Sunwolves v Blues
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Game is 3pm nz time Saturday
From the Blues twitter
On Thursday we'll name our team to face the Sunwolves. Charlie, Ofa, Akira & Jerome will be available for selection.
Not considered due to minor injuries: Leighton Price (concussion), Piers Francis (ankle), Patrick Tuipulotu (ankle), Namatahi Waa (back)
Rieko is unavailable - given a bit more time to recover from his illness
With Piers Francis out you'd have to think Perofeta will get another start.
In fact i'd like to see 9 Nock 10 Perofeta 12 Faiane. I'd use this chance to give the youngsters some gametime - Trainor, Goodhue etc.
If they aren't good enough to beat the Sunwolves they shouldnt be in the squad in the first place.
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Sunwolves by 10 after Blues were found still partying after exhibition match win....
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@KiwiMurph said in Sunwolves v Blues:
Rieko is unavailable - given a bit more time to recover from his illness
Hansen was pretty vague about the illness, as are the Blues here. Slightly troubling - hope for Rieko's sake all is well.
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@rotated I don't think there's anything sinister at all. He was sick last week (which if you look at his rugby and travel schedule the past two months it's not hard to see why).
I don't see any benefit at all in flying him to Japan this week. Just let him R&R. Player welfare of your young stars is important.
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Yeah, it's flu season, and associated illnesses like strep throat are common too (Charlie Faumuina).
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@KiwiMurph said in Sunwolves v Blues:
@rotated I don't think there's anything sinister at all. He was sick last week (which if you look at his rugby and travel schedule the past two months it's not hard to see why).
I don't see any benefit at all in flying him to Japan this week. Just let him R&R. Player welfare of your young stars is important.
You don't see anything sinister in a Lions fan being in his kitchen, and then shortly after - a mysterious illness?
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1.OfaTu’ungafasi, 2. James Parsons (c), 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5. Scott Scrafton, 6. Akira Ioane, 7.Blake Gibson, 8. Steven Luatua; 9. Augustine Pulu, 10. Ihaia West, 11. Melani Nanai, 12. TJ Faiane, 13. George Moala, 14. Matt Duffie, 15. Michael Collins.
Replacements: 16. Hame Faiva, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19. Josh Goodhue, 20. Jerome Kaino, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Stephen Perofeta, 23. Rene Ranger
http://theblues.co.nz/faumuina-luatua-start-final-time-blues-japan/
Charlie Faumuina and Steven Luatua will play their last games for the Blues in their Investec Super Rugby season finale against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday. Coach Tana Umaga has honoured the club’s first ever clash against the Sunwolves with their strongest possible combination including the Blues’ All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Faumuina, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Akira Ioane. While New Zealand is rugging-up for a wintry blast this week, the Blues are preparing for temperatures over 30C Deg for the clash against the Sunwolves which kicks off at 12noon local time on Saturday. Umaga said he is expecting a lively and challenging match. “It is clearly a challenge to come back after a four-week break for a one-off game, as the Sunwolves have had two games in South Africa,” Umaga said. “We know the conditions will be tough but we have prepared as well as possible for that. “We have a number of players who will be in a Blues jersey for the final time and we want to honour them, as well as honour the Sunwolves in our first time in Japan by selecting our best possible team and playing good Blues rugby.” It will be the 99th game for the Blues for prop Faumuina, with what would have been his 100th thwarted by a bout of tonsillitis which sidelined him from their last Super game before the break, against the Reds in Samoa ion. Faumuina, who heads to France to play for Toulouse, is a major contributor to the game, with 50 games for Auckland and earning his 50th cap for the All Blacks in the final test against the British & Irish Lions last weekend. Luatua, who moves to England to play for Bristol under former Blues coach Pat Lam, has played 75 times for the club since his debut in 2012, including twice playing every game of the Super season. The loose forward/lock, who turned just 26 years recently, has played 38 times for Auckland and has 15 caps for the All Blacks. The game also marks the 45th and last in Blues colours for Ihaia West, who moves to the Hurricanes next season. The Blues had a warm-up match against the Honda club in Suzuka last weekend, with lock Patrick Tuipulotu and first-five Piers Francis both injured in that match and have returned home. Other not considered include Billy Guyton (leg), Leighton Price (concussion), Jimmy Tupou (calf, Matt Moulds (knee), Kara Pryor (calf), Namatahi Waa (neck) and Rieko Ioane (illness). -
I don't see the value in starting Ihaia - sounds like a thank you for his service.
Good to see Faiane at 12 and Nanai starting.
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@KiwiMurph Would have also liked to have seen Trainor on the bench for Ranger.
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I would've liked Trainor to get a start here, just to get some experience and to see what he has to offer before next season. He has the most upside of any of our fullback options, and is the only fullback we have who can run, kick and pass well. It gives our back 3 play less predictability when you have that sort of fullback. He is more the style of fullback every other NZ team uses.
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@Dice he's no Collins though.
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@Bones said in Sunwolves v Blues:
@Dice he's no Collins though.
We can only hope he reaches such heights. Jerry was a great player.
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@Dice said in Sunwolves v Blues:
@Bones said in Sunwolves v Blues:
@Dice he's no Collins though.
We can only hope he reaches such heights. Justin was a great player.
Fixed to give it the proper Blues focus
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Really shitty scheduling for this game.
I'm guessing it's an important weekend for Auckland club rugby, It definitely is down here in Christchurch.
NZRU should object to games that clash with local club comps, clubs are struggling enough already.
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@SammyC I think this weekend is the last round before club semifinals.
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@Tim said in Sunwolves v Blues:
@SammyC I think this weekend is the last round before club semifinals.
Same here... so it is an important weekend for a few teams
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@SammyC That ship has long ago sailed ....
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Surely it's a good time for the rugby clubs in Christchurch? You turn up for the game at 2:30 then you stay at the club, have a few beers and watch the Chiefs game and the Hurricanes game. It should work out well.
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King Carlos on commentary - cool
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Blues get away with a forward pass.. Ref must've thought it went back from the hands
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Nice forwards play Blues. Parsons try. Blues with a mountain of possession.
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Good try Sunwolves.
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LOL, Collins was stood up so easily.
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Collins the speed merchant streaks away for the try....
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@KiwiMurph haha deceptively slow...
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Nanai try saving tackle.
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Great try Sunwolves.
Blues kicking too much.
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nice try by SW
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Sun Wolves (what is a sun wolf?) giving absolutely everything today. Going into it at a million miles an hour.
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42°C at kickoff today.
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Sunwolves been the far better team after the first 10 mins. We're struggling to keep up.
Someone needs to teach Ofa to stay on his feet with ball in hand. We concede a lot of penalties with him going straight to ground.
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A few Blues players must be regretting those beards today.
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@Tim Sunwolves are typically a lot stronger in Tokyo than elsewhere in the last two seasons - their first game humiliation against the Canes aside.
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The heat has got to be a factor. It is too hot to move at the moment!
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West loves going into the pocket for a nothing kick.
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Pulu and West are conspiring to lose this
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Blues need to stop trying to win a kicking battle - it aint gonna happen.
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And Lafaele needs to stop taking players heads off
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Sunwolves the better team. Nock fucked up something horrendous there.
