Blues 2016 squad
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Hookers: James Parsons (North Harbour), Matt Moulds (Northland), Quentin MacDonald ( Ta$man)<br><br><br>
Props: Nic Mayhew (North Harbour), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland), Sione Mafileo (North Harbour), Namatahi Waa (Northland).<br><br><br>
Locks: Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), Gerrard Tuioti-Mariner (North Harbour), Hoani Matenga (Wellington), Josh Bekhuis (Southland), Scott Scrafton (Auckland).<br><br><br>
Loose forwards: Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Kara Pryor (Northland), Jack Ram (Northland), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Joe Edwards (Auckland).<br><br><br>
Backs<br><br>
Halfbacks: Bryn Hall (North Harbour), Sam Nock (Northland), Billy Guyton ( Ta$man).<br><br><br>
Inside backs: Ihaia West (Hawkes Bay) Matt McGahan (North Harbour), Dan Bowden (Northland), Piers Francis (Counties Manukau).<br><br><br>
Midfield: George Moala (Auckland), Rene Ranger (North Harbour), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), TJ Faiane (Auckland), Michael Little (North Harbour).<br><br><br>
Outside backs: Tevita Li (North Harbour), Ben Lam (Auckland), Melani Nanai (Auckland), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland), Matt Duffie (North Harbour), Jordan Trainor (Waikato). -
<p>I would say yes....</p>
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Looking at the squad, it seems that lock, 7, 9, and 15 will be the contentious positions. <br><br>
My guess at a first XV:<br><br>- Mayhew/Tu’ungafasi<br>
- Parsons <br>
- Faumaina<br>
- Tuipulotu <br>
- Scrafton<br>
- Kaino<br>
- Gibson/Ram<br>
- A. Ioane<br><br>
- Hall<br>
- West <br>
- Li<br>
- Moala<br>
- Ranger<br>
- Nanai<br>
- Visinia
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<p>TBH I am suprised that no one convinced Steven Luatua to leave the Blues. Abundance of riches at loose forward in the Blues squad. Lucky Blackadder is in charge of the Crusaders and not Deans otherwise you would be facing 8. Read, 6. Luatua, 7. Matt Todd this season.</p>
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<p>yeah bit annoying to see some promising Auckland forwards get picked up by other franchises but I'm really pleased to see much less 'dead weight' in this team and a lot of youngsters - I reckon its the right way to go for Tana. For 2016 people shouldn't expect miracles but if he can develop some of this young talent things could be looking up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also nice to see some backs with some guile in the squad (Faiane, Little, Trainor)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="535400" data-time="1445985415">
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<p>Yeah, the only real dead weight players are Prattley, Bekhuis, and Francis. I wonder if Bowden will get on the park?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Am hoping he and Nock get a chance to form a great combo :)</p> -
<p>Bowden? He was hopeful of playing for us, but think he ended up needing surgery to be ready for S15</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup>It must be a reflection of the relative weakness of the Blues squad that Northland have such a poor year yet pick up so many contracts. Or maybe it's a reflection that someone from outside of the Auckland old boys network is now in charge and can see there are talented players around that don't necessarily run around in blue and white hoops.</sup></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:24px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup> </sup></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup> </sup></span></sup></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup><sup><span style="font-size:24px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup>Probably a combination of both.</sup></span></span></sup></sup></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup><sup><span style="font-size:24px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup> </sup></span></span></sup></sup></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup><sup><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup> </sup></span></sup></sup></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup><sup><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup> </sup></span></sup></sup></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><sup> </sup></span></span></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="535487" data-time="1445990747">
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<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup>It must be a reflection of the relative weakness of the Blues squad that Northland have such a poor year yet pick up so many contracts. Or maybe it's a reflection that someone from outside of the Auckland old boys network is now in charge and can see there are talented players around that don't necessarily run around in blue and white hoops.</sup></span></span></p>
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<p> </p>
<p>One thing JK really focussed on was talent development inside the region. This could be the result of that - multiple young players coming through. Would be great if that was his legacy ...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="535613" data-time="1446000178">
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<p>Really, Pulu should have been given to the Blues for this year. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>I thought the Ioane brothers were playing 7s next year?</strong></p>
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<p> </p>
<p>It is my understanding that aside from those players who are committed to 7s right the way through (SBW and Messam), the others that were named in that squad that are Super Rugby related will be playing 4 tournaments in the World Sevens Series but will still be eligible for rounds 1 to 10 of Super Rugby. Replacement players will then be brought in to cover these players (e.g. Ioanes and Ben Lam if he makes it).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="535615" data-time="1446000348">
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<p>It is my understanding that aside from those players who are committed to 7s right the way through (SBW and Messam), the others that were named in that squad that are Super Rugby related will be playing 4 tournaments in the World Sevens Series but will still be eligible for rounds 1 to 10 of Super Rugby. Replacement players will then be brought in to cover these players (e.g. Ioanes and Ben Lam if he makes it).</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>The story I heard was that all of the initial "Tier 1" Sevens squad will miss most of the season, while the "Tier 2" players (which includes Pulu) will be available for half the season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Who knows though. A couple of months ago it was reported that Titch could only have 2 players per Super squad but that's obviously not true, so either things changed or the media might just be guessing (maybe even both).</p> -
<p>1. Ofa T</p>
<p>2. Parsons</p>
<p>3. Faumuina</p>
<p>4. Tuipulotu</p>
<p>5. Luatua</p>
<p>6. Kaino</p>
<p>7. Gibson</p>
<p>8. Ioane</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9. Hall</p>
<p>10. West</p>
<p>11. Lam</p>
<p>12. Moala</p>
<p>13. Ranger</p>
<p>14. Nanai</p>
<p>15. Visinia</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Could be another hard season coming up.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="535655" data-time="1446005307">
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<p>1. Ofa T</p>
<p>2. Parsons</p>
<p>3. Faumuina</p>
<p>4. Tuipulotu</p>
<p>5. Luatua</p>
<p>6. Kaino</p>
<p>7. Gibson</p>
<p>8. Ioane</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9. Hall</p>
<p>10. West</p>
<p>11. Lam</p>
<p>12. Moala</p>
<p>13. Ranger</p>
<p>14. Nanai</p>
<p>15. Visinia</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Could be another hard season coming up.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Man that would be a mediocre lineout. The opposition would be able to rely on perfect set-piece ball with Luatua and Tuipulotu jumping against them.</p>
