Blues 2020
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@gt12 said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
He’d need to nail down 6 or 7 first though. In that case, put him at 7?
He didn't go well at 7 this year. Maybe he was trying too hard to push the limits?
I think he should be the long term captain. Next year might be too soon though. He's likely to be moving around a lot next year 6, 8 & sometimes 7.
It's a big ask to do that and captain. -
@gt12 said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
Looking forward, Gibson should take the cash while he can. I think Robinson has plenty of room for development too.
The cumulative effects of the injuries are taking a toll on Gibson. Also, he has never been a great linking 7 and that aspect of his play went backwards this year
Choat looks like a good prospect
Robinson has a big role to play. I would like to see him and Dalton sharing the 6 jersey. With Robinson occasionally moving into lock
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That could be the best way to use them. Personally I think Dalton just went to hard in his first few games at 7 - when he focuses on being more Cane and less Ardie (especially picking and choosing turnover opportunities) I think he could be a real weapon as a 7/6.
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@Toddy said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
How many really high profile players have switched teams? Ali Williams? Lomu? There must be others. Nonu liked to get around (though whether that was his choice).
Rico Gear is always the answer to this question.
SBW, although he's only been successful at the Chiefs.
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
@gt12 said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
He’d need to nail down 6 or 7 first though. In that case, put him at 7?
He could be rotated a bit, but you’d expect him to play most games.
Personally, I think we needed his work rate at 6 over Robinson. But with Gibson's effectiveness being blunted by years of injury we could look at him there.
Again, completely agree with this @Kirwan . I'd even slightly rephrase your statement to be... "Personally, I think we needed his more effective work rate at 6 over Robinson"
Dalton just has that look, an incredible athlete who already has good size but a frame that could easily carry another 7-10 kgs and still maintain the same speed and athleticism.
To be frank, I'm one of those not so enamored with Robinson and never got the AB bolter chat early in the season. I think he has a bit of headless chicken about his play and watching him live vs Brumbies, he was all over the shop but not very effective.
I think we would be best served by having Dalton at 6, Gibson at 7 and a fit Akira at 8 (with Robinson off the bench covering 6/lock) getting consistent game time but reality says, we'll be unlikely to see this lineup get regular game time as Gibson just looks so injury prone and Dalton's had his fair share in his young career.
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@RoninWC said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
To be frank, I'm one of those not so enamored with Robinson and never got the AB bolter chat early in the season. I think he has a bit of headless chicken about his play and watching him live vs Brumbies, he was all over the shop but not very effective.
In the Chiefs-Blues game in Hamilton, Robinson spent most of the game out wide on one flank. Great for those try-scoring highlights in the corner but not how no.6s usually play. Maybe it was tactics but it was unusual to see.
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@Bovidae said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
In the Chiefs-Blues game in Hamilton, Robinson spent most of the game out wide on one flank. Great for those try-scoring highlights in the corner but not how no.6s usually play. Maybe it was tactics but it was unusual to see.
Tactics. Papali'i was positioned out wide too when playing 6
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Crusaders game down here Robinson was in everything. The only Blues forward that stood up and took us on.
1014 rugby did a good little segment on him after one of the Chiefs games too, they showed him and Retallick going at each other all game.
I like him.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
It must be remembered Robinson was just a rookie.
Yes, he'll be better with that season under his belt. My only criticism of him was his accuracy. Lots of effort, some of it wasted
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@Kirwan you mean... who wants to move to Auckland to be with his missus... "oh, you guys have got a rugby franchise up here? Far out, that's choice!! I'll bring my boots!"
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@antipodean said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
@Canes4life said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
Obviously, a good signing by the Blues but I don't think Beaudy is going to be the Blues saviour unless the forwards really front up. I just can't see that happening when the rest of their spine is questionable. The Blues might improve slightly but I still think they will be 4th or 5th best in NZ.
The point is they've effectively solved a gaping hole in their game.
I remember when they signed Nick Evans. He was meant to be the answer but it just didn't happen. BB is a massive upgrade for sure. But if the rest of the team fail to come up to snuff it will amount to more polishing of the Blues rugby turd
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@canefan Agreed but it was also a wee bit different with Evans. Evans signed for 1 year and I think had one foot on the plane the whole time. He was off overseas pretty much straight after so that deal would have been done during the season.
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@Duluth said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
@canefan said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
LOL disappointing for sure. The rest of the team is still good, time to find another up and coming 10 to steer the cutter. He helped us win our first title, almost won 2 more (I think if we had beaten the Saders a fortnight ago we would have accounted for the Jags) so good luck and God Bless!!
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
@canefan Agreed but it was also a wee bit different with Evans. Evans signed for 1 year and I think had one foot on the plane the whole time. He was off overseas pretty much straight after so that deal would have been done during the season.
BB plans on having at least 1 sabbatical, maybe 2. I still think the deal was worth it but who knows how motivated he will be to win up here. There is cause for optimism north of the Bombays for the first time in a long time though. My Father in Law will be happy going to the games this season
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@Paekakboyz said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
@Kirwan you mean... who wants to move to Auckland to be with his missus... "oh, you guys have got a rugby franchise up here? Far out, that's choice!! I'll bring my boots!"
totally Facetious, but this is probably closer to the mark. I doubt he will play 25 games for the Blues throughout his career given sabatticals, stand downs and injuries due to his age. If managed properly those 25 games could be very important ones though. Some may argue with Black and Plummer under contract signing an ageing ex-AB is one too many 10s, but I would back talent over individual postions.
Highly doubt it will change recruiting for next season, and the 2021 recruitment cycle will hinge on how they get out of the blocks next year. A move that says more about Beaudy than the Blues IMO.
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@canefan said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
@antipodean said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
@Canes4life said in Blues 2020 - Beauden Barrett is Signed:
Obviously, a good signing by the Blues but I don't think Beaudy is going to be the Blues saviour unless the forwards really front up. I just can't see that happening when the rest of their spine is questionable. The Blues might improve slightly but I still think they will be 4th or 5th best in NZ.
The point is they've effectively solved a gaping hole in their game.
I remember when they signed Nick Evans. He was meant to be the answer but it just didn't happen. BB is a massive upgrade for sure. But if the rest of the team fail to come up to snuff it will amount to more polishing of the Blues rugby turd
Yeah they seem to be missing the fact they are still the Blues . The reverse Midas of nz rugby - everything they touch turns to shit.
