Preseason - Suntory v Blues (Feb 3rd)

[Duluth]

A new match thread finally..

This game is on SS1 3:50pm on Feb 3rd

The Blues have been quiet for the last few days. Do we have any info on the squad they're taking over?

[Daffy Jaffy]

Suntory's Starting 15:

1 MORIKAWA YUKIO
2 GO KIENORI
3 BRADLEY KUHN
4 SIONE LAVEMAI
5 HARRY HOCKINGS
6 SAM JEFFRIES
7 OKETANI SOTA
8 TAMATI IOANE
9 SAITO NAOTO
10 NICOLAS SANCHEZ
11 EMI SHOTA
12 NAKANO SHOGO
13 OZAKI TAIGA
14 NIGUMA HIDETO
15 MATSUSHIMA KOTARO

Reserves:
16 MIYAZAKI TATSUYA
17 KOBAYASHI KENTA
18 OGA SOSHI
19 TSUJI TAKAYASU
20 SHIMOKAWA KANJI
21 NAGARE YUTAKA
22 TAKAMOTO MIKIYA
23 MORIYA KEISUKE
24 IINO KOJI
25 TREVOR HOSEA
26 HASHIMOTO RYUGA
27 ISAIAH PUNIVAI
28 KAWASE RYOSUKE

[Daffy Jaffy]

Harford is there so maybe someone pulled out of the tour late?

[Duluth]

Good to see Gordon get a run

Evans at 13 is interesting too. He's been disappointing at 12 at NPC level but showed a bit more when he shifted to 13 & 15 last season. Plenty of competition at 13 though (RI, Heem & Grindlay) etc

Looking forward to seeing Forbes too. He looked very tidy before getting injured for BOP. O'Halloran
is a fan so it's possible he forces his way into the top xv with a good preseason

[Bovidae]

@Duluth said in Suntory v Blues (Feb 3rd):

Good to see Gordon get a run

Anyone know what has happened to Essendon Tuitupou? @Nogusta He was the star of the NZ U19 backline in combination with Gordon.

[Tim]

Any way to watch this outside of NZ?

[Tim]

@gt12 Will this be broadcast in Japan?

[gt12]

Looks like they are all on J-sports.

Typically, I'm in NZ...

Edit: Some reasonable PR for this (only 7K views on Youtube though):

https://league-one.jp/lp/cross-border/2024/

[Tim]

@gt12 said in Suntory v Blues (Feb 3rd):

J-sports

Is it possible to watch that with a VPN, or does it require a Japanese credit card?

[Daffy Jaffy]

In NZ the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders games are live on Sky sport and the Blues game is also live free to air on Sky Open channel at 4pm.

[gt12]

@Tim said in Suntory v Blues (Feb 3rd):

@gt12 said in Suntory v Blues (Feb 3rd):

J-sports

Is it possible to watch that with a VPN, or does it require a Japanese credit card?

Good question.

If you sign up toJapan Amazon via VPN and get the free trial of J-sports through that, you might be able to do it on the super cheap.

Edit: Might need to also sign up for Prime

J SPORTS

[Tim]

@gt12 cheers

[Mr Fish]

Apparently NZR+ will be broadcasting the CBR matches if you're outside NZ or Japan.

[KiwiMurph]

@Duluth said in Suntory v Blues (Feb 3rd):

Evans at 13 is interesting too. He's been disappointing at 12 at NPC level but showed a bit more when he shifted to 13 & 15 last season. Plenty of competition at 13 though (RI, Heem & Grindlay) etc

Evans looked better at 15 than 13. He struggled defensively at 13 for Auckland. Looking at the lineup he's there because none of RI, Heem and Grindlay are avaiable.

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph

Yeah I agree. I thought he offered more in attack at 13 rather than 12 though.

[Tim]

@Mr-Fish

Had to use an American IP address, but tonight NZR+ has updated to say that they are streaming it.

[Tim]

Asian IP addresses blocked. Save those streaming fees?

[BerhamporeNinja]

games on sky sports channel 51 @3.50pm

[Canes4life]

Anyone else having issues watching this on NZ+?

[taniwharugby]

Strong start by Gordon.