Blues all time XV
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@taniwharugby besides spoilers are actually team capable of beating someone,don’t see it in the Blues..unless they have a few bods to come back on board..
Was chatting to a good friend and were talking about, who since super rugby started in 1996 would make the greatest ever Blues playing XV
We threw out a few names,and it’s a telling indightment if you picked a top XV ,there would be very few selected from recent seasons
Wing was the hardest to select.
Here’s a few names to get the ball rolling..Fullbacks Mils Muliaina/Charles Piatau/Adrian Cashmore/Jared Payne
Wings Jonah/Rupeni,Joeli/Joe Rocokoko/Doug Howlett/Reiko Ioane/Rene Ranger/Rudi Wulf
Centre Eroni Clark/Jeremy Stanley
2nd Five SBW /Ma Nonu..?/Sam Tuitupou/Benson Stanley,Johnny Ngamu/Isaia Toeava
1st Five Carlos Spencer,probably the easiest to pick not much since then
Halfback Offisa Tonu/Steve Devine.Just thought I would throw some backs out there first ,thoughts..?
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@steven-harris haha those wings though...wow! If you choose all at thier peak - Lomu/Rupeni would be my 2.
Jeremy Stanley looked immensley promising but for his neck injury
Sam Tuitopou, Piutau & Isa Nacewa
Am struggling to remember too many at all...am sure there are plenty of well known names I've forgotten.
Loosies- Rush, Akira, Zinny, Carter, Braid, Gus, Blowers, Jones, Kaino
LOcks - Brooke, Ali, Reichleman
Props - Brown, Dowd, Faumuina,
Hookers - Mealamu, Fitzy, Whitcombe -
@taniwharugby had to go back and edit lol,when you look at these names that we have quickly written down it tells you something about where we are at the minute
Was Isa Nacewa a wing who played fullback or the other way round..?for some reason I though may have also played closer in on the odd occasion..
I probably would have Stephen Luatua in the pack as well -
@steven-harris said in Blues v Jaguares:
if you picked a top XV
Kaino would be the only recent player in my top XV (Jones/Brooke/Kaino)
Obviously there's some good players that get squeezed out because of how incredible some of those early teams were. Mealamu vs Fitzpatrick for example.
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@duluth who would you have at fullback centre and 2nd five..?
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That’s fine, Mealamu probably makes an all-time Chiefs 15 ahead of Hika.
If I were selecting that Blues team though, I’d pick 23. Makes it a little easier to squeeze in some extra players
Toeava at 12 for me. I still hate it that he never got a proper shot at that position, but when he was fit, and at 12, he was unstoppable. If not there, 23 for sure.
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@steven-harris said in Blues v Jaguares:
@duluth who would you have at fullback centre and 2nd five..?
12/13 would be Stensness/Clarke
Eroni Clarke is my favourite Blues player of all time. I thought Stensness was always underrated because he had more spectacular players around him
15 depends on how you want the team to play. I would go for the 2003 fullback Howlett and go for all out attack.
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Ok, I'll be the first to stick my neck out.
Criticise away..
1 Dowd
2 Fitzpatrick
3 Brown
4 Williams
5 R Brooke
6 Kaino
7 Jones
8 Z Brooke
9 Tonu'u
10 Spencer
11 Caucaunibuca
12 Stensness
13 Clarke
14 Rokocoko
15 Howlett16 Mealamu
17 Woodcock
18 Faumuina
19 Luatua
20 D Braid
21 Devine
22 Nacewa
23 ToeavaIn summary its mostly the 95-98 team, a bit of the 2003 team and some reserves from late in Lam's tenure.
Not a single player that had a debut post Lam
I've picked based on what they did for the Blues.
I'm sure some people would squeeze others into the midfield like Ranger, Mils, Gear, Tuitupou etc. Where it's close of gone for the most consistent over a long time for the Blues
Hardest selections? Wing by a mile. I had to leave out Lomu. So many other good wingers don't make the 23
The next hardest was backup flyhalf. I gave up and it will be covered by utilities - Stensness or Nacewa
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@duluth Did MJ ever play 7 for the Blues? He was almost an exclusive 6 by then wasn't he ... not that I'm arguing with the selection, he'd be my 7 too
Also, surprised Dowd was with the Blues so long ... I'd still have Woodcock over him.
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This post is deleted! -
Yeah it was mostly Blowers and Carter at 7 in those years
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My 23 would be
1 Woodcock
2 Fitzpatrick
3 Famauina
4 Williams
5 R Brooke
6 Kaino
7 Jones
8 Z Brooke
9 Tonu'u
10 Spencer
11 Caucaunibuca
12 Stensness
13 Clarke
14 Lomu
15 Howlett16 Mealamu
17 Dowd
18 brown
19 Luatua
20 Luke Braid
21 Devine
22 Nacewa
23 ToeavaReally unlucky Rocokoko,
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This is a hard team to get into, a 100 test AB fullback can't make the squad and the best wing in the world doesn't get a mention (TBF he only has a season or two under his belt).
Mine:
Woody
Fitzy
Brown
Williams
Brooke
Kaino
Jones
Brooke
Devine
Spencer
Rupeni
Tuitupou
Clarke
Lomu
HowlettMealamu
Dowd
Faumuina
Reichlmann
Braid
Stensness
MilsI've picked Tuitupou over Stensness for the same reason people are picking Howlett on his 2003 form. He was the perfect foil for Spencer. Same with Devine at 9.
Reichlmann over Luatua as lock/6 cover as he's a better lock then Luatua.
Had Evans as last back reserve but then realised he only played one season. Didn't rate Nacewa as highly as a 10 as others on here so Stensness is back up 10 and midfield.
I wonder who will be the certainties from every poster - Spencer (unless Joe Schmidt is voting), Kaino, Williams? Maybe Fitzy, Zinny and MJ unless there are few youngins on here? Rupeni?
Edit: Realised I too had left out Mils, he goes on to my bench and Toeava slips off (he could be bracketed with Stensness I guess).
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Joeli Vidiri was sensational for them back in the day. That list of potential wings is ridiculously good. Waisake Sotutu hasn't even been mentioned yet!
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@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:
Joeli Vidiri was sensational for them back in the day. That list of potential wings is ridiculously good. Waisake Sotutu hasn't even been mentioned yet!
For good reason, he wasn't close to being as good as the other wings named and only player 4 matches for the Blues.
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@nepia said in All time Blues XV:
@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:
Joeli Vidiri was sensational for them back in the day. That list of potential wings is ridiculously good. Waisake Sotutu hasn't even been mentioned yet!
For good reason, he wasn't close to being as good as the other wings named and only player 4 matches for the Blues.
Well when you put it like that....
Very good for Auckland though. My memory is clearly fading...
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@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
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@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
Not so sure on Howlett, Mils was a better long term fullback and he'd be competing with Lomu, Rupeni on the wing so one of those three miss out if someone only sees him as a wing.
Younger posters might not select MJ 'out of position' at 7 either?
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@nepia Iceman was far and away the best 7 for the Blues and top 2 or 3 all time ABs. Put him in there and free up a spot for R Brooke. Put him in at 6 and who makes it in the 7 jersey? Daniel Braid? Don't say Mark Carter
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@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Iceman was far and away the best 7 for the Blues and top 2 or 3 all time ABs. Put him in there and free up a spot for R Brooke. Put him in at 6 and who makes it in the 7 jersey? Daniel Braid? Don't say Mark Carter
Are you drunk (or didn't read any of the preceding posts)? MJ was a 6 for the Blues and there's no way Robin Brooke is better than Kaino at 6
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@nepia said in All time Blues XV:
@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Iceman was far and away the best 7 for the Blues and top 2 or 3 all time ABs. Put him in there and free up a spot for R Brooke. Put him in at 6 and who makes it in the 7 jersey? Daniel Braid? Don't say Mark Carter
Are you drunk (or didn't read any of the preceding posts)? MJ was a 6 for the Blues and there's no way Robin Brooke is better than Kaino at 6
.Option A mate
Excuse me for butting in where I don't belong. Unforgiveable that I forgot Kaino (even though Brooke won more Super titles). Carry on..... -
No love for Andrew Blowers at 7? Unlike MJ he did actually play there and won consecutive titles there. I'd pick him.
A bit of a stop start AB career might mean he gets forgotten by some I guess.
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@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
I remember watching this live in Oz in the 03 WC. As you say he was just lethal, thank fuck he didn't get more ball from a Scots perspective.
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@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah
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@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah
Rokokoko saved his best for the black jersey if I remember rightly.
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@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:
@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah
Rokokoko saved his best for the black jersey if I remember rightly.
How shit was that pass to the big man? Went sideways and back to gather then it's all over
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@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:
@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah
Rokokoko saved his best for the black jersey if I remember rightly.
How shit was that pass to the big man? Went sideways and back to gather then it's all over
Cheers canefan. Always good seeing footage you've never seen before.
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@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:
@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@mn5 said in All time Blues XV:
@canefan said in All time Blues XV:
@steven-harris said in All time Blues XV:
@nepia Certs on any poster would be
Fitzpatrick
Jones
R Brooke
Z Brooke
Kaino
Spencer
Clark
Rupeni
Lomu
HowlettRocokoko is the one that’s doing my head,great finisher..do you pick him ahead of Jonah..Rupeni in my opinion ,and I got too see a lot of him close up when I did the sideline reports at Northland Taniwha games was just lethal,gased very good wingers like they weren’t even there..shame he played one game for Fiji when he was young..if he had played for the ABs in the NZ system could have been anything
Rocket man ahead of Jonah? Nah
Rokokoko saved his best for the black jersey if I remember rightly.
How shit was that pass to the big man? Went sideways and back to gather then it's all over
Cheers canefan. Always good seeing footage you've never seen before.
never gets old -
Woodcock
Fitzpatrick
Brown
Williams
R Brooke
Kaino
Jones
Z Brooke
Devine
Spencer
Rupeni
Tuitupou
Clarke
Lomu
MilsMealamu
Dowd
Faumuina
Luatua
Blowers
Tonu’u
Evans
HowlettGone with Evans as he was a bloody good player, despite only being there one year. Covers 10/15
Can afford to have a 14/15 on the bench as Mils covers midfield. -
@gunner said in All time Blues XV:
Gone with Evans as he was a bloody good player, despite only being there one year. Covers 10/15
Good player obviously, but I struggle to put Evans in an all time Blues team when his form for the Blues was poor. He was replaced by Nacewa that year
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@duluth said in All time Blues XV:
@gunner said in All time Blues XV:
Gone with Evans as he was a bloody good player, despite only bkeing there one year. Covers 10/15
Good player obviously, but I struggle to put Evans in an all time Blues team when his form for the Blues was poor. He was replaced by Nacewa that year
Fair enough - my memory of his form whilst at the Blues is poor.
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I’d have Rok ahead of Lomu. His record at the Blues over a long period was excellent. I think overall Rok was better for the Blues.
Howlett ahead of Mils. And even though he was only there for a relatively short period, Caucau was simply awesome in a Blues jersey.
I was a big fan of both Eroni Clarke and Tuitupo.
Spencer full stop. No other 10 in Blues history comes close. Mertz was better though....
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Cashmore
Doug
Clarke
Tuitupo
Rupeni
Carlos
Devine
Zinny
Braid
MJ
Brooke
Williams
Brown
Fitzy
Dowd -
Mils ahead of Cashmore with Nacewa on bench covering 10,15. Leaves room for either Dougie or Vidiri on the bench.
Did MJ play at 7 for blues? Hadn't he moved by then? If that is the case, he has to play 6 with JK on bench instead of Blowers. -
You could almost roll out the 2003 backline , cant remember exactly how it went , but i do remember as an attacking unit , it was as good if not better as any backline i have seen operating at super rugby level
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If there was ever one player I wanted ABs to poach, it was Rupeni. Omg I wanted to see what he looked like wearing black. (And if not for pressure from back home, I’ve always believed he was a little heartbroken that he never got to do it.)
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@act-crusader said in All time Blues XV:
Spencer full stop. No other 10 in Blues history comes close. Mertz was better though....
Oh, really?
#TwistsTheKnife
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@salacious-crumb said in All time Blues XV:
#TwistsTheKnife
Given our current performance, this just makes me sad now.
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@salacious-crumb said in All time Blues XV:
If there was ever one player I wanted ABs to poach, it was Rupeni. Omg I wanted to see what he looked like wearing black. (And if not for pressure from back home, I’ve always believed he was a little heartbroken that he never got to do it.)
Yeah I would love to have seen it for no other reason to see the best brought out in him , was an exceptional natural talent , was sad to see him running around fat and slow a few years later
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For me, Olo Brown is another certainty. He was the best tighthead prop in the world in the late nineties while Charlie Faumuina never was.
