Blues vs Waratahs
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@NTA you keep telling yourself that. If it makes you happy.
For me, a team that is trash week after week aren't suddenly world-beaters overnight. Especially if they revert to trash the very next week.
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@Chester-Draws said in Blues vs Waratahs:
@NTA you keep telling yourself that. If it makes you happy.
For me, a team that is trash week after week aren't suddenly world-beaters overnight. Especially if they revert to trash the very next week.
This. It was obvious the Crusaders werent there from the unforced errors. Both teams reverted to normal form the following week.
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Blues v Waratahs @ Eden Park, Auckland
Referee Federico Anselmi
AR1 Nick Briant
AR2 Glen Jackson
TMO Glenn Newman -
@KiwiMurph Twattue (on Radio) has poo-pood this concept, claiming the Warriors are devaluing thier product putting it alongside Super rugby, which is an inferior product.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues vs Waratahs:
@KiwiMurph Twattue (on Radio) has poo-pood this concept, claiming the Warriors are devaluing thier product putting it alongside Super rugby, which is an inferior product.
This makes me like the concept even more!
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@taniwharugby said in Blues vs Waratahs:
@KiwiMurph Twattue (on Radio) has poo-pood this concept, claiming the Warriors are devaluing thier product putting it alongside Super rugby, which is an inferior product.
He is so transparent
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@taniwharugby said in Blues vs Waratahs:
@KiwiMurph Twattue (on Radio) has poo-pood this concept, claiming the Warriors are devaluing thier product putting it alongside Super rugby, which is an inferior product.
Genuinely not sure if he's a troll or just deluded. I think it's a great concept - there are a number of casual fans who would go occassionally if free, but not go out of their way to attend.
I like it, well done both codes. SPorts fans are sports fans.
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@NTA said in Blues vs Waratahs:
Completely missing the defensive effort that kept a mostly champion team to 1 try during play and another when the game was won. Sure.
Nicholas, I can't believe you're arguing a golden rule of the Fern: if a Kiwi side wins it's always due to their obvious superiority, but if an Aussie side beats a Kiwi side it's because the Kiwi side didn't show up.
And if an Aussie side plays shit and loses to a Kiwi side, it's because they were 'forced into mistakes'. But if a Kiwi side plays shit, they 'played down to the opposition' or 'rested a number of key players' or 'didn't get the 50/50 calls'.
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@barbarian said in Blues vs Waratahs:
@NTA said in Blues vs Waratahs:
Completely missing the defensive effort that kept a mostly champion team to 1 try during play and another when the game was won. Sure.
Nicholas, I can't believe you're arguing a golden rule of the Fern: if a Kiwi side wins it's always due to their obvious superiority, but if an Aussie side beats a Kiwi side it's because the Kiwi side didn't show up.
And if an Aussie side plays shit and loses to a Kiwi side, it's because they were 'forced into mistakes'. But if a Kiwi side plays shit, they 'played down to the opposition' or 'rested a number of key players' or 'didn't get the 50/50 calls'.
Nice snark, but that fact there was a terrorist attack on that team's city that killed 50 people had a clear and obvious effect on the team. This is an unusual circumstance.
Sure the Tahs can only play whats in front of them, but there have been a few posters talking up this performance and the Tahs history before and after this game lends more weight to my argument than yours. Same with the Crusaders.
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@barbarian said in Blues vs Waratahs:
@NTA said in Blues vs Waratahs:
Completely missing the defensive effort that kept a mostly champion team to 1 try during play and another when the game was won. Sure.
Nicholas, I can't believe you're arguing a golden rule of the Fern: if a Kiwi side wins it's always due to their obvious superiority, but if an Aussie side beats a Kiwi side it's because the Kiwi side didn't show up.
And if an Aussie side plays shit and loses to a Kiwi side, it's because they were 'forced into mistakes'. But if a Kiwi side plays shit, they 'played down to the opposition' or 'rested a number of key players' or 'didn't get the 50/50 calls'.
Some truth in that, but to be fair when there's a streak of 40-ish games without a win, there's some truth in the Kiwi Arrogance (TM) too
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No Hooper
Israel Folau, Cam Clark, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Karmichael Hunt, Alex Newsome, Bernard Foley (capt), Nick Phipps, Michael Wells, Will Miller, Jack Dempsey, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Harry Johnson-Holmes
Reserves: Andrew Tuala, Rory O'Connor, Chris Talakai, Tom Staniforth, Lachlan Swinton, Jake Gordon, Kurtley Beale, Lalakai Foketi
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15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson (CC), 6 Tom Robinson, 5. Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (CC), 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons, 1. Alex Hodgman
Reserves: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Michael Collins
Blues Rugby
The official home of the Blues rugby team. Buy tickets and merchandise, get the latest news, view results and go behind-the-scenes with our players.
The Blues have named virtually an unchanged side to host the Waratahs in their third straight home game at Eden Park on Saturday. The pre-season star performer, Caleb Clarke, returns from injury to replace suspended Tanielu Tele’a on the wing, while Josh Goodhue has recovered from a shoulder injury to return at lock. Goodhue’s return is the only change to the pack that performed strongly against the Stormers, with the hard-working Gerard Cowley-Tuioti to add his impetus off the bench. The other change in the forward reserves sees Marcel Renata as front row replacement with Karl Tu’inukuafe spelled this week. Clarke is the only change from the starting line-up in the backs with changes in the reserves comprising Sam Nock at halfback and Michael Collins, who covers the midfield and outside backs, with Sonny Bill Williams sidelined with a knee injury. “There’s a settled look to this team but that is not to say there is not competition,” said head coach Leon MacDonald. “There’s competition for virtually every spot in the starting line-up which is what we want – and it is helping to produce competitive and high quality trainings. “If the starters do their job well, then they earn the right to stay there. We have already highlighted that while we want our starters to set the platform, equally one of our strengths is the energy we get off the bench to help us finish strongly. “We again showed improvement last week which we are pleased about, but it also showed up areas that we need to improve. Our aim is to continue to improve every game, and we have the confidence that if we can continue to improve, then we will reap the rewards. “We want to achieve this with a quality brand of rugby that is fantastic for fans to watch – and we are hoping they will flock in to support us this weekend.” -
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@NTA said in Blues vs Waratahs:
@Duluth Big Karl is a loss, no doubt, but I've been watching the Blues' scrum be capable for 50-60 minutes then turn up the heat on people, and it ain't pretty for opponents.
Player of the week last week for me. Simply outstanding in the scrum and around the field
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Waratahs:
Collins in the 23 scares me. Especially with Tahs bringing Beale off the bench.
I think the plan will be to leave Michael Collins in the Command Module - he need never set foot on the moo... er ground.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Waratahs:
Clarke under the high ball could be targeted.
He's had a couple of questionable games on defence too. On the plus side, we have two genuinely fast wingers now
