Blues v Hurricanes
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Only managed to catch the 2nd half but from what i saw...
I'm bloody pleased/relieved/happy that TJP plays for the AB's - outstanding tonight and the perfect 9 to close out a close RWC2019 game
Ardie Savea has improved out of all recognition in the last 18 months. With Cane coming back we look good at 7.
Blues discipline and cool heads go walkabout far too often. Less than last year though so credit to Pat T and the coaching staff.
Akira Ioane needs to wind down the in-yer-face stuff and aggro once the whistle has stopped play if he's to make RWC19. The sort of crap he got involved with Jordy Barrett could cost us in tight games.
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@Crucial said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Chris said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Crucial maybe but I can’t see Hansen going Cane and Savea in the big games
I have no doubt Cane will be in the squad
Hansen seems to like Squire at 6I can see him having one of the two as the bench impact though instead of a 6.
Pretty sure that we may see them in tandem at some point.I was thinking we may see them in tandem closing games ,
its a matter of who starts ,
Savea is in irresistible form and deserves to start , but you could argue Cane is more of a starter than an impact type ,
when given the opportunity Todd has shown he looks ok coming off the bench in an up the tempo way
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@nzzp it’s quite funny we actually identified those crucial numbers before the game..I thought TJ was magnificent,not only did he manage and school both Pulu and Akira but also Bryant with constant chatter pointing out technical things to plant in the officials ear..the leadership has to be bought into question, I liked the way TJ Faiane led the Auckland team last year and I do wonder if he is a natural leader and thinker.
It’s very depressing following this mob, I could only imagine what Rangi is thinking..we hold to ball more than any other team, but you can set your clock that we will turn ball over at some stage and totally lose our defensive pattern..
Thought Papali’i was the Blues best by some distance, others had their moments but many offered up individual errors when it really mattered ..
Was also great to see Scrafton get on the paddock, offered a lot of energy and chatter ( heard him really trying to pick the players up on a couple of occasions)
Akira needs to develop his game, we all know his power, but where’s the passing game looking for someone in a better position and backing up..and once again the return of the angry guy..temperament is a big thing in my book, when he loses the plot it means frustration has set in..We already had a penalty,and that had the potential to be reversed..
Smart get in your head stuff from the Barrett’s almost paid dividends.,got in his head and it worked.. -
@Steven-Harris yep, we called it before the game too. Knowing they are better, adn being able to do something about it is another thing
If we were going to win, it was going to be up front and out wide. And our wings didn't have a great day out there.
Parsons - great to get 100 games, but seems a bit small at this level still. Great bloke, huge heart, but that doesn't get you to the next level.
Ma'a just has a pass that is sex on toast. But prone to loose carries this year, and just doesn't have the pace he used to. Still a couple of injuries away from being a fringe squaddie fo rthe ABs I reckon.
I liked Laumape. Looked very very good out there, just good physical fast player. Short though.
TJP was simply outstanding. Manipulated the ref, pushed the line just right and played well. He's drinking my tears of salty, impotent rage with a smile on his face.
After 7 games I was happy with how we were tracking - a clear lift on last year. Last night was a major regression. Not fun to watch, and obviously not fun to coach either. We have done enough to win another 2-3 games this year, but just can't close these out. Tough times as a supporter.
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I take back what I said about the Blues having improved their mindset this season. They should have had that game. I'll take the win, but by christ the Blues bottled it.
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Oh yes, and Pulu is utter pants. His AB test back in the day was a horror show and unfortunately he hasn't improved since then.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Akira had one of the worst games I've seen from him in ages -- but he didn't (and doesn't) get penalised for his off the ball stuff. It's largely disappeared from his game.
Also, I understand he had 24 carries last night. Twenty four!!! Clearly lazy
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I feel the Hurricanes forwards are missing a couple of big time leaders, similar to what TJ and Beaudy are for the backs. If we can get Coles and Evans back playing in the next few weeks it will give our forwards a little bit more edge, the edge needed to lift the Canes to their potential instead of scrapping out these ugly wins.
I think Smith, Armstrong and Numia have all performed well on the loosehead side, the tighthead side of the scrum is where we've really struggled this year and it hasn't helped with Fidow being injured for big parts. Toomaga Allen just doesn't cut it for me, big lump but he has no impact - will be happy to see the back of him. He is like the James Parsons of the Canes.
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@nzzp said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Akira had one of the worst games I've seen from him in ages -- but he didn't (and doesn't) get penalised for his off the ball stuff. It's largely disappeared from his game.
Also, I understand he had 24 carries last night. Twenty four!!! Clearly lazy
Believe me, I'm a fan. But that particular incident I think showed why he isn't getting selected.
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@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
I feel the Hurricanes forwards are missing a couple of big time leaders, similar to what TJ and Beaudy are for the backs. If we can get Coles and Evans back playing in the next few weeks it will give our forwards a little bit more edge, the edge needed to lift the Canes to their potential instead of scrapping out these ugly wins.
I think Smith, Armstrong and Numia have all performed well on the loosehead side, the tighthead side of the scrum is where we've really struggled this year and it hasn't helped with Fidow being injured for big parts. Toomaga Allen just doesn't cut it for me, big lump but he has no impact - will be happy to see the back of him. He is like the James Parsons of the Canes.
It's a shame Broadhurst had to retire. He would be just what we need now. Poor bugger. He was fantastic in 2015.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel same with Reggie Goodes. Both in their primes which made their retirements hard to take.
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@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel same with Reggie Goodes. Both in their primes which made their retirements hard to take.
Imagine those two there now with a fit Coles and Shields. The Canes would be contenders again. As it stands, they'd be totally furked without Ardie.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@nzzp said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Akira had one of the worst games I've seen from him in ages -- but he didn't (and doesn't) get penalised for his off the ball stuff. It's largely disappeared from his game.
Also, I understand he had 24 carries last night. Twenty four!!! Clearly lazy
Believe me, I'm a fan. But that particular incident I think showed why he isn't getting selected.
No it doesn't.
Akira has never ever been penalised once for off the ball stuff.
It simply has not happened.
So who cares?
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@nzzp said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Akira had one of the worst games I've seen from him in ages -- but he didn't (and doesn't) get penalised for his off the ball stuff. It's largely disappeared from his game.
Also, I understand he had 24 carries last night. Twenty four!!! Clearly lazy
Believe me, I'm a fan. But that particular incident I think showed why he isn't getting selected.
No it doesn't.
Akira has never ever been penalised once for off the ball stuff.
It simply has not happened.
So who cares?
Agree... Jordie was acting like a dickhead in that exchange too. Rugby’s a confrontational game, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of push and shove.
A bigger concern was Akiras work at the back of the scrum, but jeez I thought Perenara was offside at least a couple of times when he disrupted the play. Blues flankers should have offered a bit more protection too.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@nzzp said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Akira had one of the worst games I've seen from him in ages -- but he didn't (and doesn't) get penalised for his off the ball stuff. It's largely disappeared from his game.
Also, I understand he had 24 carries last night. Twenty four!!! Clearly lazy
Believe me, I'm a fan. But that particular incident I think showed why he isn't getting selected.
No it doesn't.
Akira has never ever been penalised once for off the ball stuff.
It simply has not happened.
So who cares?
Never once? I would say that gives a pretty damn good indication. Why else wouldn't he be selected? He might have been considered lazy back in the day, but has had a great work rate the past couple of years. It has to be something about his attitude. There's no way Whitlock and Frizzel would have been selected over him otherwise.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel Ardie is bossing it out there. Just need to make sure we keep him fresh. We are probably one win away from sealing 4th position which will allow us to rest players and get them ready for the playoffs.
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@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel Ardie is bossing it out there. Just need to make sure we keep him fresh. We are probably one win away from sealing 4th position which will allow us to rest players and get them ready for the playoffs.
Yeah I'm afraid they're thrashing him too much and he'll run out of steam. The guy has an incredible engine. Clearly and thankfully not like his brother.
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It'd be nice to see us run some backline moves off setpiece in the 22 as we're really forward orientated in that department. It must be moral sapping for the backs who never get the ball off setpiece in the 22, just watch the forwards(and sometimes halfback) mess up time after time in great scoring position.
Patrick should know by now that we're snake bitten in mauls. Even when we got some go forward the odd time there last night, we still messed it up. He's got to stop calling the forwards' number in the 22 - he's been here long enough to know that it only leads to tears.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel Ardie is bossing it out there. Just need to make sure we keep him fresh. We are probably one win away from sealing 4th position which will allow us to rest players and get them ready for the playoffs.
Yeah I'm afraid they're thrashing him too much and he'll run out of steam. The guy has an incredible engine. Clearly and thankfully not like his brother.
This, yeah he's in the wider squad (or whatever those camp guys are called) give the bugger a rest! They're thrashing him. Ardie is getting thrashed too, but that's his way of playing - I hope he doesn't burn out!
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@nzzp said in Blues v Hurricanes:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Blues v Hurricanes:
And Jordie Barrett (of all people) showed why Akira Ioane doesn't get selected for the ABs. He's an absolutely phenomenonal talent but who would bet against him doing something dumb in a big game?
Akira had one of the worst games I've seen from him in ages -- but he didn't (and doesn't) get penalised for his off the ball stuff. It's largely disappeared from his game.
Also, I understand he had 24 carries last night. Twenty four!!! Clearly lazy
Believe me, I'm a fan. But that particular incident I think showed why he isn't getting selected.
No it doesn't.
Akira has never ever been penalised once for off the ball stuff.
It simply has not happened.
So who cares?
Never once? I would say that gives a pretty damn good indication. Why else wouldn't he be selected? He might have been considered lazy back in the day, but has had a great work rate the past couple of years. It has to be something about his attitude. There's no way Whitlock and Frizzel would have been selected over him otherwise.
Akira was the only player included in the recent foundation camp that had not played a test. That doesn't say he is on the outers to me.
