Blues 2022

[Duluth]

Stuff

After coach Leon MacDonald described the injuries as "serious" Tuivasa-Sheck has pulled up better than expected, and will only face weeks on the sidelines - better than first feared.

But Plummer hasn't been as lucky in his diagnosis, and will require surgery that ends his 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

[Kirwan]

@duluth That's a shame, he's been very useful for us. Good news regarding RTS.

[Stargazer]

[Dice]

RTS on Tana's podcast.

It's a few weeks old but it's a good listen.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NWR1PWUIeElKLJqiPzkeA?si=elcIG_qNRvWG1Putff9pPA

[Tim]

From instagram, it looks like Ioane has had his cast removed and is back on the watt bike.

[Stargazer]

[Tim]

Assuming Barrett is out, what will the 23 be?

I like having Choat off the bench against the Highlanders. Got to imagine that the Highlanders will really target the breakdown to give themselves a chance. Two loose forwards on the bench? Papalii, Sotutu, Robinson, and Plumtree all look pretty fit though. Do we have a good jackler we can put on the bench?

Pretty much an unchanged side from the last game, but would like to see Romano have a game off.

1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Laulala
4 Darry
5 Goodhue
6 Robinson (if fully fit)/Plumtree
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu
9 Christie
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 Heem
13 Ioane
14 Telea probably still first choice, but would be a good opportunity to try Lam or Kneepkens
15 Sullivan

16 Vikena (more impact off the bench)
17 Lam (looked decent in his first game)
18 Tu'ungafasi (should he get a start?)
19 Tucker (looked good last game, could push for a start?)
20 Choat
21 Nock
22 Tele'a/Tua/Evans
23 A back or another loose forward?

[Crucial]

This post is deleted!

[Bovidae]

The Blues have their game against MP on Tuesday so do they pick their strongest team for the Highlanders and a 2nd XV for MP, or mix and match?

[Tim]

@bovidae Got to be a 2nd XV vs MP. Perhaps with Barrett at 10.

[cgrant]

I'd like to see Suafoa get his first cap from the bench. He has a lot of potential and Kainoesque physical attributes.

[Tim]

@cgrant Good call. He showed some ability over the ball in preseason too.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Crazy Horse]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:

Anyone know if there is chatter around the Blues or Auckland giving Sullivan opportunities at 10 yet? I haven't read anything. He seems to have future test player written all over him but I am not sure his style suits what the ABs have been looking for.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300551970/super-rugby-pacific-early-signs-positive-for-beauden-barrett-after-latest-head-knock

[gt12]

@tim said in Blues 2022:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300551970/super-rugby-pacific-early-signs-positive-for-beauden-barrett-after-latest-head-knock

Doesn’t sound like Zarn will be seen as a 10 from that article.

[KiwiMurph]

@gt12 said in Blues 2022:

@tim said in Blues 2022:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300551970/super-rugby-pacific-early-signs-positive-for-beauden-barrett-after-latest-head-knock

Doesn’t sound like Zarn will be seen as a 10 from that article.

That sounds more like speculation on Hinton's part than any direct quotes from Leon.

[KiwiMurph]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300551727/super-rugby-pacific-blues-hail-qualities-of-allrounder-jock-mckenzie-as-they-dig-deep

[Daffy Jaffy]

Blues injury report 👨‍⚕️

Akira Ioane (Foot, lis franc) - 3 weeks
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Shoulder & Hamstring) - 3 weeks
Sam Darry (Ankle) - 1 week
Beauden Barrett and Josh Goodhue are facing HIA protocols this weekend
Harry Plummer (Shoulder) - Season

[nzzp]

@daffy-jaffy pleased to see Akira is a few weeks away. Those could be a long term injury