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    Stormers v Blues

    Rugby Matches
    blues stormers
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    • Tim
      Tim last edited by Duluth

      SBW bolsters Blues against Stormers in Cape Town

      17 May 2017

      All Black Sonny Bill Williams will return from injury for the Blues in their Super Rugby against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday morning (NZ time).

      Williams missed last week’s home match against the Cheetahs with concussion, but has been fully cleared to play in South Africa in the match at DHL Newlands at 7pm Friday (local time) which is 5am Saturday (NZ Time).

      Fellow All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi gets his second start of the season after his man-of-the-match performance coming on for the injured Pauliasi Manu in the win over the Cheetahs at Eden Park last weekend.

      The only other change from the starting line-up that beat the Cheetahs sees Gerard Cowley-Tuioti return to partner fellow in-form lock Scott Scrafton with All Black Patrick Tuipulotu to add real thrust off the bench.

      Piers Francis, who came off with injury at halftime last weekend, has recovered sufficiently to be named to start at first-five, with Bryn Gatland returning to the squad in the reserves.

      Melani Nanai, who has bagged five tries this season, retains his spot at fullback with Michael Collins to come off the bench.

      Head Coach Tana Umaga said the team had settled well after the long flight from New Zealand and were looking forward to what he expects will be a tough challenge against the Stormers.

      “We knew this back end of the season was full of challenges with our travel schedule. We have planned for it and we do have a number of players coming back from injury for us, and some hopefully ready to be considered back in New Zealand next week,” he said.

      “The Stormers at Newlands are a formidable challenge for us. We’ve played well for the last month and need to continue to improve every game as we look to produce an 80-minute performance.”

      Players not available because of injury include Jerome Kaino (knee), Pauliasi Manu (calf), Matt Moulds (knee), Ihaia West (ankle) and Jimmy Tupou (hamstring). Stephen Perofeta (ankle) has successfully returned to action and will complete his return to play with a second club game this week.

      The game starts at 5am (NZ time) on Saturday.

      The Blues team is:

      1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons (c), 3 Charlie Faumuina, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5 Scott Scrafton, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Blake Gibson, 8 Akira Ioane, 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 Piers Francis, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 13. George Moala, 14 Matt Duffie, 15 Melani Nanai.

      Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Michael Collins.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Kirwan
        Kirwan last edited by

        Who cares about SBW? Look at the back three, finally.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
        • KiwiMurph
          KiwiMurph last edited by

          Surprised and happy to see Nanai start at fullback. Much better than Collins and Blues have been going for broke going for tries lately turning down penalties so Nanai makes more sense on that front too.

          SBW needs a big game.

          Stormers will back themselves to win after beating Chiefs at Cape Town. Blues themselves will be confident and need to keep winning. Should be a cracker

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Tim
            Tim last edited by

            Well, I see that Tana has finally stopped blocking my calls - that's pretty much my preferred XV, except for being forced to start Tu’ungafasi at LH prop.

            Should get good contributions off the bench from Tuipulotu, Pryor, and Hodgman. Faiva's have some doubt about them.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
            • taniwharugby
              taniwharugby last edited by

              Hopefully Moala gives his outsides some decent ball, although I expect he'll roam a bit with Ioane slotting in at 13 in different plays

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • Tim
                Tim last edited by

                All the sports betting sites have the teams at even odds.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • F
                  Frye last edited by

                  15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Dillyn Leyds, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth (vice-captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.

                  Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Damian de Allende

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • F
                    Frye last edited by

                    That's a pretty good Stormers team. I think with the turnaround and travel the Blues have, it will work in the home teams favour. My money would be on the Stormers.

                    A big performance from SBW is what is needed here. What better chance to stamp his mark then to put in a game winning shift?

                    Although I truly don't think I'd be surprised if Treeby came away with the points decision.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • KiwiMurph
                      KiwiMurph last edited by

                      It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the Stormers assistant coach Paul Feeney vs Blues battle of inside knowledge.

                      This has a bit of a feeling of a down to the wire/crazy game that could go either way (Similar to Stormers v Chiefs).

                      The ref Van Heerden won't be doing the Blues any favours (he's rubbish) but Kiwi teams usually get decent support in Cape Town so I could see plenty of pro-Blues in the crowd.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Dice
                        Dice last edited by Dice

                        Can't complain too much with the line-up, although I was sneakily hoping to see Faiane and SBW in the midfield.

                        I thought Collins was going to start this week because they mentioned he was on the bench last week for rest, but it looks like he was just dropped.

                        This is a massive game for us. Even if we manage to scrape through with a win, we have to travel all the way back to face the Chiefs on a short turnaround. Two long flights in less than a week is pretty rough. Plus that game would be our 3rd short turnaround in the last 4 games.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                        • A
                          African Monkey last edited by

                          Sad to see Faiane out. Would rather see him and Moala in the midfield together. Hope we don't lose Faiane as I feel that he should be our 12 for the next 5-10 years. Hopefully SBW begins to show his quality.

                          KiwiMurph 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                          • KiwiMurph
                            KiwiMurph @African Monkey last edited by

                            @African-Monkey Completely agree. Faiane last week was better than anything SBW has produced. He looks the goods. I think he is a good chance of sticking around with the Blues though - the Blues stuck by Faiane through two years of ACL injuries.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                            • ACT Crusader
                              ACT Crusader last edited by

                              Yeah Faiane looked the goods in what has been a troublesome area (midfield) for the Blues this season.

                              I don't mind them starting SBW. You never know coming back from injury how long someone might last.

                              Also Moala hasn't been great shakes in the midfield either.

                              Tana looking for his two ABs to step it up.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • Dice
                                Dice last edited by

                                @KiwiMurph @African-Monkey Fortunately for us, Faiane is signed until 2019, so we're not at risk of losing him anytime soon.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • Bones
                                  Bones last edited by

                                  Looks like Gibson might be injured. Quelle surprise!

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • Bones
                                    Bones last edited by

                                    Parsons carry leads to turnover. Quelle surprise!

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • A
                                      African Monkey last edited by

                                      Shocking discipline from us so far.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Bones
                                        Bones last edited by

                                        God I can't stand the co-commentator that's doing this game. He's worse than Skinstad.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • A
                                          African Monkey last edited by

                                          Oh man this could be a long night.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • Bones
                                            Bones last edited by

                                            Blues destroy the stormers scrum after a good battle with the ref not even telling the stormers to use it, no penalty. Awful.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                            • Bones
                                              Bones last edited by

                                              Kolbe doesn't have to release the ball on the ground because he's a midget. Fair.

                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                              • A
                                                African Monkey last edited by

                                                Can Piers Francis stop kicking the fucken ball away

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                • KiwiMurph
                                                  KiwiMurph last edited by

                                                  Sucked in Etzebeth. Long time coming.

                                                  Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                  • Bones
                                                    Bones @KiwiMurph last edited by

                                                    @KiwiMurph said in Stormers vs. Blues:

                                                    Sucked in Etzebeth. Long time coming.

                                                    Hell yes. Surprising to see him finally get done for his niggly borderline dirty shit.

                                                    KiwiMurph Bones 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                    • KiwiMurph
                                                      KiwiMurph @Bones last edited by

                                                      SBW starting to warm to things.

                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                      • KiwiMurph
                                                        KiwiMurph last edited by

                                                        Ridiculous call on Pulu there.

                                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                        • Bones
                                                          Bones @Bones last edited by

                                                          @Bones said in Stormers vs. Blues:

                                                          @KiwiMurph said in Stormers vs. Blues:

                                                          Sucked in Etzebeth. Long time coming.

                                                          Hell yes. Surprising to see him finally get done for his niggly borderline dirty shit.

                                                          In saying that, no surprise who the scuffle was with...

                                                          KiwiMurph 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                          • KiwiMurph
                                                            KiwiMurph @Bones last edited by

                                                            @Bones Agreed. Akira needs to be careful with these refs.

                                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                            • Bones
                                                              Bones last edited by

                                                              Man Faumuina is gonna be missed.

                                                              KiwiMurph 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                              • KiwiMurph
                                                                KiwiMurph @Bones last edited by

                                                                @Bones the guys skills for a prop are unbelievable.

                                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                • Bones
                                                                  Bones last edited by

                                                                  How's the handling skills from Parsons! Magic stuff.

                                                                  KiwiMurph 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                  • Stargazer
                                                                    Stargazer last edited by

                                                                    Good crowd there, btw.

                                                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                    • KiwiMurph
                                                                      KiwiMurph @Bones last edited by

                                                                      @Bones Parsons in an AB jersey shells that pass.

                                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                                      • A
                                                                        African Monkey last edited by

                                                                        Damn it. Should be a good 2nd half.

                                                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                        • Bones
                                                                          Bones last edited by

                                                                          I know that resulted eventually in a try, but fuck me that tackle from Gibson was deadly.

                                                                          KiwiMurph 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                                          • KiwiMurph
                                                                            KiwiMurph @Bones last edited by

                                                                            @Bones Gibson's skills for the Parsons try were impressive too.

                                                                            Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                            • Bones
                                                                              Bones @KiwiMurph last edited by

                                                                              @KiwiMurph said in Stormers vs. Blues:

                                                                              @Bones Gibson's skills for the Parsons try were impressive too.

                                                                              Not convinced that was by design...

                                                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                              • KiwiMurph
                                                                                KiwiMurph last edited by

                                                                                Pulu good hustle to make up for a poor decision.

                                                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                                • A
                                                                                  African Monkey last edited by

                                                                                  No yellow?

                                                                                  Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                                  • Bones
                                                                                    Bones @African Monkey last edited by

                                                                                    @African-Monkey said in Stormers vs. Blues:

                                                                                    No yellow?

                                                                                    I'm happy with that, at least it's consistent - Ofa's on Treeby was worse and that was penalty only.

                                                                                    A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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