@Duluth Seems like James Tucker is either injured or someone called him up(Canes?).

Parsons said that Scrafton will play 40 this week, 60 next week and 80 the week after that, then hopefully be available for the Sunwolves game.

@Bones said in Chiefs vs Highlanders:

@Dice said in Chiefs vs Highlanders:

@Bones I think he's a good ball carrier for a lock, but not for a backrower.

Think he certainly holds his own, as do the AB selectors. Happy for him to move into lock when Squire is back - Dickson to the bench.

I don't think he has the kind of ball carrying ability to offset the lack of ball carrying ability of his backrow partners. Wouldn't be surprised if Frizell starts at 6 in the next game.

@Bones I think he's a good ball carrier for a lock, but not for a backrower.

I think the Highlanders need to move Hemopo back to lock because with him at 6, there is little to no ball carrying in the backrow(and in the starting pack in general).

@Duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

Perofeta is injured and likely out several weeks it seems. The dude is the Blake Gibson of the backs - glass man.

Several weeks? They'll need cover and there's not many options around

Isa Nacewa... He did say last year that he'd be involved with the Blues a bit.

More realistically, we might go with Daniel Kirkpatrick.

@Duluth Seems Leon is a bit undecided on who will be at 10, but I'd probably give Black the slight edge to start next week.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2019/02/super-rugby-blues-coach-leon-macdonald-unsure-on-starting-first-five-for-crusaders-opener.html

Interesting that Otere is coming off the bench again. I have no clue who'll be our starting 10 next week.

Found the match programme for this game.

https://www.tuihq.co.nz/rugby/programme-2019.pdf

@Tim said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

MacDonald has already had to call in Northland's Matt Matich and Auckland's Adrian Choat as loose forward cover, with co-captain Blake Gibson out likely a month with an ankle sprain from the training exercise with the Chiefs in Waiuku last Friday, Jed Brown also on the sideline, Jimmy Tupou still working back from his ACL and Dalton Papalii not available till the opening round under the All Blacks protocols.

So Olmsted's cover for Tupou. Might see the Auckland trio of Papalii, Ioane, and Olmsted for the first two or three weeks.

An in-form Clarke would free up Ioane to play centre ...

Robinson might have the inside running for 6 right now since he played 6 on the weekend and Olmstead was at lock. Coventry also said Robinson was one of the best players on Saturday.

If Robinson starts again at 6 this week, I think he has the blindside locked up for week 1.

Akira is now in the starting line-up.