Lions v Blues
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<p>Augustine Pulu will be starting for the Blues next year over Nock. I'd prefer Nanai over Li or Duffie. I'd probably prefer Visinia to either of them, too.</p>
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<p>Edit: I think if you're wanting someone who plays a bit differently, Trainor is probably a better option at fullback (dependent on his Mitre 10 Cup form). He is raw, and will likely stuff up occasionally, but to me he is a better bet than Duffie, who has shown absolutely nothing at any level of rugby.</p> -
<p>Also Black's contract with the Hurricanes runs to the end of next season. Blues are perhaps best off trying to develop a first five from scratch (at least they now have a halfback with a bit of experience to help out). Perofeta doesn't look to be a bad option. </p>
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<p>I'd go with:</p>
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<p>9.Pulu</p>
<p>10.West (though perhaps sign Perofeta, and consider starting him if he looks to be able to make the step up immediately)</p>
<p>11.Nanai</p>
<p>12.TJ Faiane</p>
<p>13.Moala</p>
<p>14.Ranger</p>
<p>15.Trainor</p>
<p> </p>
<p>21.Nock</p>
<p>22.West/Perofeta</p>
<p>23.Visinia</p> -
<p>Every facet of our game was poor. I hope this is just a one off.</p>
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<p>It seriously seemed like we were playing in different conditions to the Lions. With how well the Lions executed their skills, it seemed like they were playing in perfect conditions, while we looked like we were playing in a cyclone.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="579911" data-time="1463285548">
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<p>Every facet of our game was poor. I hope this is just a one off.</p>
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<p>It seriously seemed like we were playing in different conditions to the Lions. With how well the Lions executed their skills, it seemed like they were playing in perfect conditions, while we looked like we were playing in a cyclone.</p>
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<p>Any idea who will play 1st 5 for Auckland in the NPC this year?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="579912" data-time="1463285754">
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<p>Any idea who will play 1st 5 for Auckland in the NPC this year?</p>
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<p>Simon Hickey most likely.</p>
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<p>The other contenders for game time at 10 are Will Talataina-Mu, D'Angelo Leuila, Wiseguy Faiane, Broc Hooper and Calvary Fonoti. I'd like us to move on from Hickey and try out these guys, but it won't happen.</p> -
<p>Assume they enticed Breen up this way with a view (hope) on him getting into the 1st 15...not sure if he is upto it though, am yet to see him play.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="579913" data-time="1463286018">
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<p>Simon Hickey most likely.</p>
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<p>The other contenders for game time at 10 are Will Talataina-Mu, D'Angelo Leuila, Wiseguy Faiane, Broc Hooper and <strong>Calvary Fonoti</strong>. I'd like us to move on from Hickey and try out these guys, but it won't happen.</p>
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<p>Is he in better shape than last year? Looked quite handy, but rather overweight.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="579910" data-time="1463285410">
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<p>Do you think that Ranger will be able to come back from his injuries and make the starting line up as a wing?</p>
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<p>I'm a bit unsure, personally. Though I forgot about Rieko Ioane, so I'd put him in for Ranger (or he could play 13 with Moala at wing).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="579915" data-time="1463286753">
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<p>Is he in better shape than last year? Looked quite handy, but rather overweight.</p>
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<p>About the same. He's probably one of those guys who needs to be a full time professional to stay in top shape.</p> -
<p>Ranger will never recapture his form while he is at NH....</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="579906" data-time="1463284975">
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<p>Also Black's contract with the Hurricanes runs to the end of next season. Blues are perhaps best off trying to develop a first five from scratch (at least they now have a halfback with a bit of experience to help out). Perofeta doesn't look to be a bad option. </p>
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<p>I think this might be the best plan for now. I'd personally want us to sign Perofeta, Faiane and Matoe in the next year or two, and hope one of them pans out. Just stack up on darts and hope one hits. We really have nothing to lose in trying this out. We probably need to keep West or sign some other journeyman as a stopgap for a year or so until one of those guys is ready to play full time.</p>
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<p>I'd also like us to sign Taumateine before his stocks go higher. Having a Pulu, Nock and Taumateine as our halfback trio for a few years would be pretty sweet.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="579913" data-time="1463286018"><p>
Simon Hickey most likely.<br><br>
The other contenders for game time at 10 are Will Talataina-Mu, D'Angelo Leuila, Wiseguy Faiane, Broc Hoopah and Calvary Fonoti. I'd like us to move on from Hickeymmes are awesom and try out these guys, but it won't happen.</p></blockquote>
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Each one of those names are awesome -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="579881" data-time="1463271097">
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<p>One of those weird things where all week they were playing lip service to knowing full well the Lions would be fired up and they would have to meet it head on yet something underlying had them thinking the game was going to go OK before it started.</p>
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<p>Every team seems to have one of these attitude drops during a season. <strong>Canes had one in SA, Chiefs had one against the Lions as well</strong>.</p>
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<p>Alternatively you can say that the Lions had an attitude drop against the Canes and the Highlanders...</p>
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<p>This Lions team is very very good, but inexperienced. When the pressure comes on they do seem to slide, but their performance last night and against the Chiefs are more indicative of their class. If they can keep their team together and get one or two more star players in the mix the Lions will be one of the star teams in the competition.</p> -
<p>I'm very surprised the Blues haven't given Jack Ram a go. He is untested at this level but if he can convert his ITM Cup and World Cup form to this level he will make a huge difference to the Blues pack. I thought watching this game that it was crying out for someone like him</p>
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<p>That Blues team looked like they were lacking leadership. Someone needed to grab them by the scruff of the neck and get them in the game.</p>
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<p>I wonder if they will get to the stage where Umaga starts to look at getting guys like Nock, Trainor, Ram, Little, Waa, Mayhew, Moulds etc in to see if they can make a noticeable difference for next season</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SidBarret" data-cid="579971" data-time="1463319358">
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<p>Alternatively you can say that the Lions had an attitude drop against the Canes and the Highlanders...</p>
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<p>This Lions team is very very good, but inexperienced. When the pressure comes on they do seem to slide, but their performance last night and against the Chiefs are more indicative of their class. If they can keep their team together and get one or two more star players in the mix the Lions will be one of the star teams in the competition.</p>
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<p>Agree. My comment wasn't to dismiss the Lions. It was to highlight how most teams have a bad day in this comp. Sometimes your bad day coincides with someone else being on fire and it ends up a slaughter (eg Lions/Canes)</p>
<p>On topic. This game was an aberration for the Blues. They may have failings and not be up there yet compared to their peers but they are anywhere near being the basket case that the press are suggesting at the moment.</p>
<p>They will be highly embarrassed by that performance (just as the Lions would have been after the Canes game).</p>
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<p>Tough one for Tana though. Does he make changes to punish and give others a chance or does he give them a chance to learn from this and pay him back?</p>
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<p>There has to be a point I guess where next year becomes the focus and then we may see some early axings. </p>
