@mikedogz Seems quite a few names from last year aren't in there.
I had a go at a starting XV.
1 - Ezekiel Lindenmuth
2 - Donald Maka
3 - Nepo Laulala
4 - Matiaha Martin
5 - Lyndon Dunshea
6 - Samuel Slade
7 - Dalton Papali'i
8 - Alamanda Motuga
9 - Jonathan Taumateine
10 - Baden Kerr
11 - Sione Molia/Tevita Nabura
12 - Orbyn Leger
13 - Nikolai Foliaki
14 - Kirisi Kuridrani
15 - Etene Nanai
Not sure if Molia can play centre, but if he can, I'd move him there.
@Tim said in All Blacks Tests 2020:
My go at a best of the rest PI team.
1 - Alex Hodgman
2 - Andrew Makalio
3 - Nepo Laulala/Angus Ta'avao(can see one of them missing the ABs this year)
4 - Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
5 - Isaia Walker-Leawere
6 - Akira Ioane(possible AB)
7 - Du'Plessis Kirifi
8 - Marino Mikaele-Tu'u(possible AB)
9 - Folau Fakatava
10 - Josh Ioane
11 - Leicester Fainga'anuku
12 - TJ Faiane
13 - Peter Umaga-Jensen
14 - Mark Telea
15 - David Havili(possible AB)
16 - Samisoni Takei'aho
17 - George Bower
18 - Michael Alaalatoa
19 - Vaea Fifita/Kane Leaupepe/Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20 - Pita Sowakula
21 - Ere Enari
22 - Stephen Perofeta
23 - Vince Aso
Not that bad a team IMO.
Didn't include Karl T, Aumua, Papali'i, Clarke or Laumape because I think they have a high chance of making the ABs, but I can see one or two of them missing out.
@Tim Should've brought in Riedlinger-Kapa instead of Carroll.
The Sky guys talking up Michael Collins' elite communicating ability.
Hopefully Sotutu is back this week.
If DC is ready to go, I think he'll replace Plummer on the bench.
@Yeetyaah I'm watching the play now and I honestly don't think it was on purpose. It looked like Clarke just lost his balance.
@Nogusta I remember thinking that we should take a punt on him when off contract because he had plenty of potential, but seemed out of favor down there. If the Canes didn't suddenly play him, we might've had a good chance to grab him, but his stocks are too high now.
He's pretty similar to Tanielu as a player(injuries included), but Tanielu is a better defender and PUJ probably has a bit more polish as an attacker.
The Chiefs should've gone to a setpiece with Plummer in the bin, instead Cane calls for a tap.
Papalii's defense is immense. It seems like there's two of him out there.
Some good clean outs by some individuals leading to that try when we didn't have the numbers at the breakdown.
I don't mind Ngani talking himself up, I just wish the person who disrespected him didn't do it just before a Blues game.
The weather for today's game should be good for some running rugby. Will we see a less conservative approach today though?
I did another stat dive and found that our linebreak numbers have taken a nose dive compared to our pre-covid games.
In 5 games of Super Rugby Aotearoa, we've made 27 linebreaks, which is an average of 5.4 line breaks per game. For a bit of context, the Crusaders are averaging 11.4 linebreaks per game, while the Hurricanes are at the front with 13 line breaks per game.
Pre-covid we made 84 linebreaks in 7 games, which is an average of 12 linebreaks per game. Non-derby games didn't boost the average either, as we actually averaged more linebreaks in derbies with 13 per game.
With the current game plan we're playing, it means we have to be very efficient with the ball we have, which we have been to an extent, but it leaves little room for error. We've only had one game with the possession edge, and in our two losses, we averaged 37.5% of possession.
Parsons noted this week that with all the tackling we're doing, it leaves less energy for attack. So maybe a change in approach is needed?
We didn't boo Lomu when he left the Blues. Cane fans are just horrible human beings. 
I remember hearing that Laumape was one of the quickest over 40m when he was at the Warriors. That's when the Warriors had quite a few speedsters.
@Duluth Yeah, our current game plan is quite taxing. Not sure if we can continue it if we want to end the season well.
Let's see if we see a change in tactics with Beauden at 10 and Duffie at 15. I expect less kicking this week.
Was just having a look at the match stats for each game, and what popped out to me was the amount of tackles we've made/attempted.
Tackles Made/Tackles Attempted
Week 1 vs Hurricanes - 152/174
Week 2 vs Chiefs - 143/161
Week 3 vs Highlanders - 109/124
Week 4 vs Crusaders - 146/171
Week 5 vs Hurricanes - 176/207
Total - 726/837
Average Per Game - 145/167
In our 7 games earlier in the year, the total tackles made/attempted was 713/828(102/118 per game), so we've made more tackles in 5 games of SRA than we did in the 7 games pre-covid.
Our penalty count has not helped with this(although we had a penalty issue earlier in the year too), but we're also kicking quite a lot with 27 kicks per game.
Jonathan Ruru and Marcel Renata are playing for University this week, which probably means that Nock and Karl T are back for this game.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:
Hoskins Sotutu and James Parsons are also likely to spend at least one more week on the sidelines having missed the loss to the Hurricanes due to a knee injury and concussion, respectively.
In that article it says that the team will be named today. I thought it'd be named tomorrow with our game being on Sunday.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:
@Dice said in Blues v Chiefs:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Chiefs:
@KiwiMurph It will be interesting to see what they're going to do, if Carter is fit.
10 BB, 22 Carter
15 Duffie
Plummer?It sounds like last week they were going to run both Faiane and DC on the bench til DC got ruled out. I don't really see the point in running Plummer and DC though.
If he didn't get injured, I have a feeling DC was going to play fullback off the bench last week.
Does beg the question what do they do this week on the bench.
Sounds like Otere is doubtful - so Duffie to 15? This is where Tanielu Tele'a would be perfect on the bench - covers 12/13/wing
If Duffie starts at fullback, then maybe DC(if healthy) and Narawa on the bench? I hope it's not Plummer and DC on the bench together, but I can see it happening.
We've missed Tanielu. I don't think anyone who has worn the 23 jersey has added much off the bench for us this year, but he's just built for that impact role off the bench.
@Yeetyaah Sweet. So Tupaea and Messam in the midfield? And Sweeney into the frontrow?
@Stargazer Nah, not 12. Faiane was always going to come on and play 12.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Chiefs:
@KiwiMurph It will be interesting to see what they're going to do, if Carter is fit.
10 BB, 22 Carter
15 Duffie
Plummer?It sounds like last week they were going to run both Faiane and DC on the bench til DC got ruled out. I don't really see the point in running Plummer and DC though.
If he didn't get injured, I have a feeling DC was going to play fullback off the bench last week.
Just watched the game again and we deserved to lose that one. Don't think we had a real advantage in any area in the game.
If you want to know what James Blackwell would look like as a blindside, just watch Carroll play at 6 for us. We should've started Lamborn or brought in Riedlinger-Kapa.
Outside of that poor miss on Laumape, I thought Papali'i was pretty good for us. Was everywhere and was rag dolling guys most of the night. Scoreline could've been worse without him.
31 missed tackles is just too much from us. So many poor misses and bad reads by us, especially in the first half. Defense got much better after that Coles try in the 2nd half though.
@Tim Faleafa, but haven't seen Strachan play much either since school too.
Our boys are looking tired. Patrick looks like a zombie out there. We've run him to the ground playing him big minutes every game.
I hate that Beauden kicks on the first play after a penalty in the 22. Put some pressure on the other team and work through the phases. Make the other team make some tackles.
Is that the first try we've conceded from a maul in SRA?
@Tim Looked solid in school, but I haven't seen him play much since leaving school.
Plummer is a good front on tackler, but he struggles with reads.
@Duluth Andrew Makalio and Isi Tu'ungafasi playing for Grammar TEC. And Fetuli Paea playing for Marist.
Not liking that Marist has been playing Funaki at 10 the last couple of weeks. He needs to be playing 9 every week.