
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Tu'ungafasi vs Lomax: two All Blacks go toe to toe up front, the latter in the form of his career. Whoever wins this battle will likely dictate which team gets parity up front and it will go a long way in helping their team get the right result on Saturday.
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Papali'i vs Lakai: an incumbent AB vs an AB in waiting. This match-up is one to saviour, both players have been in fine form this year and the breakdown is likely to be hotly contested in this game. If Lakai can outplay Papali'i in a game of this magnitude it could slingshot him further into AB contention.
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Perenara vs Funaki: assuming Funaki starts again for the Blues, this match-up will be fun to watch. Perenara will likely be selected by Razor but I also really like the look of Funaki. If Funaki can win this battle on Saturday night he's another exciting player that could propel himself into national selection later this year.
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4:35pm kickoff time too.. hopefully its fine and dry
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Iose and Sotutu is another good one.
A shame we won't see Proctor - Ioane.
Plenty to like about this one!
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@foobaNZ that's the most obvious one aye. Two form 8s going at it.
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10/12/13 selection will be interesting without Ioane
Perofeta was due back about now. So it might be Profeta/Plummer/Heem
If he's not back, it's likely a choice between Plummer/Evans/Heem or Plummer/Heem/Lam
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Yeah that's the way I think they'll go if there's no Perofeta. Evans seems to be the 10 cover so he should probably concentrate on one job
Not sure if Cashmore is injured? Personally I'd prefer a specialist ten as the backup
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@george33 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@Duluth Zarn and Akira back also
So basically everyone is back except Christie?
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@Duluth said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@george33 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@Duluth Zarn and Akira back also
So basically everyone is back except Christie?
Damnit I was hoping Christie would be back.
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@Canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@Duluth said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@george33 said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@Duluth Zarn and Akira back also
So basically everyone is back except Christie?
Damnit I was hoping Christie would be back.
Not cool
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Current odds at the TAB are Blues $1.72 and Canes $2.02
Long range forecast for this game is perfect conditions.
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I support canes first, blues second, but I think the result will be the other way.
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I'm hearing that Finlay is now a good chance to make 23, he's very close
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Both teams will be in their retro jerseys I believe
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@KiwiMurph makes sense, first ever Super Rugby game was between the Blues and Canes in those jerseys so will be a timely throwback.
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@Canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph makes sense, first ever Super Rugby game was between the Blues and Canes in those jerseys so will be a timely throwback.
Palmerston North! I remember it well. Canes were robbed ... or the Blues were a really really good side.
That was rugby like we hadn't seen before, just consistently awesome to watch
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@nzzp said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph makes sense, first ever Super Rugby game was between the Blues and Canes in those jerseys so will be a timely throwback.
Palmerston North! I remember it well. Canes were robbed ... or the Blues were a really really good side.
That was rugby like we hadn't seen before, just consistently awesome to watch
Yep and the good fortune to be there. Was A Canes' man from that day forward.
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Blues favorites simply because it is Eden Park.
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Plus the Canes are without Roigard and Aumua.
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My predicted Canes team for this week is the following, I think due to the pending forward battle I think we'll select two loosies on the bench.
vs Blues
- Numia
- O'Reilly
- Lomax
- Delany
- Walker-Leawere
- Shields (C)
- Lakai
- Iose
- Perenara
- Cameron
- Naholo
- Barrett
- Proctor
- Moorby
- Love
- Keruru-Symes
- Rakete-Stones
- Tosi
- Sangster
- Flanders
- Kirifi
- Judd
- Sullivan
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@nzzp similar odds to the game earlier in the year, except the Canes were favourites when they were at home.
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@Canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@nzzp similar odds to the game earlier in the year, except the Canes were favourites when they were at home.
Was impressed with how the Canes forwards went that day. Will be interesting to see how the physcial matchup goes this week. Good physical commitment induces errors and makes other sides look average.
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@Canes4life
15 Sullivan
14 Talea
13 AJ
12 Heem
11 Clarke
10 Plummer
9 Funaki
8 Hoskins
7 Dalton
6 Akira
5 Darry
4 Patty
3 Angus
2 Riccatelli
1 Ofa
Bench, Perofeta, Forbes Nock( Christie)
Segner, Mcwhannell, Renata,Fusitua Eklund -
@nzzp yeah we've seen in some of the big games this year that the team who can dominate physically in the early stages of the game is usually the one that ends up on top. The Canes did it against the Chiefs, the Blues did it against the Brums, the Brums did it against the Canes etc.
Physically winning those collisions is vital and I expect this game to be a dog fight, a war of attrition so to speak.
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My money is on the Canes.
Their attack is superior and they have the physicality to deal with Blues route 1 football.
Looking forward to a contest without Blues having to play a 9 on the wing though
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@KiwiMurph did the Canes break Zarn last time?
nope, googled - it was the Evil Empire (well, the game at least)
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@nzzp head knock Zarn left field game 1 vs Canes.
ah they did break him then!
REVENGE -
@KiwiMurph and AJ and Ofa,Patty, Darry,Heem, didn't play and Hoskins,Angus, Riccatelli, Funaki came of bench
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Regarding the game
Blues had bad luck last time losing some key players. But the Canes should have won by a lot more. I thought a poor game by Cameron was a bit part of the reason for this
TJ was disappointing in his last start so he needs to be much better for this game. Cameron hopefully (if he starts) finds form because he been mostly only adequate so far. The Canes need to have both these 2 performing well to have any hope of winning away from home. if they do find form I would expect the Canes to win in a close game
The starting team will likely be fairly predictable. Its the outside backs reserves they need to get right. Judd will be one. I would include Higgins. Rayasi after last week may also make the team but he's a risk. Sullivan looked only Ok last week and possible needs longer to get back to top form
Ive also been disappointed in IWL in recent weeks. After starting the year like a potential AB. Maybe a change here is needed. Start Sangster (or the tall Aussie) and IWL out or in the reserves
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@Winger don't forget we didn't have Barrett in that last game either which ruined our kicking game a bit as Cameron wasn't able to get long yardage on kick re-turn, which is always crucial in big games like this.
No matter what way you look at it these two teams will be fairly evenly matched on Saturday and the winner will be the team that comes out of the gates quickest in my view and can put score board pressure on early, you definitely don't want to be chasing a game when plenty is on the line.
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Weather forecast looks good so you'd hope a good crowd will rock up
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
Weather forecast looks good so you'd hope a good crowd will rock up
hope so. I'd love to, but planned fishing tripi in the morning and have a house full of teenagers in the afternoon when the game is on. Offered a trip to the rugby, but only 1 of a few is interested.
Couch time, hopefully with some fresh snapper!
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@foobaNZ said in Blues vs Hurricanes:
@nzzp kinda sad tbh, obligatory "back in my day" comment but me and my mates would have jumped at the chance to go to the footy for a game like this (if one could even get tickets!)
Yep, and they were worth it - pubs put on busses with tickets and preloading. Great fun!
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