Blues v Highlanders
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Sunday 14 March, 3:35pm
Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant 1: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant 2: Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Paul Williams
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Fingers crossed this goes ahead with a massive crowd.
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hoping for at least a closer one, last years one at eden park was pretty epic, think we will have settled a bit after the games with the chiefs
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@kiwiwomble said in Blues v Highlanders:
hoping for at least a closer one, last years one at eden park was pretty epic, think we will have settled a bit after the games with the chiefs
Blues forwards should win this for us I expect. Our forward pack looks lethal this year, really solid. I think our mental fragility is disappearing, too.
Hoping for
Akira to have a dominant game
Front row to crush it in the scrums (again)
Forwards don't give Aaron Smith any decent ball! -
I would like to see this backrow start
Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
I think our mental fragility is disappearing, too.
Looks like it. There appears to be a lot more belief that they can win against anyone, or dig themselves out of a hole if they have to. The changes at the top must have started it and Rangi does have an air of confidence about him. The old clichés about "culture change" "winning leads to winning", etc. hold some water. The opposite is of course also true and it was disappointing, as a Blues fan, how slow the organisation was to change things and get out of the funk. I suppose the random wins papered over the cracks enough to maintain the the status quo but it was obvious to most people that something was rotten in the state of the Blues.
It will be interesting to see how the Chiefs manage it (sorry Chiefs guys, but you aren't doing a lot of winning), all of the teams have been there at some point - even the 'saders were awful at the beginning.
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@snowy I keep banging the drum, but to me it's started with the new board and cascaded downwards.
The board sacked Tana, and put in Leon
they put a broom through the administration
they healed relationships between the partner unions
they have driven re-engagement with the fans, and setting the goal of what the team is aspiring toall the good stuff on the field comes out of this. We're finally seeing accountability in roles, and successful recruitment, etc. It's great - and it's setting us up for an extended period of success.
it's these people:
Don MacKinnon (Chair)
Richard Dellabarca
Andy Roberts
John Hart
Sam Lotu-liga
Grant Graham
Stuart Matherthe contrast with a dysfuncational board of a few years ago is stark.
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Long term weather forecast for Sunday looks good.
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
We're finally seeing accountability in roles
It's hard to ask the players to be accountable when the coaches, administrators etc weren't
I agree about the board. Both the previous coaches had three years to make a positive impact but both failed and the team actually regressed. The boards reaction? They wanted to appoint Kirwan/Umaga for a fourth year.
In both circumstances rugby interests on the board (the unions) didn't have enough votes to sack the coach but they could veto the appointment and force NZR to get involved. The second time the NZR got involved they did it properly.
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@nzzp Completely agree. When I said the "top" I meant the board, and it has filtered down to the coach and as @Duluth says the players. Hard to see them as the bottom of the chain as they are the most visible, and blameable (is that a word?) apart from us supporters. They are the lowest rung and cop it the most. Nobody listens to us fans anyway, even when we were shouting from the rooftops about the upper echelons of a failing system.
The right people are selecting the right people all the way down now it seems. A functioning organisation that some might call a "team". I'm certainly pleased that we appear to be on the right track, but I will be much happier if we actually win a trophy. Beating the 'saders would be step in that direction and any small steps are welcome after the last decade (plus) of misery.
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@snowy said in Blues v Highlanders:
The right people are selecting the right people all the way down now it seems. A functioning organisation that some might call a "team". I'm certainly pleased that we appear to be on the right track, but I will be much happier if we actually win a trophy. Beating the 'saders would be step in that direction and any small steps are welcome after the last decade (plus) of misery.
Winning comps is damn hard, but it is the ultimate aim. That said, building a healthy organisation that challenges for championships consistently is what you'd have to make the KPI. Crusaders have the legacy and structure to build good teams... and they've been blessed with a string of world class 10s, and the quality around them to nurture their development. No getting chucked in at 19 or 20 to win games and lead a team turnaround. Very few players have that capability.
Mo'unga arguably won them that comp last year, his performance in the last 20 against the Blues was ridiculous. If he gets injured, you're starting to talk about Mitch Hunt levels of backup... anyone triggered yet
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@nzzp They are coming for you...
The waiting is the worst part.
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@nzzp yes they have the best 10 in the country (i'll ignore your descriptor) but right now the biggest advantage teh Crusaders have, and it's linked to my point on the Chiefs thread is
They have the only real veteran tight 5 in the country. Because 4 of them are AB squad members.
When you look at the average ages of the starting tight 5s, the Crusaders' is 30, the Hurricanes' is 24, the Chiefs is 23, the Highlanders is 27. Only the Blues go quite close at 28 (pretty much everyone is 28). That's a massive advantage in a tight game.
To be a success you need to build good players, and hope they get test jerseys, or you are back to square one really quickly.
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Speaking of trophies - the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy is obviously up for grabs across the two games between Blues and Highlanders (perhaps 3 games if there is a round 3 of SRA).
With the Highlanders losing it last year I can see them coming out of the blocks hard in this game.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
Speaking of trophies - the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy is obviously up for grabs across the two games between Blues and Highlanders (perhaps 3 games if there is a round 3 of SRA).
With the Highlanders losing it last year I can see them coming out of the blocks hard in this game.
I bloody hope so, Gordie was a top bloke and i want to see that back down south
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@kiwiwomble It ook us almost 10 years to get it so hopefully it stays put
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@african-monkey ...i like the spirit...but i cant like the post
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@kiwiwomble I'll like your post instead
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
Richard Dellabarca
That's a good strong Eastbourne name from way back. Bloody poachers.
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Highlanders want to strike first against Blues at Eden Park
Firing from the outset would be the Highlanders goal in Auckland on Sunday when playing the Blues in Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa.
"Assistant coach Clarke Dermody said in both their opening games the Highlanders had been points-down after the first quarter. "
....and the majority of games last year, or at least that how it felt, glad they finally spotted that
i cant remember the last time we properly bossed a game from start to finish...not sure a resurgent blues will be the first but i like we're going to try
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Blues set to unleash top off-season signing
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Headline Blues recruit could be in line for debut against the Highlanders at Eden Park.
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@tim I'm assuming Dillon Hunt is who they are referencing?
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
I'm assuming Dillon Hunt is who they are referencing?
Sam Darry
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@duluth Wow. He really has leapt ahead of Pierce.
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anyone able to post the text?
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@kiwiwomble I don't think it's permitted to post the entire text, so here are a few snippets:
The Blues could be poised to unleash one of their prime offseason recruits against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. Height is a rare commodity in New Zealand rugby. The Blues, therefore, caused quite the stir when they plucked Sam Darry from the Crusaders' finely tuned system. Leon MacDonald was so keen to secure Darry's 2.03 metre frame that he offered the now 20-year-old prospect a three-year deal with the Blues before he had played a provincial match."It's good to have some tall timber up here. I can't remember the last time we had someone over two metres in our lineout. It's a pretty good option for us." Indeed some eight years ago, former All Blacks lock Anthony Boric was the last two-metre presence to stalk the Blues lineout. Before him you have to go back to Ali Williams, who last featured for the Blues in 2007. With the Highlanders using their lineout as an attacking weapon – kicking to the corner and attempting to rumble over their favoured pet play - this week may be the perfect opportunity to inject Darry's potentially disruptive height into the mix.While Darry will be expected to continually add bulk, Tuipulotu revealed his locking partner has already packed on muscle during his time in Auckland. He's put on five or so kilograms. He's definitely a hard trainer. -
@stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwiwomble I don't think it's permitted to post the entire text, so here are a few snippets:
The Blues could be poised to unleash one of their prime offseason recruits against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. Height is a rare commodity in New Zealand rugby. The Blues, therefore, caused quite the stir when they plucked Sam Darry from the Crusaders' finely tuned system. Leon MacDonald was so keen to secure Darry's 2.03 metre frame that he offered the now 20-year-old prospect a three-year deal with the Blues before he had played a provincial match."It's good to have some tall timber up here. ****I can't remember the last time we had someone over two metres in our lineout****. It's a pretty good option for us." Indeed some eight years ago, former All Blacks lock Anthony Boric was the last two-metre presence to stalk the Blues lineout. Before him you have to go back to Ali Williams, who last featured for the Blues in 2007. With the Highlanders using their lineout as an attacking weapon – kicking to the corner and attempting to rumble over their favoured pet play - this week may be the perfect opportunity to inject Darry's potentially disruptive height into the mix.While Darry will be expected to continually add bulk, Tuipulotu revealed his locking partner has already packed on muscle during his time in Auckland. He's put on five or so kilograms. He's definitely a hard trainer.Scott Scrafton must have slipped his mind, although he is listed at 2.00m so technically is not over 2.00m!
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Pierce is 2.01 or 2.03 depending on what stats you read
Strange comment from Tuipulotu
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@duluth said in Blues v Highlanders:
Pierce is 2.01 or 2.03 depending on what stats you read
Strange comment from Tuipulotu
'listed as 2.01' doesn't mean 'actually 2.01'
This thread is ripe for an Ardie height joke
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
'listed as 2.01' doesn't mean 'actually 2.01'
Well it's the lower of the heights he's listed at. I think Tuipulotu said something off the cuff and then a NZH journalist followed up with something inaccurate
William Lloyd is the other name that immediately came to mind. He was very tall but not particularly solid (listed at 2.03)
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@duluth said in Blues v Highlanders:
Tuipulotu said something off the cuff and then a NZH journalist followed up with something inaccurate
No! The death of journalism as we know it ... inaccuracies from Granny
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William Lloyd sucked - he was like the kid that gets put into lock in a junior/schools team cos he is really tall and has nothing else.
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
No! The death of journalism as we know it ... inaccuracies from Granny
Well I'm not surprised they are wrong but it would be nice to have some accurate information from our rugby media.
Particularly ones that think their content is so valuable it belongs behind a paywall
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
William Lloyd sucked - he was like the kid that gets put into lock in a junior/schools team cos he is really tall and has nothing else.
Yes he was way out of his depth. I though Darry had a similar build during the NPC last year.
He's still young though.. I'm very surprised he's getting a run this early. I was expecting to see him lower in the rankings and pushing for a start in 2022
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In all fairness to Will Lloyd, he was only there in that horror 2015 season because of our massive injury toll.
I like how that article said Ali Williams last played for us in 2007 lol his last season for us was when he was captain in 2013.
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@african-monkey 2015 was a very good season for auckland, and he left after that, but agree regardless.
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Blues are already playing a 6 - 2 split on the bench, maybe they are going for Darry to get more mobility?
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@muddyriver For Auckland, yes 2015 was a good season, the Blues, it was a disaster.
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People were talking up Pierce but Darry gets picked ahead of him? Maybe Pierce should move to the Chiefs...
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@mofitzy_ There was a rumour on here pre season that Pierce was off to the Chiefs with Mafileo. Then we were told by someone that he had re-signed for one season only and would then be looking elsewhere if chances don't come. There's always seemed to be some sort of disconnect between Pierce and Coventry. Coventry rarely started him for Harbour, even starting inexperienced rookies ahead of him alongside Cowley-Tuioti. I know his first two seasons with the Blues were affected by injury but he's made only seven appearances in three seasons, with maybe one start? Makes me wonder if there is a perceived training, fitness or attitude problem because the few times he has got a run for the Blues he appears to contribute well on the field. Mystery. At 122kgs, 203cm (wiki stats) and still only 23 years old I think he would be a good fit at the Chiefs or Canes.
