Blues v Crusaders
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="582965" data-time="1464240888">
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<p>Is it just me but Otere Black does not seem like a player you want to build a franchise around. He seems rather average.</p>
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<p>I haven't seen enough of him to judge. Has he got the physical ability?</p> -
<p>Matt Duffie really?! They guy is fucken hopeless. Don't mind Pryor being there even if it is for an injury. He's a bit quicker around the field.</p>
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Fonatia 😡<br><br>
That guy has the most charmed existence when it comes to selection. <br><br>
Blues should target him hard. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="583042" data-time="1464260926">
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<p>Fonatia <br><br>
That guy has the most charmed existence when it comes to selection.<br><br>
Blues should target him hard.</p>
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<p>Yeah, when I saw the team sheet I was thinking Moala outside him all night.</p>
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<p>That, ah, depends on a lot of things though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="583042" data-time="1464260926"><p>Fonatia [emoji35]<br><br>
That guy has the most charmed existence when it comes to selection. <br><br>
Blues should target him hard.</p></blockquote>
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Exposed against the Landers, but I thought he bounced back pretty well last week against Folau and the Tahs. Read the game far better and didn't get caught out on his outside shoulder. <br><br>
I would however love to see what 12. Havili 13. Crotty could do for more than 5 minutes in a game. -
<p>I think Toddy must like a midfield pairing with a smaller more nimble 2nd five and big lump like Fonotia at centre. Mo'unga/Havili/Crotty might be a bit lightweight, so we might have to wait until Freuan is available to see any change.</p>
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<p>An alternative might be to try Nadolo at centre and NcNicol/Macilai on the wings, which would give us more attacking weaponry, but the new centre pairing could be exposed.</p>
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<p>Generally, I think Fonotia has gone pretty well this year, with the obvious exception of the Highlanders game. Faddes really exposed his lack of pace and, if we were to meet them again, we would have to find a way to fix that.</p> -
<p>Got tickets to a corporate box through work for this, looking forward to seeing the Blues put one past the Crusaders at home.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="583119" data-time="1464311816">
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<p>I think Toddy must like a midfield pairing with a smaller more nimble 2nd five and big lump like Fonotia at centre. Mo'unga/Havili/Crotty might be a bit lightweight, so we might have to wait until Freuan is available to see any change.</p>
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<p>An alternative might be to try Nadolo at centre and NcNicol/Macilai on the wings, which would give us more attacking weaponry, but the new centre pairing could be exposed.</p>
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<p>Generally, I think Fonotia has gone pretty well this year, with the obvious exception of the Highlanders game. Faddes really exposed his lack of pace and, if we were to meet them again, we would have to find a way to fix that.</p>
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<p>Agree Chris, it's been pretty rare for Toddy to play Crotty at centre. And to be honest he's way better at 12 for us.</p>
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<p>He's been tried at 13 in previous years and I don't think it suits his game.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="582967" data-time="1464240943">
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<p>I haven't seen enough of him to judge. Has he got the physical ability?</p>
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<p>He might be Jimmy Goppeth but does not have anything close to the running game or speed of West. </p> -
<p>From <span>Patrick McKendry -</span> NZ Herald.</p>
<p>Adding a sense of intrigue to the traditional grudge match between the Blues and Crusaders at Eden Park tomorrow night is the <span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);">impending departure of halfback Bryn Hall to the southerners.</span></p>
<p>Hall, out of favour and on the reserves' bench for the Blues tomorrow, will take advantage of Andy Ellis' retirement from Super Rugby and look to resurrect his career at the Crusaders.</p>
<p>With Augustine Pulu set to arrive at the Blues from the Chiefs next season, and Billy Guyton slipping ahead in the pecking order, <span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);">there is no room for Hall at the Blues but he will back himself to thrive in Christchurch alongside Mitchell Drummond.</span></p>
<p>The 24-year-old hasn't reached the heights that were perhaps expected of him after a breakout 2014 when he overtook Piri Weepu for the No9 jersey. Then, he was a menace with the ball, but injury, including a fractured foot, hit his ambitions.</p>
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<p>The development of Drummond, 22, at the Crusaders has been reasonably rapid but he has been forced to take more of a back seat this season because of the form of Ellis.</p>
<p>Drummond will likely be the No1 halfback next season but Hall will be given every chance to challenge him.</p>
<p>Guyton started for the Blues against the Crusaders - for whom he played for a season - in round two in Christchurch when coach Tana Umaga's men were soundly beaten up front and gets another opportunity after starting in last weekend's victory over the Force in Perth.</p>
<p>That 17-13 win at nib Stadium - in which the Blues were clinging on to the lead on their own line at the final whistle - contrasted with the Crusaders' 29-10 victory over the Waratahs in the rain in Christchurch</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="582949" data-time="1464236899"><p>
from what I hear, the signs are promising, if it happens, it is a while off yet anyway and plenty can change; whether any move is just for Mitre 10 as well as Super rugby is the bigger question I suspect, if his brother is offered another Blues contract, who knows</p></blockquote>
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Spoke to current northland coach Dale McLeod today at Christchurch club rugby.<br><br>
Reckons Goodhue will play for northland in NPC but is committed to staying down here and playing for the crusaders -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="583467" data-time="1464412987">
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<p>Spoke to current northland coach Dale McLeod today at Christchurch club rugby.<br><br>
Reckons Goodhue will play for northland in NPC but is committed to staying down here and playing for the crusaders</p>
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<p>pretty much what I heard, expect Josh to accept a Super contract next time he is offered one, seems to have his head screwed on though, knocked back an NPC one first time he was offered one, then a Super one as he didnt feel he was physically ready.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="583485" data-time="1464420772"><p>Oh great, "TJ" and Justin Marshall. It was so much nicer listening to last nights game with them absent.</p></blockquote>
So far we've had Marshall talking about George Crotty vs George Moala and TJ saying "the ball is still there for the all blacks" when the Crusaders recycled.
