Force v Blues
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<p>Fucken Cantabs doing their best to deny us victory. Great resolve to deny the 16 man Force. No doubt we'll get criticised by everyone about it though as usual.</p>
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<p>The Blues definitely deserved a bunch of those penalties but if anything was 50/50 it went against the Blues. The one against Matenga was a case in point, he made a dominant tackle drove the player back and was trapped by the Force players in the ruck and was penalised.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="581428" data-time="1463830427">
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<p>The Blues definitely deserved a bunch of those penalties but if anything was 50/50 it went against the Blues. The one against Matenga was a case in point, he made a dominant tackle drove the player back and was trapped by the Force players in the ruck and was penalised.</p>
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<p>Half the time Nutsack was giving penalties based on the crowd booing.</p> -
<p>Still shaking my head at the stupidity and ineptness of both sides. The Blues blow me away at how they seem to try and lose games. Yeah, the ref was hard to read at times but they really are their own worst enemy. Li (?) needs to go back to reserve grade. I can't believe a Super player would kick an up and under then lightly jog like it is a Sunday afternoon. Unbelieveable. </p>
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<p>The Blues are stupid. They just allowed the Force to dictate the game to them in the second half and they really should have lost because of it. There was no direction from the halves. They will probably finish mid table but they haven't played well at all this year.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Samurai Jack" data-cid="581441" data-time="1463830915">
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<p>Still shaking my head at the stupidity and ineptness of both sides. The Blues blow me away at how they seem to try and lose games. Yeah, the ref was hard to read at times but they really are their own worst enemy. Li (?) needs to go back to reserve grade. I can't believe a Super player would kick an up and under then lightly jog like it is a Sunday afternoon. Unbelieveable. </p>
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<p>Although he did the fullback Caucau style to add to the 4 extra points the Blues had at the end. But yep, the dude is way too relaxed.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="581433" data-time="1463830569">
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<p>When Guyton got tackled in the 2nd half behind a maul the Force player wrapped around him and the ball on the ground. Clear penalty. Scrum awarded to the Force.</p>
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<p>Sure. The referee just missed that Guyton had peeled away and thought it was still part of the maul. The ref made less mistakes than most of the players out there.</p> -
<p>Can't see us getting anywhere near the Crusaders next week but 2 out of 3 away from home isn't bad. Good to see us showing some heart after last weeks performance. Would be nice to have a better 10 as I have given up backing West. The guy just goes from bad to worse and he can take Bryn Hall with him.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="581459" data-time="1463832027"><p>Can't see us getting anywhere near the Crusaders next week but 2 out of 3 away from home isn't bad. Good to see us showing some heart after last weeks performance. Would be nice to have a better 10 as I have given up backing West. The guy just goes from bad to worse and he can take Bryn Hall with him.</p></blockquote>
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I think West would make a good bench option. He's a decent impact sort of guy because he likes to up the tempo when it's a little looser. But as a starter expected to direct and lead for large portions of a game, he is not. <br><br>
Was very surprised to see Luatua stay on the pitch after that maul. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="581469" data-time="1463833000">
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<p>I think West would make a good bench option. He's a decent impact sort of guy because he likes to up the tempo when it's a little looser. But as a starter expected to direct and lead for large portions of a game, he is not.<br><br>
Was very surprised to see Luatua stay on the pitch after that maul.</p>
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<p>I think so too. He'd be good in Matt McGahan's role but can't control a game to save his life. Unfortunately for us we don't have anyone else and there isn't really anyone else out there that could come in and do better next season either so we could be with him for a while.</p> -
<p>Blues certainly looked hard ways to lose that but going back to the overall season questions do you realise they are equal with the Brumbies on points and only one point off the leaders of the Oz group despite having to play more games in the toughest group?</p>
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<p>We may even see them miss out on the finals solely because they don't talk out of their noses.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="581508" data-time="1463867900">
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<p>Blues certainly looked hard ways to lose that but going back to the overall season questions do you realise they are equal with the Brumbies on points and only one point off the leaders of the Oz group despite having to play more games in the toughest group?</p>
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<p>We may even see them miss out on the finals solely because they don't talk out of their noses.</p>
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<p>I think the conference complaints are pointless. Last year you played 50% of your games against New Zealand teams, this year it is only 40%. The new system clearly benefits the Blues as compared with the old system. The new team, the Kings, are so shit the Blues actually won in South Africa.</p>
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<p>The problem with the Blues is that they have just looked so shit in almost every game.</p>
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<p>Game 1: vs Highlanders - this was a really good performance.</p>
<p>Game 2 vs Crusaders - dominating performance from the Crusaders</p>
<p>Game 3 vs Hurricanes - pretty good from the Blues. Should have won this game.</p>
<p>Game 4 vs Reds - a very poor effort. The Blues started well and finished well but the Reds dominated the middle.</p>
<p>Game 5 vs Jaguares - an average performance against a weakened team. The Jaguares were very poor on their trip to NZ.</p>
<p>Game 6 vs Chiefs - a flattering score line. The Blues scored two tries from individual brilliance. The Blues then let the Chiefs back in the game and conceded a bonus point. Only goal kicking kept the Blues in it.</p>
<p>Game 7 vs Sharks - the Sharks did pretty well in New Zealand but I don't think they are a great team.</p>
<p>Game 8 vs Rebels - The Blues again let the Rebels back into the game. Every other NZ team won by 20+ points against them.</p>
<p>Game 9 vs Kings - Beating the Kings by 16 is no achievement.</p>
<p>Game 10 vs Lions - this was shit</p>
<p>Game 11 vs Force - outplayed for most of the second half but hold on to win.</p>
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<p>The Blues have conceded 6 more tries than they have scored and have negative points difference. All the other NZ teams have played some dross this season but there have been some 'fuck yeah' performances in there and some other shit performances where we have still put away shit teams (Hurricanes vs reds). I really don't think the Blues have played a very good game of rugby since round 1.</p>
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<p>What the Blues have done well is win the close games. Most of those close games shouldn't have been close in the first place, however. The Blues aren't easy beats in the sense that you can just turn up and beat them. I'm sure they will give the Hurricanes a good go and maybe even beat them in the return fixture. I'm just confident that over a whole season, they will finish at the bottom of the New Zealand teams. I can't see how that changes next season, short of signing Beauden Barrett.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="581520" data-time="1463874154">
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<p>The problem with the Blues is that they have just looked so shit in almost every game.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>What the Blues have done well is win the close games. </p>
<p>...</p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm just confident that over a whole season, they will finish at the bottom of the New Zealand teams</span></p>
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<p>So, to be clear, we're playing crap and winning close games, but we're going to finish at the bottom of every NZ table.</p>
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<p>That, and our only hope is to sign Beaudy to get better.</p>
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<p>I'm a Blues fan, but I struggle with this logic. Seems like cognitive dissonance to me - we can't be playing shit, winning close games and also only have the potential to prop up the nZ table. </p>
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<p>Genuine question - do you see potential for improvement in the Blues? I do, and I am hopeful for the franchise going forward - some improvements in structure and consistency (who knows, they could even be linked) and we're into the playoffs. Do that, and it's all on. Tana with an offseason to work the players the way he wants will be important.</p> -
<p>winning ugly no longer matters it would seem? </p>
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<p>Sure this Blues side is struggling, obviously with alot of things, but they have picked up 2 wins on the road, 1 of which was thier first in a very long time, have picked up 4 other wins and sit on the dark side of mid-table.</p>
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<p>They are ahead of 3 Aussie sides on the table, 2 SA and then the other 2 new teams.</p>
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<p>Hate on them all you like (I certainly have/do for a raft of reasons) but I think the fact they are winning a few tight matches, ugly as they might be, are still winning, and simply learning to win is a skill in itself, and one that is not a common thing for many in this Blues squad.</p>
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<p>I dont like some of the ways Tana is doing things, but I expect he has a plan, and that he had all but written 2016 off before they even played the Highlanders.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="581532" data-time="1463878533">
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<p>So, to be clear, we're playing crap and winning close games, but we're going to finish at the bottom of every NZ table.</p>
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<p>That, and our only hope is to sign Beaudy to get better.</p>
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<p>I'm a Blues fan, but I struggle with this logic. Seems like cognitive dissonance to me - we can't be playing shit, winning close games and also only have the potential to prop up the nZ table. </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Genuine question - do you see potential for improvement in the Blues? I do, and I am hopeful for the franchise going forward - some improvements in structure and consistency (who knows, they could even be linked) and we're into the playoffs. Do that, and it's all on. Tana with an offseason to work the players the way he wants will be important.</p>
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<p>I think we're doing quite well with what is quite an average side on paper. In previous seasons we would have lost a lot of the close games we've been involved in so winning ugly has been pleasing. </p>
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<p>Can't say I'm too concerned with coming last in our conference. The other sides have stepped up big time which is something we can't control so if we come last then so be it. I feel that this side is going to continue to improve - big question as it is with us every year is what to do at 10? There's no-one really out there that could come in and do any better so we may be stuck with West. Wouldn't mind Otere Black but he's locked up isn't he? Should have made a play for Banks imo.</p> -
<p>Question for those who've watched much more of the Blues than me. With five potential AB forwards in the pack - of which Kaino and Faumuina are lock ins and Parsons is a fair sort of outsider - are Tuipolotu and/or Luatua going well enough to warrant AB selection?</p>
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<p>I'm inclined to think Romano is going reasonably well - pretty sure he was official man of the match on Friday night - so if they only pick three locks then PT has to beat LR out.</p>
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<p>Luatua has to be better than Dixon, Taufua, etc. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="581543" data-time="1463880591">
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<p>Question for those who've watched much more of the Blues than me. With five potential AB forwards in the pack - of which Kaino and Faumuina are lock ins and Parsons is a fair sort of outsider - are Tuipolotu and/or Luatua going well enough to warrant AB selection?</p>
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<p>I'm inclined to think Romano is going reasonably well - pretty sure he was official man of the match on Friday night - so if they only pick three locks then PT has to beat LR out.</p>
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<p>Luatua has to be better than Dixon, Taufua, etc. </p>
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<p>Yep Tuipulotu and Luatua are definites imo. Luatua has been our best all season easily outplaying Kaino and Tuipulotu continues to get better from his long injury layoff. Parsons has had a good season also but they won't pick him.</p> -
<p>Parsons has blossomed with the captaincy role. Still inclined to have a few rush of blood to the head moments which he needs to eliminate from his game.</p>
<p>The selectors will favour Taylor, but good to see competition for places and Parsons is a good option.</p>
<p>Always hard to look good in a tam that is struggling.</p>
