@taniwharugby Yeah I got the sense Jackson was in trouble way back at the press conference for Leon MacDonald when they made it quite clear they were re-evaluating the rest of the coaching group (aside from Leon and Tana).

I had to laugh - a couple of weeks ago on the Out of The Box podcast Nigel Yalden said he was happy Akira was staying with the Blues cos he gets to work under Steve Jackson who Yalden praised as a coach.

I usually like Yalden but to me it just reeked of NZ rugby media refusing to be critical. Jackson was poor in his two seasons as Blues coach and rightly replaced.

Excellent!

http://theblues.co.nz/tom-coventry-to-join-blues-super-rugby-coaching-team/

We can confirm today that current North Harbour coach Tom Coventry is to joining the Blues next season as an assistant coach.

Coventry will join our coaching group alongside Tana Umaga and Tasman coach Leon Macdonald, who were named in May.

The former Waikato player and Chiefs assistant coach is vastly experienced and successful with two Super Rugby titles at the Chiefs and he guided North Harbour to the semi-final of the Mitre-10 Cup last season.

In his two years at North Harbour he has had a close involvement at the Blues, guiding the Development team.

Highlanders haven't been super convincing since the June break themselves - losing 2 out of 3 and conceding 45, 45 and 37 points in the 3 games.

Yeah Tua came on at centre for Collins.

Also I wonder is the NZ U20 second five Tanielu Tele'a injured as I haven't seen him in the Auckland club teams? If he was fit I would have been tempted to give him a crack. He's signed for next year's squad. He's a 12. Could have been useful experience.

@chris-b said in Blues win percentage against NZ teams:

But, if SBW and Moala are injured and Leger has dropped from sight - who else is an option at 12 now?

Tumua Manu, who incidentally has been playing 12 in Auckland club rugby after dropping from sight. In his few opportunities this year (on the wing) he didn't put a foot wrong.

@taniwharugby he also got 2 weeks because he is a repeat offender. So it's almost 4 weeks + 2 weeks.

@stargazer it's dangerous to assume.

@stargazer No one thought Piutau was going overseas until he did.