Blues v Highlanders
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@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.
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Fekitoa is a parody now
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@KiwiMurph you reckon? He's got excellent skills, his work rate is high, and he links with his other backs well. Bad decision there though.
He's under the pump because Pulu and especially West are kicking terribly
