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Blues 2019

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Blues 2019
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  • gt12G Offline
    gt12G Offline
    gt12
    replied to Yeetyaah on last edited by
    #1434

    @Yeetyaah

    It's a bit early for that I think.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • antipodeanA Offline
    antipodeanA Offline
    antipodean
    replied to Tim on last edited by antipodean
    #1435

    @Tim said in Blues 2019:

    @Yeetyaah Gladly. Anyone one else who has suddenly played poorly for the 2019 Chiefs you don't want? We'll take TTT and DMac too.

    Just a (genuine) centre will do. Although TTT would be good,

    M 1 Reply Last reply
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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    Machpants
    replied to antipodean on last edited by
    #1436

    @antipodean Jordie?

    Canes4lifeC 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4life
    replied to Machpants on last edited by
    #1437

    @Machpants more of a second five isn't he? šŸ˜›

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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    Machpants
    wrote on last edited by
    #1438

    Or was it half-back, I lose track.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • Crazy HorseC Offline
    Crazy HorseC Offline
    Crazy Horse
    wrote on last edited by
    #1439

    Michael Collins to centre!

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #1440

    These are some of the unsigned Super Rugby halfbacks for 2020:

    Ere Enari
    Bryn Hall
    Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
    Jonathan Taumateine

    Not sure if Folau Fakatava hasn't been re-signed by the Highlanders.

    Blues have two NZ U20 trialist halfbacks in their colts team, Brad McNaughton and Taufa Funaki.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #1441

    Another pressing question is who is going to replace Nanai?

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #1442

    Sounds like Matt Duffie will be available for the next game:

    The imminent return from injury of outside back Matt Duffie may help MacDonald's options here as the coach prepares for a match against the Highlanders at Eden Park after this weekend's bye.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12211881

    N 1 Reply Last reply
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  • N Offline
    N Offline
    Nogusta
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #1443

    @Tim Maybe Jordan Trainor as well. He was supposed to go on the Auckland trip to Aus but wasnt quite 100%

    TimT 1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Nogusta on last edited by
    #1444

    @Nogusta Thanks for the info. Would be great to have another decent fullback option available.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    wrote on last edited by
    #1445

    Trainor and Duffie's availability I think would be handy in the sense that at some point soon Rieko is going to have to have a rest break (he's already played 4 games in a row).

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by Tim
    #1446

    As we all know, 2020 will be MacDonald's first season with his own squad, so lets start looking at possible changes, avoiding very young players unless necessary. I'm guessing that more experienced recruits would be preferred where possible. Also, it might be easier to nab a Chief than a Crusader ...

    LH Prop

    Good strength here, with Hodgman and Tu'inukuafe are returning next year, and Lindenmuth a hot prospect (can also play both sides) who will likely return too. What he and the next line of in-catchment players lack are the several years of Super Rugby to establish themselves as consistant scrummagers and technicians (i.e. mauling and maul defence).

    Those contenders include: Lua Li, Jarred Adams, and Isi Tu'ungafasi. IIRC, Rob Cobb is primarily a tighthead. They're unlikely to look too far for a recruit, but a more experienced player like Aki Seiuli or Tim Perry might be tempting in the short term. Rueben O'Neill and Kane Hames are also off contract. Not very excited about any of that lot.

    TH Prop

    Here we lack depth, with just Ofa Tu'ungafasi an established Super Rugby player. Sione Mafileo has his moments, especially in the scrum, but can be inconsistent there and off the pace around the field. Renata has the ability around the field, but lacks experience at tight head, and needs those few seasons more.

    Marco Fepulea'i is the only local player I'm enthusiastic about, with Rob Cobb coming through at junior level. Again, a lot of experience needs to be added to their resumes.

    Siate Tokolahi is probably the only experienced player coming off contract.

    Now the big one:

    Hooker

    Parsons is limited but worth keeping. He seems to be the only Super level hooker we have, and brings some much needed (but not winning) experience. Moulds never seems to put his hand up, and Apisai doesn't look up to it at this stage.

    Abel and Sosene-Feagai both played well for Auckland, and Eklund and Olsen also look promising. The last two are inexperienced at this level, and there are questions over athletic ability.

    Nathan Harris and Samisoni Taukei'aho are both off contract, and I think that Makalio and Funnell are too. Then there's Coltman. We should try for all of those names and Abel. Who would you prefer?

    taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
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  • taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugby
    replied to Tim on last edited by taniwharugby
    #1447

    @Tim IMO Olsen is a bit more dynamic than Moulds, but its like Olsen is to Moulds as Moulds is to Parsons...ran things well when he got his chances last year.

    I like MOulds but something just doesnt add up...Parsons has all the penetration of a 5cm flacid, yet he keeps getting picked for huge minutes, Moulds we get told is a leader trains well blah blah blah, but sometimes cant even even get on the field!

    K 1 Reply Last reply
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  • K Offline
    K Offline
    kev
    replied to taniwharugby on last edited by
    #1448

    @taniwharugby I rate our hookers. Moulds hasn’t really even had a crack, but does tend to get injured. Olsen might even be better. Great runner. Couldn’t talk about scrummaging. Lineout work has been improving for both of them.

    NorthlandalldayN 1 Reply Last reply
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  • NorthlandalldayN Offline
    NorthlandalldayN Offline
    Northlandallday
    replied to kev on last edited by
    #1449

    @kev
    Parsons last 10 minutes v sunwolves was some of his worst rugby, tired sloppy throw into the line out, knockon, decision making. It was unbelievable that Parsons played out the 80. He was looking to the sideline a number of times, was clearly stuffed but was also probably the pseudo captain, he was giving plenty of instruction to SBW and pretty sure he got told by the ref he wasn’t the captain. Moulds gained more metres in 18 minutes the week before than Parsons did the rest of the game. The reason is obvious, he’s not the captain but he’s the ā€œon field leaderā€. No room at the inn.

    KirwanK 1 Reply Last reply
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  • KirwanK Offline
    KirwanK Offline
    Kirwan
    replied to Northlandallday on last edited by
    #1450

    @Northlandallday said in Blues 2019:

    @kev
    Parsons last 10 minutes v sunwolves was some of his worst rugby, tired sloppy throw into the line out, knockon, decision making. It was unbelievable that Parsons played out the 80. He was looking to the sideline a number of times, was clearly stuffed but was also probably the pseudo captain, he was giving plenty of instruction to SBW and pretty sure he got told by the ref he wasn’t the captain. Moulds gained more metres in 18 minutes the week before than Parsons did the rest of the game. The reason is obvious, he’s not the captain but he’s the ā€œon field leaderā€. No room at the inn.

    When Gibson is back up to speed, and Scrafton back, there will be more on field leadership and Parsons can be spelled.

    nzzpN 1 Reply Last reply
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  • nzzpN Offline
    nzzpN Offline
    nzzp
    replied to Kirwan on last edited by
    #1451

    @Kirwan said in Blues 2019:

    @Northlandallday said in Blues 2019:

    @kev
    Parsons last 10 minutes v sunwolves was some of his worst rugby, tired sloppy throw into the line out, knockon, decision making. It was unbelievable that Parsons played out the 80. He was looking to the sideline a number of times, was clearly stuffed but was also probably the pseudo captain, he was giving plenty of instruction to SBW and pretty sure he got told by the ref he wasn’t the captain. Moulds gained more metres in 18 minutes the week before than Parsons did the rest of the game. The reason is obvious, he’s not the captain but he’s the ā€œon field leaderā€. No room at the inn.

    When Gibson is back up to speed, and Scrafton back, there will be more on field leadership and Parsons can be spelled.

    Parsons gets ragdolled on so many occasions. Seems a good bloke, tries his guts out, but just a bit small at this level.

    Still, he's got one more AB Cap than us, so well done him šŸ™‚

    taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
    2
  • taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugby
    replied to nzzp on last edited by
    #1452

    @nzzp haha yeah, cant quite figure out how he is still the preferred 2 for the Blues, but yep, infinitely better rugby CV than I could have hoped for.

    KirwanK 1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • KirwanK Offline
    KirwanK Offline
    Kirwan
    replied to taniwharugby on last edited by
    #1453

    @taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:

    @nzzp haha yeah, cant quite figure out how he is still the preferred 2 for the Blues, but yep, infinitely better rugby CV than I could have hoped for.

    No competition basically. Look around the country too, not many good hookers.

    taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
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