Blues 2022
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@daffy-jaffy I am yet to be convinced by Darry. He lacks physicality right now for such a big unit. Hopefully this might come with age as it often does with young Locks. If Pierce goes and with Goodhue's concussion issues Lock could be a worry next year. Hopefully the replacements for GTC and PT can replicate their heavy defense and ball carrying skills that will be missed. I can see both Robinson and Plumtree getting some time at lock.
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Would Hamish Dalzell be worth a crack? Hes one guy who i thought would be looking at for next season. Sadly he's fallen victim to no NPC.
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@daffy-jaffy Darry has impressed me and he will only get bigger and stronger still a young lad,I c him potential allblack material down the track,he should get plenty of game time next season
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@african-monkey I put him in same basket as Caird and he hasn't really cracket Bunnings cup this year or last
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@african-monkey Dalzell did train with the team through this season so they will Know a bit about him. He is similar in playing style and height to Peirce so may be considered if Pierce goes.
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@daffy-jaffy yes maybe he will b considered but I just can't c it happening I'm sure they got overseas lock in mind I've herd couple rumours but wait and c and Bunnings cup will throw up a few names as well that will b considered I'm sure,like cridge maybe
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@daffy-jaffy does seem odd Pierce hasnt been given more opportunities, absolute unit.
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@taniwharugby big lad agree totally just needed more game time,mayb he still will depends on the Japan rumour
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@george33 I just mean this year (this was his 1st year with blues?) he played well in NPC, but were opportunities to play him in super but they didnt, I would expect him looking at other options would have been nearer the end of the super season when he wasnt getting game time.
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@taniwharugby pierce already had couple seasons with blues
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@stargazer yes looks the goods at provincial level don't no why hurricanes havnt picked him up
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@taniwharugby ,Neil Barnes the Taranaki coach and has been part of the chiefs ,tried to convince McMillian and Gatland to select Sam Caird in the 2020 chiefs squad ,reckons hes a late developer and his base fitness is 2nd to none ,superb at lineout and kick off recieves and his work rate is off the scale
Very quick for a big man as well..
One thing i will always say about Caird,he is always consistant performer in a Taniwha team where a majority of players dont always front. -
@steven-harris Caird really struggled to make an impact for the Tahs. Physically he really struggled with Super Rugby Aus and Trans Ta$man.
A hard toiler who didn't have the ability to physically impose himself was how it looked.
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@george33 He was injured a lot during his time at the Canes, and when he wasn't injured, he didn't get picked. One cap only. After a good and completely injury-free season with Hawke's Bay, the Canes decided not to re-sign him. It's a familiar story. The Canes did the same with Hugh Renton and look how well he's going for the Landers.
Cridge has been very good for the Magpies the last few years; starting almost every game. Trained with the Crusaders during 2021 preseason. He has a business near Christchurch, so a development contract is probably not an option for him anymore.
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@kiwimurph neither did whetton and I kept reading how he should of been picked for the Blues
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@steven-harris said in Blues 2022:
@kiwimurph neither did whetton and I kept reading how he should of been picked for the Blues
I don't disagree - Whetton was hugely disappointing for Tahs. Just pointing out that Super Rugby looked too high of a ceiling for Caird.
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@kiwimurph Tahs are last year we’re a very young inexperienced team that were poorly coached ..
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@steven-harris said in Blues 2022:
@kiwimurph neither did whetton and I kept reading how he should of been picked for the Blues
I don't think anyone has said that for a while. People wanted Whetton at the Blues a few years ago when he was close to the best lock in the NPC.
Injuries look to have caught up to him now and he looks a lot slower around the field.
