Blues v Force
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v Force:
@kirwan said in Blues v Force:
Losing Reiko would be huge.
if it was a big game...while the Force have always been a tricky opponent, the BLues should still account for them.
I'm not worried about the win, we should get that. The bonus point may be an issue without RI, as if you look at his stats he's been the best performing centre. Sets up a lot of our trys.
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@kirwan said in Blues v Force:
@taniwharugby said in Blues v Force:
@kirwan said in Blues v Force:
Losing Reiko would be huge.
if it was a big game...while the Force have always been a tricky opponent, the BLues should still account for them.
I'm not worried about the win, we should get that. The bonus point may be an issue without RI, as if you look at his stats he's been the best performing centre. Sets up a lot of our trys.
I wouldn't mind if the replacement centre had a stormer and they put Reiko on the wing for the final if it will lead to Foster selecting him as the left wing for the ABs.
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@bovidae said in Blues v Force:
I doubt the Blues will need a BP as they have a big PD advantage.
I'm not too comfortable with the PD advantage we have. I can see the Crusaders and Highlanders closing the gap quite easily. And it's not a guarantee that we will add many more points to the PD with the Force having 3 close losses in their last 4 games.
We do have the benefit of playing last of the contenders, so we'll know what we need to do to get a final/home final.
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@bovidae said in Blues v Force:
I doubt the Blues will need a BP as they have a big PD advantage.
That would be a bold approach, to make the final on PD is one thing but to bank on it is another, they'll surely want to go for it
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@kiwiwomble said in Blues v Force:
@bovidae said in Blues v Force:
I doubt the Blues will need a BP as they have a big PD advantage.
That would be a bold approach, to make the final on PD is one thing but to bank on it is another, they'll surely want to go for it
This conversation is a bit meaningless. The Blues aren't banking on anything, they play after the Highlanders and Crusaders.
They'll know what they need before kickoff.If the Crusaders win by more than 39 (or the Highlanders by more than 27) then the Blues will need to improve their points diff or win with a bonus point to get a home final.
39 is still a lot. So far the best Crusaders margin has been 35 -
I'm sure the Blues want a BP win as that guarantees a home final, but unlike the Highlanders and Crusaders it isn't necessary.
@Duluth explained the calculations I had typed. The Highlanders beating the Brumbies in Canberra by 29 pts is a big ask. That is assuming that the Blues won by only 1 pt but the Highlanders would need to have a PD of 1 pt better to overtake the Blues. The same for the Crusaders.
Tie breaking rules In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position on the Competition table, either during or at the end of the season, such position will be decided upon using the following steps until the tie is broken: a) Most wins from all matches; b) Highest aggregate points difference from all matches; c) Most tries from all matches; d) Highest aggregate difference of total tries for versus tries scored against from all matches; e) Coin toss -
Expect the Blues accordingly to send out something resembling their best available for this pivotal contest. Nepo Laulala should slot in at starting tighthead, and possibly Hoskins Sotutu could return at No 8. The backline has been pretty settled through this campaign.
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@duluth said in Blues v Force:
Is there any definition of what the rest protocol is? Completely out of the 23? Just in TT?
It'll definitely include R Ioane who has started every match. What's the centre pairing? TJ/Heem? Plummer/TJ? I assume Tele'a is still injured?
If Rieko has to be rested, I'd be OK with TJ/Heem. We did get Plummer/TJ at the end of the Tahs game though.
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@kiwimurph Didn't know it was so tough to spell.....
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@nogusta said in Blues v Force:
might see Ray Niuia get a run in this one
Interesting.
His two year deal is just about up. So he'd basically be playing for a new contract.
Looks like he only made it on the field once as a sub last year
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@african-monkey parting gift from the coaches? the dude has only had about 5 minutes playing time in 2 years!
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1 Alex Hodgman, 2 Kurt Eklund, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Gerard Cowley Tuioti, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 6 Tom Robinson, 7 Dalton Papalii, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Otere Black, 11 Mark Telea, 12 TJ Faiane, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Bryce Heem, 15 Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 AJ Lam
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@duluth said in Blues v Force:
1 Alex Hodgman, 2 Kurt Eklund, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Gerard Cowley Tuioti, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 6 Tom Robinson, 7 Dalton Papalii, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Otere Black, 11 Mark Telea, 12 TJ Faiane, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Bryce Heem, 15 Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 AJ Lam
that team really should be better than it is.
Is Leon MacDonald just another bog-average coach?
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@mariner4life Leon is certainly a step up on Tana and Kirwan as a head coach but yeah I think he's not at the level of Razor and say Tony Brown.
Pleased to see Goodhue back as I thought his injury might be worse. Was probably in his best form for Blues prior to the injury.
