@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@duluth is def an option, but guess it all depends on how much time SBW and Nonu get (either not being broken or in SBW, not being rested)

Gibson probably most likely, just hope he doesnt break again, so expect co-captains?

Yeah a co-captain would make sense given Gibsons injury history.

I like Gibson based on the comments of the Auckland players in the media. Apparently he was blunt with team mates and enforced standards.

As for TJ I was mostly joking. However he is one of the players that MacDoanld should look to build the team around over the next few years - TJ, Papali'i, Goodhue, Ioanes, Plummer etc

@chris-b said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@duluth I'd pick Gibson or Papali'i.

Parsons speaks well in the media, but for me he's mediocrity personified as a player. Well, that's a bit harsh, but he's not the future.

Get someone young and inspirational!

TJ Faiane!

Gibson is the obvious option. He did a good job for Auckland before breaking again.

@chris-b said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@nepia For Rangi to make a major difference, he's probably going to need some luck with injuries. Will also be helpful if Nonu can still play.

Blues can put out a decent enough First XV, but really their only MAJOR acquisition in the offseason, is Big Karl. They've acquired a few others that are "solid enough" - but, Karl's though only one I'd say definitely makes the starting XV - maybe Nonu or Aumua plays centre.

That said, the guys who have come in - as a group - look better than the guys who've been cleaned out. Nonetheless it would have been a lot better IMO if they'd signed Abel, Olmsted, Manu and Rayasi. Missing all of them is a misfire!

2019 changes:

Out: Bryn Gatland (Highlanders), Jerome Kaino (Toulouse), Pauliasi Manu (Hino, Japan), George Moala (Clement Auvergne), Glenn Preston, Kara Pryor, Isaac Salmon, Mike Tamoaieta, Murphy Taramai, Dan Kirkpatrick, Matt Johnson.

In: (Karl Tu'inukuafe (Chiefs), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Blues Development - Auckland), Jacob Pierce (Blues Development – North Harbour), Ma'a Nonu (Toulon), Marcel Renata (Hurricanes), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues Development - Auckland), Harry Plummer (Blues Development – Auckland), Tanielu Tele'a (Blues Development – Auckland), Tom Robinson (Northland), Jed Brown (Tasman), Levi Aumua (Tasman).

It will be interesting to see who he picks as captain - Gibson, Tuipulotu, Parsons, Pulu are the ones with some experience. Not many other options

Re Lam, there was steady improvement in the first three seasons and the 2011 side was the last genuinely good Blues side.
In 2012 there was a crazy amount of injuries across multiple positions. The second row was the worst hit. We were starting the 8th choice lock because 7 better locks were out. The forward pack imploded and it was a shocking year in terms of results
It's disingenuous to judge Lam solely on 2012.

Read is the guy who plays the most like Kaino now.

The Cane/Read/Kaino backrow was well balanced. Rather than change the roles of the loosies and making the 6 the guy that runs in wide channels (like a younger Read used to) I would prefer to move Read to 6 and pick the best 8 (Akira)

@taniwharugby said in England vs All Blacks:

@pakman I think there was an English player that was part of the tackle too, which meant he needed to be behind him, not Ofa.

Are you talking about the guy in front of Ofa that he makes contact with? Thats after the step that @pakman is talking about

Ignore the gridlines in this video, they are silly (like the lines on some static images earlier in this thread). However you can see the sequence clearly from this angle. Lawes is onside initially, Ofa's step moves the offside line and he's offside a couple of frames before TJ has the ball.

There is something different about Nonus' return than previous players - he's had a long break. He's not arriving immediately after a NH season. I think his last game was back in May? (apart from the world xv match)
That's a good off season to clear up all those niggles he would have picked up over the years

Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if TJ Faiane is the starting Blues 12 by the end of the season. The new coach doesn't have the same loyalty to either of the old guys as the sacked coach

@pukunui said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

And only months after signing an extension. WTF! Good but WTF.

Yes, it obviously wasn’t his decision despite the spin put on it

The Blues have a review and extend Umaga
Then NZR get directly involved with the Blues
Another review happens and Umaga “decides” to take a lesser job

It seems clear NZR came to a different conclusion than the Blues

It’s a shame the correct call wasn’t made months ago. Then MacDonald could’ve picked his own squad etc (although he still would’ve been hamstrung by previous poor Umaga/Hanks selections)

@bovidae I think so