Blues 2019

[Tim]

@steven-harris Sounds good. Thanks for the report.

[MajorRage]

@steven-harris Did he refer to a rugby ball as "the nut" ... ?

[Steven Harris]

@majorrage he does actually..loves the Canes

[KiwiMurph]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12052319

[Tim]

@kiwimurph That's a great signing.

[Bovidae]

MacDonald must have been offered a VERY good deal to move to Auckland as he was reluctant to move his family to Chch.

[Tim]

@bovidae said in Super Rugby News:

reluctant to move his family to Chch

That was the official reason, perhaps it was something else ...

[Duluth]

@bovidae said in Super Rugby News:

MacDonald must have been offered a VERY good deal to move to Auckland as he was reluctant to move his family to Chch.

Hopefully he's the head coach, just without the title

[Chris B.]

@tim said in Super Rugby News:

@kiwimurph That's a great signing.

Like fuck it is!

[Tim]

Now let's get Coventry in charge of the forwards, and a new defence coach.

[Chris B.]

@tim said in Super Rugby News:

Now let's get Coventry in charge of the forwards, and a new defence coach.

If they're not firing Tana then the first guy's head on the block should be the forwards coach.

Against the Tahs the commentators were saying the Blues haven't scored from a lineout drive all season. That's no use. Probably cost two or three close games right there.

[Duluth]

@chris-b said in Super Rugby News:

Against the Tahs the commentators were saying the Blues haven't scored from a lineout drive all season. That's no use. Probably cost two or three close games right there.

Steve Jackson. His packs have had terrible maul defence too (Counties and North Harbour before the Blues)
I wouldn't be surprised to see him move sideways to defence coach

[Bovidae]

Dave Ellis is listed as the skills coach so is his head on the chopping block? Or does Tana assume the role of backs coach in the current coaching team?

[Chris B.]

@duluth Sack him.

If Leon's being thrown into the frying pan you can't be getting other ingredients from Pak n Save!

[KiwiMurph]

I agree I'd like to see a new forwards coach come in (ideally Coventry). The scrum has actually improved this year under Afeaki i'd keep him as scrum coach but yes the maul defense continues to be poor.

I fear though that with the 2nd coaching appointment not yet named it will be underwhelming and not a forwards coach - like a lesser known skills coach or something.

[Duluth]

@bovidae said in Super Rugby News:

Dave Ellis is listed as the skills coach so is his head on the chopping block? Or does Tana assume the role of backs coach in the current coaching team?

Umaga doesn't have responsibility for a single area. He opted to have specialists beneath him and take a hands off approach this year.
I think the Sunwolves loss was the catalyst for that. Thats the only time I can remember him taking responsibility and he said he would review his input.

[Chris B.]

@kiwimurph It'll be the reconfirmation of Tana, won't it?

[KiwiMurph]

@chris-b Good point. Well hopefully there is at least some comment on that the coaching group hasn't been finalised for next season and there are more announcements to come.

[Chris B.]

@kiwimurph The lengths of the appointments will be quite interesting - as could be the titles.

I wonder if they might "promote" Tana to "Director of Coaching" or something?

I'm really wondering what they've used as a carrot for Leon to go up there. Another Super Assistant's job doesn't seem like an upgrade - especially given the high risk of tarnishing his Midas touch.

[Wurzel]

The second coaching announcement is that Tana gets a year. Not much of an endorsement from Redman and Co.