Highlanders v Blues
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders v Blues:
I also think teams have worked the Blues out , last year they bullied everyone with an effective game plan , even watching from an elevated position last weekend against the chiefs I was staggered how narrow their attack was when the forwards were consistently carrying and the backs sitting back far too deep imo
It's interesting you say that because they aren't playing nearly as narrow as they were last year. I was having a rewatch of last year’s game between the Blues and Highlanders in round 2 and it becomes obvious very quickly how different both gameplans are between the 2024 and 2025 Blues.
There was a lot less kicking, more passing and a lot more carrying with the 2024 Blues. The ball would rarely move beyond a 20 metre-radius in the middle of the field during the Blues attack, with a variety of direct carries – pick and go’s, one-out passing, Funaki snipes around the ruck, and short switch-plays – constantly hammering the same point in the Highlanders defence. Some numbers, 2024 first, then 2025, both rd. 2 games against the Highlanders: 20 kicks vs. 29; 210 passes vs. 144; 170 carries vs. 106; a 1:10.5 kick to pass ratio vs. a 1:5 kick to pass ratio.
The effects differed starkly as well: in 2024, with the Blues carrying endlessly through the middle and forcing the Highlanders to make tackle after tackle, the game opened up in the second half as tired defenders started falling off tackles. In contrast, the Highlanders’ defence never looked stretched on Saturday, even after defending for long stretches with only 13 men. The Highlanders had to make 237 tackles in 2024, while they only made 116 in 2025.
I suppose this might look bad but what I suspect what we’ve been seeing these past few weeks is the Blues’ attempt at trying out a potential plan B, one with a kick-heavy focus in an attempt to exploit some of the new laws recently introduced around escorting and so on. It hasn’t worked, clearly. But I presume that at some point in the season, we’ll be seeing a return to the actual 2024 game plan. And personally I don't think that it's been figured out at all.
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If you are going to contestables, they better be contestable against this Landers team.
I thought the absolute worst though was when the Blues tried to run it out and conceded that penalty which took it to 8 points. Absolute lack of patience and understanding that they need field position for their game plan to work.
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@Mauss I would suggest teams have figured them out , but I will say how does a team with that much experience become so flustered with numerical advantage?
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders v Blues:
I would suggest teams have figured them out , but I will say how does a team with that much experience become so flustered with numerical advantage?
Their lineout falling apart in the final quarter certainly didn't help. And they kept going to it because their maul had been so dominant earlier in the game.
But when you have a penalty 5 metres from the opposition line, the opposition is defending with 13, they have to put 8 players into an uncontested scrum and your own lineout is struggling? Probably should've gone for the scrum.
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders v Blues:
As for the Blues you have got to ask the question on how such a seriously experienced team containing 12 All Blacks could look so flustered with a numerical advantage
Christie is a poor decision maker. You can't give it to Beauden as he'd kick it to a Highlander and they'd probably score.
But it was concerning that they didn't look to have an agreed plan they were sticking to that made sense given the advantage they had.
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@chchfanatic said in Highlanders v Blues:
@African-Monkey we got beaten by a better side. What more do we need to say.
I was talking about a superstar number 8 who did nothing**. How good was Simon Parker on Friday night**. He’s got to be picked ahead of Sotutu.We learnt last year it doesn't matter how good someone is in Super.
You Razor/Tubby Bitch Ryan bootlickers crack me up, defend the non selection of Sotutu based on outstanding form over an entire Super season then denigrate him based on one game, his first game back, and then promote another guy based on one game.
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@Mauss one thing I will throw in I suspect this competition looks a lot more even than last year , I thought there were only every 3 teams that were gonna win the comp last year
I think everyone has been put on notice ,don’t drop your standards -
Chiming in with my thoughts after deciding to stay off the forum during the game last night.
Just a massive effort from the Landers last night. I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to win going into the game but I did expect to stay in the fight. Turns out the were well and truly in the fight and beat the crap out of them with 13 men in the end.
Big Jim was unplayable, what an absolute machine and a man who looks very comfortable in the 12 jersey and will only get better with more time there + chemistry with those around him.
Sam Gilbert - quite possibly his best game in a Highlanders jersey. Always in position, great defensively and I thought did quite well dealing with Clarke. Safe under the high ball as well which is something that shouldn’t get overlooked. Stoked for the guy. Earned that 14 jersey for another week.
Hurley - Not many words needed there as everyone else has already covered that.
Fakatava - Did his role and stuck to it, didn’t try to overplay anything and kept the 50/50 balls away. He even said himself after the game he focused on doing his role to help the team and have them in the best position and it showed. Great game from him.
Taine Robinson - Again, another guy who stuck to his role, didn’t overplay anything and looked steady. Hopefully the more he is at 10 the more the confidence grows. Has a solid foundation and he mentioned Tony Brown has been great for him while he’s been there, looking forward to seeing him build.
Whole forward pack were immense.
To lose like they did last week and respond with a game like, down to 13 men for the majority of the last quarter of the game that shows immense character and great attitude. The Jamie Joseph effect is real. Last years team would have lost that game by 20-30 points.
Exciting stuff, only one game but have to enjoy that one. On to Moana next week.
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@Billy-Tell said in Highlanders v Blues:
I can’t believe it! Despite fielding the greatest number 8 known to the history of rugby the blues lost. That’s a very good result for the highlanders.
Don't you mean: Thanks to losing the greatest number 6/8 known to the history of rugby the blues lost.
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Blues:
Gez what was Reiko Ioane doing all night, was he even playing??
no he wasn't playing.
Rieko Ioane was. -
I forgot to add. 10 capped current or former All Blacks in that Blues starting line up to the Landers 2. Man for man the Highlanders were just better last night across the board and kept some big names very quiet.
I’m sure the Blues will bounce back and be ok, too much class not to be but they have a bloody tough month coming up against the Canes, Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders before their bye. Going to be interesting.
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Last night was the first time I have seen Big Jim at 12. First impressions - he ran sideways a lot. Does it better than DH though.
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@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Blues:
@African-Monkey said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Tim said in Highlanders v Blues:
Don't think I've seen us drop the ball that much before.
Please drop Barrett. Worst performance from him since Hamilton 2023.
Your team lost against 13, your forwards were done, and you blaming Barrett?? By the powers I thought Blues pack were no good, the midfield were non existant in attack. The whole bloody lot were not very good!
Constantly handing the ball back to Fin Hurley wasn't the smartest thing to do. Our forwards were buggered because of it. Like yeah, we fell apart collectively, but Barrett was a massive reason why.
And no one will ever call Beauden out for it and he'll start for Blues all year and then he'll start for ABs.
It's insanity.
And yet Fozzie, Razor and Cotter all seem to rate him...what is it we are all missing 😕
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Blues:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Blues:
@African-Monkey said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Tim said in Highlanders v Blues:
Don't think I've seen us drop the ball that much before.
Please drop Barrett. Worst performance from him since Hamilton 2023.
Your team lost against 13, your forwards were done, and you blaming Barrett?? By the powers I thought Blues pack were no good, the midfield were non existant in attack. The whole bloody lot were not very good!
Constantly handing the ball back to Fin Hurley wasn't the smartest thing to do. Our forwards were buggered because of it. Like yeah, we fell apart collectively, but Barrett was a massive reason why.
And no one will ever call Beauden out for it and he'll start for Blues all year and then he'll start for ABs.
It's insanity.
And yet Fozzie, Razor and Cotter all seem to rate him...what is it we are all missing 😕
Well I'm not sure on Cotter. Perofeta and Zarn are.both injured. He hasn't had to make a big call yet.
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@Nepia said in Highlanders v Blues:
@chchfanatic said in Highlanders v Blues:
@African-Monkey we got beaten by a better side. What more do we need to say.
I was talking about a superstar number 8 who did nothing**. How good was Simon Parker on Friday night**. He’s got to be picked ahead of Sotutu.We learnt last year it doesn't matter how good someone is in Super.
You Razor/Tubby Bitch Ryan bootlickers crack me up, defend the non selection of Sotutu based on outstanding form over an entire Super season then denigrate him based on one game, his first game back, and then promote another guy based on one game.
They move the goalposts bloody well in honesty so fair play to them.
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Blues:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Blues:
@African-Monkey said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Tim said in Highlanders v Blues:
Don't think I've seen us drop the ball that much before.
Please drop Barrett. Worst performance from him since Hamilton 2023.
Your team lost against 13, your forwards were done, and you blaming Barrett?? By the powers I thought Blues pack were no good, the midfield were non existant in attack. The whole bloody lot were not very good!
Constantly handing the ball back to Fin Hurley wasn't the smartest thing to do. Our forwards were buggered because of it. Like yeah, we fell apart collectively, but Barrett was a massive reason why.
And no one will ever call Beauden out for it and he'll start for Blues all year and then he'll start for ABs.
It's insanity.
And yet Fozzie, Razor and Cotter all seem to rate him...what is it we are all missing 😕
It feels like they're being forced to play him.
Did NZ rugby really need to re-sign the guy?
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@African-Monkey kinda like when they re-signed Julian Savea....
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@antipodean said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders v Blues:
As for the Blues you have got to ask the question on how such a seriously experienced team containing 12 All Blacks could look so flustered with a numerical advantage
Christie is a poor decision maker. You can't give it to Beauden as he'd kick it to a Highlander and they'd probably score.
But it was concerning that they didn't look to have an agreed plan they were sticking to that made sense given the advantage they had.
Current worst 9-10 axis of the NZ Super sides. (maybe)
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