Blues v Hurricanes

antipodean

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Kirwan Time will tell but not obvious to me tbat Beauden Barrett is being trusted yet with as a big a role with the Blues as he had in his last couple of seasons with the Hurricanes.

John Plumtree was a big believer in starting BB at 10 and now he's now All Blacks Assitant Coach. Smiley and Robyn like to see their son at First Five too.

He was also a big believer in starting Blackwell at lock, so questions must be asked of both him and NZR.

And also having a seven foot three SA lock to compensate.

I suppose one lineout target is better than none. That's genius level coaching right there.

Higgins

@antipodean Makes it rather easy for the opposition when they throw in, just biff it to where Blackwell is standing and it is sure lineout win for your team.

antipodean

My facetiousness aside, there's a reason everyone says you need three genuine options to throw to. It's an amazing shortcoming in the squad selection and retention programme to end up where they're at.

Tim

Beauden Barrett has done the right thing leaving the Hurricanes tight five behind

Leaving the Hurricanes was obviously as much about lifestyle and commercial opportunities as it was about football. But rugby surely played a part too and that decision was vindicated on Sunday.

Billy Tell

The hurricanes looked really one dimensional on attack. Traditionally the canes have had a soft pack compensated by dazzling backs. There it was just NH style smash it up bro tactics with no guile. No great options at 10 or 15. Reckon they finish 5th of the franchises.

cgrant

Proctor's and Barrett's departures could explain that.

African Monkey

@sparky I never said he was terrible, I just thought he was well contained by the Hurricanes. It was a solid, without being spectacular debut.

voodoo

I watched at a pub catching up with an old mate, so didn't focus terribly hard on the game, but I hought Laumape was awful, particularly defensively.

Ah well, after one week of getting into Canes rugby again, I'm now prepared to sacrifice them if the old adage "when Auckland rugby is strong..." holds true...

Machpants

Interesting stat I'd not seen before -post contact metres- 72m!

Dice

With all the hype and attention we got leading up to this game, and with the big crowd that turned up, I'm glad we got the win. It would've been more demoralizing than usual if we bombed.

Happy to see Beauden finally debut for the Blues. Would've been nuts if he got the pass from Caleb in the first half and scored.

Dice

@Machpants I'm guessing they got the idea for post contact metres from the NRL. The NRL probably got it from the NFL, who call it YAC(Yards After Contact).