Highlanders vs Blues
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Highlanders vs Blues:
@Kirwan said in Highlanders vs Blues:
How fast we forget Ben Blair.
...and Jamie McIntosh
Not sure he played in the back three...
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As I neutral I found myself wanting the Blues to win this one, so I am disappointed for them.
The biggest take for me from this game was Nonu's contribution. I thought he was a little MIA in the second half, but his first half efforts showed what the Blues, and more importantly the ABs, have been missing skills wise during the last few years. It was so fucking refreshing to see a back that can actually pass the ball, and I am not just talking about that sweet pass to the big ginger. Numerous times during that first half Nonu set players into space with crisp accurate passing, something we haven't seen at AB level from SBW, B Barrett, Fekitoa or Laumape for quite some time. No wonder we haven't been able to break down the rush defence.
Best NZ passing inside backs - Smith, Mo'unga, Nonu/ALB, Goodhue. Let the ball beat the man.
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@Crazy-Horse Great comment. Add to those an outside back Ben Smith who creates space and passes better than anyone. I would say that is the Blues greatest weakness - they have had so many destructive ball runners yet constantly miss opportunities with backs not passing in the open or forwards off loading in 50/50 contact areas.
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@kev said in Highlanders vs Blues:
@Crazy-Horse Great comment. Add to those an outside back Ben Smith who creates space and passes better than anyone. I would say that is the Blues greatest weakness - they have had so many destructive ball runners yet constantly miss opportunities with backs not passing in the open or forwards off loading in 50/50 contact areas.
It was a big problem in past seasons when we were stuffing wingers into the midfield, but I'm not sure that this has been that big a problem for us this year, probably because we have proper midfielders in the midfield now who are willing passers. Then you have Melani who has improved his passing and ability to put players away.
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An entertaining game to watch as a neutral. From an All Black perspective there were some really pleasing performances. Shannon Frizell continues to play well, and must surely be the favourite to get first shot at the All Black no.6 jersey this year? Ma'a Nonu continues to play with energy and enthusiasm that belies his age. He just exudes composure and consistently makes good decisions. I guess that's experience? I thought Josh Ioane played strongly, and whilst 2019 might be a year or two too soon for him in terms of being selected for the All Blacks, it was great to see him play well in a pressure game.
The scrums were a bit of lottery. I thought the Blues scrum looked dominant early, but then the Highlanders scrum took the ascendency in the 2nd half. Karl Tuinukuafe looked very strong early but fell away late, I wonder if that's a fitness issue? Ofa T made some handling errors and overall looks a bit underdone.
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@Cantab79 yeah it is good to see Frizell showing some form (guess that comes with being selected to start) making the selection of our 6 a wee bit less concerning...he has a real chance to own the jersey this year.
While many parts of NOnu's game make you want him back in, who are they gonna drop for him?
Goodhue - no
Crotty - no (although see SBW below)
ALB - no
Laumape - maybe, but probably notLeaving SBW, his durability sees him the most vulnerable IMO, if fit, we know they will select SBW...if he isnt it, this is where I see the door opening for Nonu (add Crotty to this too...)
Assume the AB coaches has access to all Nonu's fitness stats, so will know how much he has dropped off since leaving and whether he still has it (numbers-wise) to be a force at the top level.
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@Cantab79 said in Highlanders vs Blues:
Karl Tuinukuafe looked very strong early but fell away late, I wonder if that's a fitness issue? Ofa T made some handling errors and overall looks a bit underdone.
Ofa's worst match for a while
The pack faded but I think that's because of the errors, penalties etc giving a glut of possession to the Highlanders.
35min-55min killed the chances in that game. The Blues had hardly any ball and were working very hard on defence -
The All Black front rowers looked totally gassed. Karl T and Ofa do not have the fitness to maintain the same momentum week in and week out.
Hodgman looked good in the 15-20 minutes against the Chiefs and now the Highlanders. Leon needs to start Hodgman and now Ofa with Mafileo being out.
We have lost our mojo it is obvious that Hodgman has the fitness, bring the ABs off the bench, in two games now we look real flat. Go back to the winning formula.
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@number9
I think quite a few members of the Blues pack look a little bit unfit. Look a little big. And it certainly showed last night. Not sure if that's reality or just perception, but they just seem a bit bigger and a bit chunkier than the other NZ teams. Karl T looks enormous as does Ofa, not necessarily fat but really big. Like they've been doing lots of weights but perhaps not as much cardio? -
Haha yeah elite players in elite environments with an eye on October need to take some training tips from rando internet nuffies.
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders vs Blues:
@Cantab79 yeah it is good to see Frizell showing some form (guess that comes with being selected to start) making the selection of our 6 a wee bit less concerning...he has a real chance to own the jersey this year.
While many parts of NOnu's game make you want him back in, who are they gonna drop for him?
Goodhue - no
Crotty - no (although see SBW below)
ALB - no
Laumape - maybe, but probably notLeaving SBW, his durability sees him the most vulnerable IMO, if fit, we know they will select SBW...if he isnt it, this is where I see the door opening for Nonu (add Crotty to this too...)
Assume the AB coaches has access to all Nonu's fitness stats, so will know how much he has dropped off since leaving and whether he still has it (numbers-wise) to be a force at the top level.
I think they'll drop Laumape.
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders vs Blues:
@Cantab79 yeah it is good to see Frizell showing some form (guess that comes with being selected to start) making the selection of our 6 a wee bit less concerning...he has a real chance to own the jersey this year.
While many parts of NOnu's game make you want him back in, who are they gonna drop for him?
Goodhue - no
Crotty - no (although see SBW below)
ALB - no
Laumape - maybe, but probably notLeaving SBW, his durability sees him the most vulnerable IMO, if fit, we know they will select SBW...if he isnt it, this is where I see the door opening for Nonu (add Crotty to this too...)
Assume the AB coaches has access to all Nonu's fitness stats, so will know how much he has dropped off since leaving and whether he still has it (numbers-wise) to be a force at the top level.
Interesting thing is that Nonu possibly is already up to at least sixth in the pecking order - i.e. quite likely ahead of the likes of Matt Procter, Rob Thomson etc. In my view, he's shown enough that I'd rather see him in the squad rather than the best of the absolute rookies - even if he has lost a bit of speed.
A question in the midfield is how (and whether) they match the "power" players with the "finesse"players - or in fact whether they're happy to pair two finesse players (any two of Goodhue, Crotty and ALB in my mind) in the midfield. If they really want to play a big bopper - SBW, Laumape or Nonu - then I reckon that significantly improves Maá's chances (assuming they'd plan to take two big boppers).
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@Chris-B Nonu has power and finesse, that's what makes him tempting to me despite his age. I am hoping SBW misses out. He is not the answer.
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@Crazy-Horse Yeah - it's a bit arbitrary - because I think Goodhue and ALB have significant power as well - maybe not quite as much as the others.
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@Chris-B said in Highlanders vs Blues:
@Crazy-Horse Yeah - it's a bit arbitrary - because I think Goodhue and ALB have significant power as well - maybe not quite as much as the others.
I think Goodhue does. He is reminiscent of Nonu to ne.
ALB more a stepper to my mind. Akways seems to beat a defender with s step.
