Brumbies v Blues
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So what changes are likely?
Even if R Ioane's hamstring strain is minor it's worth making sure he's 100%. So Heem to start at 13.
Tele'a as midfield cover on the bench? Does that mean no room for AJ again?Romano to return at lock alongside Tucker? Robinson is too good to be out of the 23, so no specialist lock on the bench. That allows them to have Robinson and an openside (Choat) on the bench
Anything else?
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@Duluth Prioritise the scrum. Needs best scrummagers I reckon - probably Nepo, Ofa and Kurt, with Tucker and Romano.
Loosies pick themselves.
Rieko if fit, if not Heem (as you say).
You know what hte Brumbies are going to bring, the question is if you are focussed and committed enough to handle it and strike back effectively.
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When was Goodhue due back?
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@nzzp said in Brumbies v Blues:
You know what hte Brumbies are going to bring, the question is if you are focussed and committed enough to handle it and strike back effectively.
Discipline should be the main focus this week. Blues have been giving away some soft penalties in the last few weeks. Need to deny the Brumbies attacking lineouts
The Brumbies look shit hot with front foot ball. Win the contact and they can look a bit flakey (yes, you can say that about every side, but the Brumbies really rely on getting a roll on)
I'm confident we can win the contact.. less confident about the the penalties
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It won't happen, but I wouldn't mind seeing a Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson trio
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@Tim said in Brumbies v Blues:
When was Goodhue due back?
@Steven-Harris said 6-8 weeks when it happened. That was 4 weeks ago
So QF if he recovers quick?
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The Brumbies will be a different team if Lolesio and Valetini are back.
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@nzzp said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Duluth Prioritise the scrum. Needs best scrummagers I reckon - probably Nepo, Ofa and Kurt, with Tucker and Romano.
Loosies pick themselves.
Rieko if fit, if not Heem (as you say).
You know what hte Brumbies are going to bring, the question is if you are focussed and committed enough to handle it and strike back effectively.
Two x tightheads?
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@booboo said in Brumbies v Blues:
@nzzp said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Duluth Prioritise the scrum. Needs best scrummagers I reckon - probably Nepo, Ofa and Kurt, with Tucker and Romano.
Loosies pick themselves.
Rieko if fit, if not Heem (as you say).
You know what hte Brumbies are going to bring, the question is if you are focussed and committed enough to handle it and strike back effectively.
Two x tightheads?
I assume moving Ofa to LH?
I wouldn't do that as they'll need both of them to counter the LHs (start, bench) of the Brumbies.
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@nzzp Ofa to LH sounds like you are panicking. I would go Karl and Nepo to start and bring Ofa and Hodgman off the bench. The Brumbies go for the slow grind up front in the first half and try and finish strong in the second. Bringing Ofa and Hodgman in the last 30 minutes would help dominate at the contact. And speed the gane right up.
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@number9 not panicking, just having a screw up. Listed two TH instead of TH + LH ... thinking of our two most reliable scrummagers.
As you were team, my fark up
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@nzzp said in Brumbies v Blues:
@number9 not panicking, just having a screw up. Listed two TH instead of TH + LH ... thinking of our two most reliable scrummagers.
As you were team, my fark up
Ban this fluffybunny.
Or - man up, refuse to admit that you made a tiny honest mistake, and double-down on it.
Find some Rippa Rugby game where he played LH, and insist it's the right move. -
@Kruse said in Brumbies v Blues:
Find some Rippa Rugby game where he played LH, and insist it's the right move.
He'd make a better 8 than Hayman!
You're right though, not the Fern way. Revised pack below.
Nepo + Ofa (Ofa covers both)
Papali'i at hooker (can do anything)
Luke Romano + Ian Jones at lock (coming out of retirement; need the height for the lineout)
Clarke at 7 - like his explosiveness
Akira and HosCounters the Brumbies incliation to mix it up; speed around the ruck crucial, with an extra loosie literally in the pack. Simple eh
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@Duluth said in Brumbies v Blues:
It won't happen, but I wouldn't mind seeing a Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson trio
What about Paps/Robinson/Sotutu with Ioane off the bench? I reckon Sotutu’s running game might be a key difference against this Brumbies team.
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@nzzp said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Kruse said in Brumbies v Blues:
Find some Rippa Rugby game where he played LH, and insist it's the right move.
He'd make a better 8 than Hayman!
You're right though, not the Fern way. Revised pack below.
Nepo + Ofa (Ofa covers both)
Papali'i at hooker (can do anything)
Luke Romano + Ian Jones at lock (coming out of retirement; need the height for the lineout)
Clarke at 7 - like his explosiveness
Akira and HosCounters the Brumbies incliation to mix it up; speed around the ruck crucial, with an extra loosie literally in the pack. Simple eh
Was it the Moana Pasifika hooker that started at openside on the weekend?
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There's lots of good trios you could make. Ioane's ability to hold people up in defence should be useful against this team
I like the idea of picking the most powerful pack early and then finishing with Choat & Sotutu subbing on, plus Robinson at lock
It won't happen though. It seems their priority is sticking with combinations now
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@Bovidae said in Brumbies v Blues:
The Brumbies will be a different team if Lolesio and Valetini are back.
From what I understand Valetini is out for a few weeks.
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@KiwiMurph said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Bovidae said in Brumbies v Blues:
The Brumbies will be a different team if Lolesio and Valetini are back.
From what I understand Valetini is out for a few weeks.
Is he ?,I thought I heard the Aussie commentary team mention during the Crusaders v Brumbies game they were hoping to have him back this week.
I wondered if that was an option of that early a return Hammys usually are 2 weeks for a minor strain. -
@Chris I think it was Lolesio they were hoping would only be out a week.
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Of the two, Valentini is by far the biggest loss. He's having a stormer of a season.
Wallabies will look much better if he and Harry Wilson carry their form into the Test season.
I'll be at the game, hoping the Blues thump the Brumbies 'cause I'll be surrounded by Brumbies fans.
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Brumbies $2.90
Blues $1.37 -
Super Rugby Pacific: Injury rules Blues star Rieko Ioane out until playoffs | Newshub
Brother Akira Ioane will also spend a week on the sidelines.
Stink.
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@nzzp said in Brumbies v Blues:
Super Rugby Pacific: Injury rules Blues star Rieko Ioane out until playoffs | Newshub
Brother Akira Ioane will also spend a week on the sidelines.
Stink.
Crap. The team has been playing so well we can cover with Heem but it would be nice to continue to build the RTS/Reiko combo and to have the additional strike power outwide.
Discipline and accuracy will be absolutely key. If Blues are undisciplined, Brumbies will punish them - kick to corner and rolling maul from lineout or milk more penalties.
Blues have been able to get away with being a little sloppy because Rebels/Reds have not been good enough to capitalise/punish them but the Brumbies are the real deal.
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@TheMojoman pretty sure the Blues didn't concede a single penalty in the second half of last match?
Blues have been great. Bigger, stronger, faster and more disciplined than anyone else. If the Brumbies are still missing key players it should be blues by 15+
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@nzzp hamstrings are notoriously niggly so I think it's good news if he can truly be back for the quarter final.
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Noiones
Big Red is the anti-frizzle
Akira’s absence this week will likely mean versatile Blues forward Tom Robinson will slot back into No 6 to face the Brumbies. If so, the hard-nosed Northlander told Stuff he will be ready after deputising in the second row for the last two matches.
“I like it in there,” said Robinson of his shift to second-row duties. “You’re in the thick of it. In our system the 6 is often on the edge on attack and defence, so sometimes you’re not involved in a whole lot of the action. It’s something I really enjoy, getting stuck in, doing the dirty work.
“But wherever I need to be for the team, I’ll happily play.”
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@TheMojoman the good thing being Heem is a pretty like-for-like replacement.
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Damon Murphy is the ref. This could be fun.
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@Bones said in Brumbies v Blues:
@TheMojoman the good thing being Heem is a pretty like-for-like replacement.
I wouldn't call Heem pretty, but each to their own. I am not one to judge.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Bones said in Brumbies v Blues:
@TheMojoman the good thing being Heem is a pretty like-for-like replacement.
I wouldn't call Heem pretty, but each to their own. I am not one to judge.
How the other half live eh
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Ofa being touted as the first choice All Blacks tighthead I'd really like to see him start both this match and next week against 2 very good scrums.
I want to see him continue his form and really nail that position down.
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Brumbies
Scott Sio, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Caderyn Neville, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Andy Muirhead, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Tom Banks
Reserves: Billy Pollard, James Slipper, Sefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan, Hudson Creighton, Ollie Sapsford
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@Duluth The Brumbies site has Sio starting with Slipper on the bench.
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With Akira out this week they are likely to move Robinson to 6 and bring Romano in to start. I kinda wish they would Trust Plumtree to start at 6 in this game. He has been excellent when given chances but must be getting frustrated by now at not making the 23 even when All Blacks are rested or injured. I would like to have seen him, Suafoa, Evans, JRK etc gat a few more chances. One of my favourite things about how the team has been going this year is how the squaddies/rookies have performed when called upon to play. E.g. Jordan Lay has been good enough to now keep Big Karl on the bench and may even join his injured brother James in next years squad unless they choose to promote young Fisitua. Most of the concern on here around this years squad naming was about the weakness at lock, but they have all played so well that lock has been a strength (a few lineout wobbles aside). Goodhue was our number one lock, playing well early on but it will be difficult to find space for him when he returns from injury. Even young Darry who I wasn't sure about by NPC form has gone well, working hard and throwing himself about with impact. I see they are returning to Auckland post this game rather than go straight to Sydney. I guess the ideal plan is win this game , secure top spot then send a B team over to play the Tahs while most of the 1st xv stay home to prep for the Landers!
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Brumbies v Blues:
I see they are returning to Auckland post this game rather than go straight to Sydney. I guess the ideal plan is win this game , secure top spot then send a B team over to play the Tahs while most of the 1st xv stay home to prep for the Landers!
Can't find it now but MacDonald made comments about wanting to keep the full squad together. Staying in Aussie would've meant working with a smaller group next week
If they win this week, I still think the team against the Tahs will be strong. Maybe one or two players with heavy workloads rested. Momentum and combinations are too important
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@Duluth said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Brumbies v Blues:
I see they are returning to Auckland post this game rather than go straight to Sydney. I guess the ideal plan is win this game , secure top spot then send a B team over to play the Tahs while most of the 1st xv stay home to prep for the Landers!
Can't find it now but MacDonald made comments about wanting to keep the full squad together. Staying in Aussie would've meant working with a smaller group next week
If they win this week, I still think the team against the Tahs will be strong. Maybe one or two players with heavy workloads rested. Momentum and combinations are too important
Yeah, he said that a small group 'on tour' would disrupt the training week processes that had been working well for them where they can have opposed runs using the full squad.
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Rugby AU has this team on their site, but have been known to make mistakes?
BLUES (1-15): Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Sam Darry, Tom Robinson, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Bryce Heem, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
RESERVES: Ricky Riccitelli, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Tanielu Tele'a, Zarn Sullivan
Super Rugby Pacific Teams: All the team news for Round 14 | Latest Rugby News | RUGBY.com.au
Check out all the details for the Super Rugby Pacific teams for round 14 as they drop
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Huge game for Darry, if that's the team.
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@Tim I don't know about Ricitelli? I thought Vikena played well off the bench. And RR throwing is not at Super level. I would have had Plumtree off the bench instead of Segner would provide greater impact although he has not played.
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