Blues 2020
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2020:
surprised Tua is, guess they see some potential in him being so young, but outside his debut season for Northland, he has struggled with injury and form...
Yeah, he started the first game ahead of full squad members. It is surprising.. maybe he's training well?
It could be injuries too? I assume Tele'a is injured
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@Duluth he is a beast in the gym apparently, so probably ticking the off-field stuff.
Be good to see him do well, has the physical attributes to do well, but seems his problem is between his ears.
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@taniwharugby that broken hand incident was not a great look. Hopefully he is growing up.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Still no sign of Finlay Christie?
That's a worry for the Blues next week - up against the Chiefs with handbrake Ruru again at 9.
Pleased to see players tried in some different positions - Narawa at 15 was very successful for BOP.
Not sure I'd pin too many hopes on Finlay Christie being a halfback saviour.
He'll be different to Ruru, Pulu and Nock - but, I'm not sure he's better.
I guess one advantage is that he's spent his M10 Cup career playing in Leon's systems.
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@Chris-B said in Blues 2020:
Not sure I'd pin too many hopes on Finlay Christie being a halfback saviour.
I too was surprised by anyone wanting Christie in their team ... his only use is filling the ginga quota in teams.
What is up with glamour province and Crusaders number one Ta$man, you have multiple All Blacks in the same position, can send a B team jaunting around the world, yet you have Christie at halfback.
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@Nepia One thing in Finlay's favour is that our reserve halfback, Uchida, looked like a gun in his bench appearances - but, when he got a start he was poor. I had to shut down my minor campaign for Uchida to start (and he went back to looking a gun in the last 20 minutes).
I concluded that being the starting halfback is a pretty tough gig - seen a bit similar with Hall and Drummond at times.
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@Chris-B said in Blues 2020:
@Nepia One thing in Finlay's favour is that our reserve halfback, Uchida, looked like a gun in his bench appearances - but, when he got a start he was poor. I had to shut down my minor campaign for Uchida to start (and he went back to looking a gun in the last 20 minutes).
I concluded that being the starting halfback is a pretty tough gig - seen a bit similar with Hall and Drummond at times.
I would have thought you'd have snapped up Enari from Canterbury since they already have their AB halfback in Drummond?
At any rate, keep your cheque book away from Fakatava.
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@Nepia Drummond is one of ours. Product of Nelson College and his father is a past President of Ta$man.
However, when he arrived on the scene, Ta$man were still battlers and I suspect his Dad would have told Mitch that the road to the top went via Christchurch.
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@Chris-B said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Still no sign of Finlay Christie?
That's a worry for the Blues next week - up against the Chiefs with handbrake Ruru again at 9.
Pleased to see players tried in some different positions - Narawa at 15 was very successful for BOP.
Not sure I'd pin too many hopes on Finlay Christie being a halfback saviour.
He'll be different to Ruru, Pulu and Nock - but, I'm not sure he's better.
I guess one advantage is that he's spent his M10 Cup career playing in Leon's systems.
Yeah my hope on Christie was based on Leon's history with him and the fact he is at least a new face - not exactly based on past performances!
If its one issue I have with Leon its his approach to halfback. I don't think he's done nearly enough to address the situation. I fear it will cost the Blues again this season.
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@Chris-B said in Blues 2020:
@Nepia Drummond is one of ours. Product of Nelson College and his father is a past President of Ta$man.
However, when he arrived on the scene, Ta$man were still battlers and I suspect his Dad would have told Mitch that the road to the top went via Christchurch.
Must be ripe for poaching back? Although Enari might be the better bet in the long run.
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@KiwiMurph Yeah - it's unlikely to be a position of strength for the Blues.
Ruru looks like he's got the skills but not the vision/cool head and Finlay is a bit the other way round.
Have to hope that with another year under their belts they'll be better. Interesting looking at some of these halfbacks - Finlay is only 24. Nock is 23. Still kids.
Drummond who seems to have been around an age is 25 (though nearly 26). Ruru is 26 but nearly 27, so should be in his prime.
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@Nepia Yep - I think that family is pretty ambitious and with an eye on the main chance.
They'll probably be running their eye over Ta$man's likely 2020 squad to determine whether it's time for Mitch to give back to the Nelson community!
Actually, 2019 was "Peak Mako". We're unlikely to be anywhere near as good in 2020 unless Foster fucks up his AB selections!
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@Chris-B said in Blues 2020:
@Nepia Yep - I think that family is pretty ambitious and with an eye on the main chance.
They'll probably be running their eye over Ta$man's likely 2020 squad to determine whether it's time for Mitch to give back to the Nelson community!
Actually, 2019 was "Peak Mako". We're unlikely to be anywhere near as good in 2020 unless Foster fucks up his AB selections!
Nah, I think you're the new Superpower
, you're going to work the Crusaders system to benefit your NPC team like Canterbury did for so long. -
@Chris-B said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph Yeah - it's unlikely to be a position of strength for the Blues.
Ruru looks like he's got the skills but not the vision/cool head and Finlay is a bit the other way round.
Hopefully both coachable. Good coaches can get what they need out of halfbacks- Hart did that with Tonu'u for years; he was limited but bloody effective
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@Chris-B said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph Yeah - it's unlikely to be a position of strength for the Blues.
Ruru looks like he's got the skills but not the vision/cool head and Finlay is a bit the other way round.
Have to hope that with another year under their belts they'll be better. Interesting looking at some of these halfbacks - Finlay is only 24. Nock is 23. Still kids.
Drummond who seems to have been around an age is 25 (though nearly 26). Ruru is 26 but nearly 27, so should be in his prime.
Yeah the main issue with Ruru is his distribution. I could live with his lack of cool head but his passing his simply not quick or accurate enough - it causes issues for the whole attack. He's a terrific defender but I don't think that's as important in the current game. Nock has the best distribution of the 3 and it feels like now or never for him at the Blues.
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@Nepia That plan got scuppered when Leon went to the Blues and Razor didn't become AB coach.
Now we have to work the Blues system instead!
Quite a few big guns already lost from last year - Crockett, Perry, Squire, Taufua - and Foster will likely be taking at least some of Moli, Frizell, Parkinson, Strange, Nankivell, Jordan and Havili.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Nock has the best distribution of the 3 and it feels like now or never for him at the Blues.
yeah his development/progress has been disappointing to say the least.
His pass is bloody good alright, but he needs to be more decisive about what he is doing, and use his pace more, as he rarely snipes (which is annoying because he has good pace) meaning opposition defenders only need to worry about if he is passing or kicking.
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