Blues 2018
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
Comments on the Blues Development team from the video above
1 Lindemuth - very good at core roles - handy around the field too
2 Eklund - very good game - lineout throwing superb - his lineout throwing has come a remarkable way in the last 12 months or so. Ball in hand he had some nice runs in the second half. Should be a full squad member of the Blues.
3 Salmon - very similar to Lindemuth - went well.
4 - Neenee - was ok - nothing special - similar to his M10 Cup form.
5 - Pierce - good lineout work - fine around the field without lighting it up.
6 - Slade - didn't play much - got replaced by 26 (not sure who that is?) who looked out of his depth a bit.
7 Papalii - worked his way into the game - really has a physical presence and a good rugby brain - played the full 80 - should be starting 7 for Blues this weekend.
8 Sotutu - really mobile and skillful for a big guy, makes a lot of plays, reminds me a lot of Luatua. Huge future.9 Levein - mostly a good game - i've seen him play before and he has underwhelmed but he was pretty good - quick crisp passing, good committed defense, even nabbed a ruck turnover. Made a few mistakes as the game wore on.
10 Kirkpatrick - had a nice run to start the game - was a bit greedy going for the line himself on one occassion and turning it over.
11 Telea - dangerous ball in hand that had to be accounted for - kicked chased well and defended well too. Looked useful.
12 Tumua Manu - very solid - few errors - underrated player - can play wing too.
13 - looks a good prospect - good size, has vision, good skillset, mostly good midfield defence (though he got beaten badly on the outside for a Chiefs set piece try) - for such a young guy he is impressive - though he went off with a leg/foot injury of some kind - was down for a long time.
14 Hyland - doesn't look like a winger but was really solid in everything he did - deceptively strong and runs good lines, showed off a nice boot on one occasion.
15 - Leger - hard to evaluate cos he is playing out of position but he made a good fist of 15 and also played 10.In terms of the bench I thought Gregory probably stood out the most - he's on the smallish/wirey side but looked useful ball in hand.
@Bones remember him in the back three with Cully and Tana back in 97? Surprised hes still running around. What a year for the Canes. Barrett was playing too.
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@kiwimurph I didn't think any of the backs were that good outside of the wingers. Considering the level of competition, they were very quiet.
Sotutu and Papali'i were the best of the forwards. I think Tana has to be tempted to play Papali'i with how most of the backrowers are going.
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@duluth said in Blues 2018:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
12 Tumua Manu - very solid - few errors - underrated player - can play wing too.
Hopefully he spends all of the Auckland season in the midfield. He'll be a serious SR option soon
I think the only thing holding him back from getting game time for Auckland in the midfield is passing and defensive reads. Hopefully he really irons those things out during the club season because he has a knack for making plays. If not, he's still one of our better winger options.
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@taniwharugby Scott was a NZ schools champ at hammer and shot put when at WBHS, but gave it up to concentrate on rugby. A really nice kid and put the hard work in. I hope he goes far.
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@mn5 said in Blues 2018:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
Comments on the Blues Development team from the video above
1 Lindemuth - very good at core roles - handy around the field too
2 Eklund - very good game - lineout throwing superb - his lineout throwing has come a remarkable way in the last 12 months or so. Ball in hand he had some nice runs in the second half. Should be a full squad member of the Blues.
3 Salmon - very similar to Lindemuth - went well.
4 - Neenee - was ok - nothing special - similar to his M10 Cup form.
5 - Pierce - good lineout work - fine around the field without lighting it up.
6 - Slade - didn't play much - got replaced by 26 (not sure who that is?) who looked out of his depth a bit.
7 Papalii - worked his way into the game - really has a physical presence and a good rugby brain - played the full 80 - should be starting 7 for Blues this weekend.
8 Sotutu - really mobile and skillful for a big guy, makes a lot of plays, reminds me a lot of Luatua. Huge future.9 Levein - mostly a good game - i've seen him play before and he has underwhelmed but he was pretty good - quick crisp passing, good committed defense, even nabbed a ruck turnover. Made a few mistakes as the game wore on.
10 Kirkpatrick - had a nice run to start the game - was a bit greedy going for the line himself on one occassion and turning it over.
11 Telea - dangerous ball in hand that had to be accounted for - kicked chased well and defended well too. Looked useful.
12 Tumua Manu - very solid - few errors - underrated player - can play wing too.
13 - looks a good prospect - good size, has vision, good skillset, mostly good midfield defence (though he got beaten badly on the outside for a Chiefs set piece try) - for such a young guy he is impressive - though he went off with a leg/foot injury of some kind - was down for a long time.
14 Hyland - doesn't look like a winger but was really solid in everything he did - deceptively strong and runs good lines, showed off a nice boot on one occasion.
15 - Leger - hard to evaluate cos he is playing out of position but he made a good fist of 15 and also played 10.In terms of the bench I thought Gregory probably stood out the most - he's on the smallish/wirey side but looked useful ball in hand.
@Bones remember him in the back three with Cully and Tana back in 97? Surprised hes still running around. What a year for the Canes. Barrett was playing too.
Probably more surprising Murray is still locking up a storm. Wonder if he's still a cop?
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@bones said in Blues 2018:
@mn5 said in Blues 2018:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
Comments on the Blues Development team from the video above
1 Lindemuth - very good at core roles - handy around the field too
2 Eklund - very good game - lineout throwing superb - his lineout throwing has come a remarkable way in the last 12 months or so. Ball in hand he had some nice runs in the second half. Should be a full squad member of the Blues.
3 Salmon - very similar to Lindemuth - went well.
4 - Neenee - was ok - nothing special - similar to his M10 Cup form.
5 - Pierce - good lineout work - fine around the field without lighting it up.
6 - Slade - didn't play much - got replaced by 26 (not sure who that is?) who looked out of his depth a bit.
7 Papalii - worked his way into the game - really has a physical presence and a good rugby brain - played the full 80 - should be starting 7 for Blues this weekend.
8 Sotutu - really mobile and skillful for a big guy, makes a lot of plays, reminds me a lot of Luatua. Huge future.9 Levein - mostly a good game - i've seen him play before and he has underwhelmed but he was pretty good - quick crisp passing, good committed defense, even nabbed a ruck turnover. Made a few mistakes as the game wore on.
10 Kirkpatrick - had a nice run to start the game - was a bit greedy going for the line himself on one occassion and turning it over.
11 Telea - dangerous ball in hand that had to be accounted for - kicked chased well and defended well too. Looked useful.
12 Tumua Manu - very solid - few errors - underrated player - can play wing too.
13 - looks a good prospect - good size, has vision, good skillset, mostly good midfield defence (though he got beaten badly on the outside for a Chiefs set piece try) - for such a young guy he is impressive - though he went off with a leg/foot injury of some kind - was down for a long time.
14 Hyland - doesn't look like a winger but was really solid in everything he did - deceptively strong and runs good lines, showed off a nice boot on one occasion.
15 - Leger - hard to evaluate cos he is playing out of position but he made a good fist of 15 and also played 10.In terms of the bench I thought Gregory probably stood out the most - he's on the smallish/wirey side but looked useful ball in hand.
@Bones remember him in the back three with Cully and Tana back in 97? Surprised hes still running around. What a year for the Canes. Barrett was playing too.
Probably more surprising Murray is still locking up a storm. Wonder if he's still a cop?
Probably PERFed once Ivan Vodanovich stopped selecting him.
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@machpants said in Blues 2018:
@taniwharugby Scott was a NZ schools champ at hammer and shot put when at WBHS, but gave it up to concentrate on rugby. A really nice kid and put the hard work in. I hope he goes far.
Agreed...Scotts a really good kid - good head on his shoulders, humble and very well mannered. Takes after his did who is a good bloke too! Hes a wee bit unlucky to miss out on the NZU20s Oceania squad but I'd say he be the next cab off the rank if any injury replacements are required. Hes still eligible next year though as well.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
@duluth Yep agreed. I think the midfield in this game (12 Manu 13 Tele'a) could be the Auckland midfield this year.
I wonder with Caleb Clarke out for 2-3 weeks whether the Blues are allowed to bring in a replacement player from outside the squad? Either Tumua Manu or Hyland would do a fine job. I'm not sure the Blues ever confirmed who they replaced midfielder Matt Johnson with?
MIdfield options for Auckland would appear to be Aso, and the 2 Manus - Tumua and Loketi with possibly Tele'a as next in line behind those 3? If Tele'a does well during the 20s campaign he may push himself up the cue? I believe Orbyn Leger was pulled in from the injury replacement group to the fulltime group for Matt Johnson.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
He’s having a great year, one of the best players in NZ at the moment.
I’d like to see some defensive stats and ruck involvements. Everyone knows he’s devistating with ball in hand.
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@mn5 I was impressed with the 13 for the Blues as well,was that the same Mark Talea who has turned out on the wing for Harbour..?
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@steven-harris Two different players playing the same game. I too was impressed by the 13.
Mark Telea was on the wing for the Blues development team (11). That is the wing for Harbour.
The 13 for the Blues development team was Tanielu Tele'a - part of the Auckland U19 National Champs team last year and in the NZ U20s squad for the Oceania tournament coming up (assuming his injury isn't too bad).
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@steven-harris said in Blues 2018:
@mn5 I was impressed with the 13 for the Blues as well,was that the same Mark Talea who has turned out on the wing for Harbour..?
@Bones someone is actually asking me a rugby question.....
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NZ Herald this morning
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McKendry keeps pushing his pro Umaga agenda.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12028923
Umaga's defenders will say that he hasn't become a bad coach over the past three months, and, for what it's worth, I agree. It's the inconsistency which hurts the team on the field and their supporters off it, and it's difficult to see how a new coach next year will help with that, even should the Blues find someone suitably qualified at this stage. The likelihood is that Umaga will stay, and that wouldn't be a bad thing in my view. There may be changes in terms of structure or even support personnel next season, but the knowledge that Umaga has gained while with the franchise shouldn't be thrown out. -
I would ring the changes against the Sunwolves and introduce a few new players. I'd like to see a backrow with Sotutu, Ioane and Papaali'i, and maybe Lindenmuth at loosehead. Outside, Tumua Manu looks promising. He could be an upgrade to TJF. Hyland is another possibility though I don't see Duffie being dropped.
