Blues 2020
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@Tim Once that happened I would have chased Mitch Jacobson or Slade McDowell before Lamborn. I was surprised neither was picked by their local team. i guess they wanted experience. Re: your team above, The more I look at the balance of the back rowers picked I think you are right that they will use Papalii at 7. I don't think its his best position but it gets all the best players on the park together.
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@Tim Meh, not as fussed about missing out on him as a lot of others are on here. Lamborn's ok as backup.
Still too many glaring holes for me especially in the backs. 9 as usual, depth at 12 and 15 could become problem positions for us. I'd assume that Plummer/Groundwater could see a bit of gametime should Faiane go down. Fullback worries me. Think we're screwed there when Perofeta and Duffie inevitably get injured. Maybe Narawa's worth a look there?
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@Bones Settle down mate anything's better than him
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@African-Monkey said in Blues 2020:
@Bones Settle down mate anything's better than him
We could play without a fullback and be ahead of where we were with Collins on the field.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Once that happened I would have chased Mitch Jacobson or Slade McDowell before Lamborn. I was surprised neither was picked by their local team.
Unfortunately for Mitch the Chiefs have 3 opensides in their squad so were never going to pick a 4th.
Interestingly MacDonald said on the radio that Tucker can also play 6 and 8 so that explains why he was grouped with the back rowers on some team lists I saw.
I mentioned that earlier. Remember that Tucker played at no.6 for the NZ Provincial Barbarians against the Lions and played there a few times for Waikato this year. When he has played for his club it has usually been at no.8.
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@Bovidae I am a fan of Tucker - how do you think he might go covering 6 or 8 at super level? I have only seen him play lock.
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@Daffy-Jaffy I think Tucker might be better suited at 6 in SR because he isn't the tallest lock going around. One of his biggest assets is his mobility. No.8 would require more ball-handling from scrums but I am sure he could do a job there too if required.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
The more I look at the balance of the back rowers picked I think you are right that they will use Papalii at 7. I don't think its his best position but it gets all the best players on the park together.
Yeah, there's a lot of 6 cover in the squad so that suggests Papali'i will be used at 7 often
I agree it's not his best position. For some reason his judgement is off and he pushes the refs too hard.. hopefully he fixes that quickly.
I've been saying for a year that I think he's the best blindside in NZ. I hope he still gets significant time in his best spot.It's more about Gibson fading a little IMO. If it's a choice between Robinson or Gibson in the starting xv, Gibson misses out.
That has implications for the captaincy
Last year it was co-captains: Tuipulotu and Gibson. No captain has been announced yet but I assume it will Tuipulotu on his own
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@Duluth While I think the captaincy is good for P.T. i'm not sure he is that good a captain if you know what I mean. It seems to fire him up to play well but he may be not verbal enough with his team or so strategically aware . TJ.F has been mentioned as an option. Papalii has been seen as a leader since his school days but maybe too early yet?
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@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah Patty's always been a quiet guy in general which is why I was suprised he ever got the gig in the first place. I'd prefer TJ Faiane to have it tbh.
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@African-Monkey said in Blues 2020:
@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah Patty's always been a quiet guy in general which is why I was suprised he ever got the gig in the first place. I'd prefer TJ Faiane to have it tbh.
They couldn't of picked a more introverted duo than Blake and Patty to be co-captains. Both seem to hate the camera and neither really talk all that much on the field.
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@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
Long term I’d prefer Papali’i over TJ
Maybe next year?
Pick Dalton so they keep him on the damn field
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BLUES UNDER 17’S SELECTED FOR 2020
The Blues Under 17 Development Squad for 2020 is:
Manase Mahunga – Aorere College
Faka’aongo Lea’aemanu – Auckland Grammar
Falcon Leasuasu – Auckland Grammar
Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo – Auckland Grammar
Gage Jackson – Auckland Grammar
Fionn McKenna – Auckland Grammar
Xavier Enesi Saifoloi – Botany
Lucas Payne – Dargaville HS
Iain Onosi – DeLaSalle
Lima Enosa – DeLaSalle
Joeseph Tunumafono Sale – DeLaSalle
Dylan Roxburgh – Howick College
Nicholas Snyman – Howick College
Matthew Monaghan – Huanui College
Kobe Walters – Kamo High School
Tony Tafa – Kelston Boys
Senta Luaki – Kelston Boys
Zyon Maiu’u – Kelston Boys
Corey Natano – Cassidy – Kelston Boys
Cephus Salaivao – Kelston Boys
Dominic Gagaeolo – Kelston Boys
Dorian Guagatao – Kelston Boys
Kobe Scutt – Kelston Boys
Sam Howling – Kelston Boys
Lucas Casey – Kerikeri HS
Sam Harper – Kerikeri HS
Francis Manuleleua – Kings College
Eric Vaafusuaga – Kings College
Che Clarke – Kings College
Chicago Doyle – Kings College
Zinzan Hansen – Massey High
Jerry Vibose – Massey High
Henare Leefe – Mt Albert Grammar
Jackson Meacham – Mt Albert Grammar
Tama Anderson – Mt Albert Grammar
Mike Kafoa – Otahuhu College
Mose Tuialii – Otahuhu College
Tony Malamala – Papatoetoe
Truman Cuff – Rosmini College
Josiah Unga – Sacred Heart
Kobe Kay – Sacred Heart
PJ Uiese – Sacred Heart
Adam Tamati – Sacred Heart
Ale Aho – St Kentigerns
Taine Kolose – St Kentigerns
Will Bason – St Kentigerns
Jade Stewart – St Kentigerns
Konrad Toleafoa – St Peters College
Ajay Faleafaga – St Peters College
Jeremiah Asi – St Peters College
John Steele – Takapuna Grammar
Hunter Rice – Takapuna Grammar
Mene Manase – Tangaroa College
Mounir Ramach – Te Kuru Kaupapa Maori o Taumarere
Righard Snyman – Westlake Boys
Will Evans – Westlake Boys
Chandler Cunningham-South – Westlake Boys
Caleb Falloon – Westlake Boys
Rupeti Tavui – Westlake Boys
Koha Mahanga – Whangarei Boys
