Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022

[Dice]

@duluth I understand where you're coming from. I think I see the ingredients for a good player, but he needs a bit more strength to push him over the line.

With the backrowers we have, he really just needs to get to a level where he's a good depth player.

[bobily2]

@duluth said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

@dice said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

I like Segner too, but I think he might be a year away from really contributing.

I'm a Segner sceptic

Hopefully I'm wrong but I've been underwhelmed by what I've seen of him even at NPC level.

He has an interesting back story and I think that's has generated more positive coverage than his play has warranted

Even at U20 level, I wasn't particularly impressed with him. To me Kellow looked to be the best Crusader U20 loose forward.

[Dice]

Since we're playing the Canes, I thought I'd post this classic try.

Probably the best try we've scored against the Canes.
https://streamable.com/5tievs

[Duluth]

HURRICANES TEAM NAMED FOR RD2 CLASH AGAINST THE BLUES

1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
2 Asafo Aumua
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 James Blackwell (50th Cap)
5 Justin Sangster
6 Reed Prinsep
7 Blake Gibson *
8 Ardie Savea (c)
9 Jamie Booth
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop
11 Salesi Rayasi
12 Julian Savea
13 Bailyn Sullivan
14 Wes Goosen
15 Jordie Barrett

16 Jacob Devery
17 Xavier Numia
18 Ben May
19 Devan Flanders
20 Brayden Iose
21 Richard Judd
22 Ruben Love
23 Peter Umaga-Jensen

[Dice]

@duluth Some weird selections in there.

Looks like they're backing Gibson to have a revenge game against us.

[Duluth]

I doubt anyone predicted a Savea/Sullivan midfield

[Tim]

@duluth Could be a field day for Ioane.

[mikey07]

This post is deleted!

[Canes4life]

Holland has to go, ffs there is no consistency in his selections. Really? Savea over Umaga-Jensen in the midfield? You've got to be kidding me.

[Crucial]

@duluth said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

I doubt anyone predicted a Savea/Sullivan midfield

Will certainly be worth a watch. Could be the rebirth of big Jules.
I thought he looked very 12 like in his wing play last week.
We have always wanted Ardie at 12 but Jules has beat him to it.

I'm excited to see how he goes.

[Tim]

Is Tei Walden fit?

[Higgins]

@canes4life I see Pet Prinsep is back starting too

[Canes4life]

@tim I think he's still a wee while away.

[Bovidae]

I thought that Booth's option-taking and passing was average against the Crusaders so he could have been one back that was dropped.

[Machpants]

I’d have put Savea at 12, and UJ at 13. Savea may not have the step, but he can fix the defensive line, keeps his shoulders square and doesn’t crab. He is actaully what the ABs need too, not him, but someone who can do that.

But yes, his defence ain’t great.

And Princep jeysus, if Blues loosies all fit, they’ll monster the break down.

[foobaNZ]

Prinsep, Blackwell & JGB

Lol what a nightmare.

Man PUJ must be wondering what to do, makes the ABs, plays really well, and the next season gets benched most of the time. This year plays one game, and gets benched for J Savea at 12. What a joke.

Iose, Ardie & Flanders should be the back row.

Love & PUJ should be in that back line. It would look lethal with them at 10 & 12.

On a positive note, good to see Rayasi and Sullivan in there.

[Canes4life]

@bovidae too much averageness in that Canes team. Booth, Garden-Bachop, Savea at 12, Prinsep, Blackwell. It looks like an NPC side.

[mariner4life]

@dice said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

Since we're playing the Canes, I thought I'd post this classic try.

Probably the best try we've scored against the Canes.
https://streamable.com/5tievs

god i miss Joey Rocs and Spencer

[Canes4life]

What I don't get is that if Holland wanted to play Savea in the midfield he should have done it in pre-season.

What the f#ck is the point of pre-season, just a waste of time if the team structure doesn't resemble what's going to happen during the season proper.

[Duluth]

THE BOYS ALL SET FOR SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC OPENER — Blues Rugby

The Blues will welcome eight All Blacks, past or present, into their line-up for the first appearance in the DHL Super Rugby Pacific. They take on the Hurricanes, who impressed in their opening loss against the Crusaders, at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday night.

1 Alex Hodgman (42)
2 Kurt Eklund (24)
3 Nepo Laulala (13)
4 Josh Goodhue (38)
5 Luke Romano (0)
6 Tom Robinson (34)
7 Adrian Choat (5)
8 Hoskins Sotutu (24)
9 Finlay Christie (18)
10 Harry Plummer (44)
11 Caleb Clarke (27)
12 Roger Tuivasa-Scheck (0)
13 Rieko Ioane (73)
14 Mark Telea (25)
15 Zarn Sullivan (7)

16 Ricky Riccitelli
17 Ofa Tuungafasi (107)
18 Marcel Renata (19)
19 Sam Darry (5)
20 Anton Segner (0)
21 Sam Nock (41)
22 Stephen Perofeta (31)
23 Tanielu Tele’a (13)

Key players missing with injuries include All Blacks Beauden Barrett and captain Dalton Papalii, both recovering from head knocks, and Akira Ioane