Blues v Highlanders
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@Kirwan The Rebels look like they will struggle to win a game all year so 5 points against them, even away from home, is almost a given. It's almost like being 0-1 at this stage.
The Highlanders will be missing Ben Smith, Squire, Ash Dixon, Lentjes, Dan Pryor, Shane Christie etc etc so a home loss to them would be a huge missed opportunity.
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NZ Herald has just named a team sheet - no Pryor.
The Blues team for their match against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 7.35pm, is: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Ihaia West, Augustine Pulu, Murphy Taramai, Blake Gibson, Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons (c), Pauliasi Manu.
Reserves: Matt Moulds, Sam Prattley, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Akira Ioane, Billy Guyton, Piers Francis, Melani Nanai.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11815012
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Pulse Energy Highlanders Team to play Blues at Eden Park
Luke Whitelock and Marty Banks return from injury to take on the Blues in Auckland this weekend. However Liam Squire and James Lentjes are both out injured giving Gareth Evans, who entered the game a few minutes into last week’s clash, a start at Number 6. Elliot Dixon will again captain the side this time from openside flanker and Whitelock will complete the new look back row at 8.
Pulse Energy Highlanders Head Coach, Tony Brown, has named a forward-heavy bench with six in the reserves including Aki Seiuli at prop and locks, Jackson Hemopo and Joe Wheeler. Dillon Hunt will cover the loose forwards and make his Super Rugby debut should he take the field. Kayne Hammington and Marty Banks will provide the back cover from the bench.
The match will mark 50 games for the Highlanders for Highlander #197 Joe Wheeler. Wheeler made his debut in 2013.
Pulse Energy Highlanders v Blues - 7.35pm Saturday 11th March, Eden Park, Auckland
Daniel Lienert-Brown Liam Coltman Siosuia Halanukonuka Alex Ainley Tom Franklin Gareth Evans Elliot Dixon ( C ) Luke Whitelock Aaron Smith Lima Sopoaga Tevita Li Rob Thompson Malakai Fekitoa Waisake Naholo Richard BuckmanReserves
Sekonia Pole Aki Seiuli Siate Tokolahi Joe Wheeler Jackson Hemopo Dillon Hunt Kayne Hammington Marty BanksUnavailable due to injury: Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Ash Dixon , Dan Pryor, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Ben Smith, Adrian Smith, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes
Out for season: Jason Emery, Hayden Parker
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Ranger now is not a better player than Nanai, that's a fucking stupid selection. Based on the first couple of rounds, i think Rene should be most worried about the eventual return of SBW
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Amid recalling his big guns, Umaga also delivered Akira Ioane a message, dropping the No 8 to the bench and replacing him with North Harbour's Murphy Taramai due to poor work-rate against the Chiefs.
"Murphy is doing very well for us. He's been working hard and with his seven role he gives good support to Blake [Gibson]. Akira, probably not his best game in the weekend," Umaga said. "He knows that. As we've always said those that are performing and doing what we ask they'll get the reward so he gets a chance off the bench."
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hopefully the kick up the arse Akira needs, huge upside, but not if he isn't gonna work hard.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v Highlanders:
hopefully the kick up the arse Akira needs, huge upside, but not if he isn't gonna work hard.
Good wakeup call for him, he was one of the hardest working players in the NPC last year.
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More on Akira
Ioane received the most stinging assessment from Umaga, who said openside flanker Blake Gibson too often waged a one-man fight to slow down the Chiefs' ball.
"It probably wasn't Akira's best game, and he knows that," Umaga said.
"It's just his all-out work, working for the entire time he's out there.
"It was a very intense game and they put pressure on us in the forward pack." -
@SammyC probably easier for him to bully his way round NPC a bit too I expect...
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
More on Akira
Ioane received the most stinging assessment from Umaga, who said openside flanker Blake Gibson too often waged a one-man fight to slow down the Chiefs' ball.
"It probably wasn't Akira's best game, and he knows that," Umaga said.
"It's just his all-out work, working for the entire time he's out there.
"It was a very intense game and they put pressure on us in the forward pack."@Kirwan ... I thought he was putting in heaps of work at the breakdown? ?
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@taniwharugby @SammyC I think too the weird ruck interpretations skewed things regarding Mitre 10 Cup last year - hard to read too much into that vs this year.
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@SammyC said in Blues v Highlanders:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
More on Akira
Ioane received the most stinging assessment from Umaga, who said openside flanker Blake Gibson too often waged a one-man fight to slow down the Chiefs' ball.
"It probably wasn't Akira's best game, and he knows that," Umaga said.
"It's just his all-out work, working for the entire time he's out there.
"It was a very intense game and they put pressure on us in the forward pack."@Kirwan ... I thought he was putting in heaps of work at the breakdown? ?
It's not just my opinion, he had great stats during the NPC.
Seems a bit harsh how he's being judged on one half of Rugby here, jury is still out for me on Tana. Both the calls on Collins vs Nanai or even Ranger seem to indicate some weird selection tendancies. Will see how it pans out.
But from my viewing of the game, I remember being pissed that Akira hadn't earned a few penalties for some good work at the breakdown. I guess it depends on what Tana wanted him to do, his running game wasn't effective - but even in the NPC that was more a second half thing for him against tiring defences.
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Note sure what Collins offers. Glad that Moala is replacing Francis. When SBW comes back Francis will be lucky to be in the development squad. When the replacements came on the game became more direct which is where Auckland can succeed. Nanai needed a kick up the arse so his demotion is fine although what about Collins. Who the fuck is this guy and what info does he have on the coach? Ioane's strengths are running (when he does not do all the fend and brush off crap) and tackling. He should be put in the position to play this game kind of like Read as well as the rest of the forward grunt work. Set him up for success. No doubt the pack around him in the first half, including the poor decision making at the line out and the tendency to kick to much, did not help him.
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I was surprised to read people talking up Akira vs the Chiefs. Even though he only played 40 mins I didn't really notice him at the game. Gibson was always near the action in comparison.
I do think Ioane could be an excellent impact sub though and he will have a point to prove.
