@Bovidae yep Telea (L) and Jordan (R) starting wings. Clarke will be on the bench I'm hearing 🤔
Nogusta
Posts
-
-
A bit delayed but – I was at this game last Saturday. Canes had a stacked side with a couple of Super WTG guys in there (Jonah Lowe, Hugh Renton) and quite a few others with Mitre 10 experience. They certainly weren’t all U20 so was a good test for the young Blues side. Blues came out guns blazing to take an early 19-5 lead. Caleb Clarke scorching the Hurricances for 2 awesome long range efforts. The first one from halfway, hugging the line and just getting on the outside of his marker off a beautiful flat pass from fullback Otu Mausia. The chasers shouldn’t even have bothered. The 2nd one after getting back to support the fullback following a Canes clearing kick. Clarke took a pass on his own 22 metre line – again close to the touchline – and just gassed it down the left touchline. Beat the first guy with power, beat the cover defender with pure pace then an in and away with only about 2 metres of the sideline to work with to beat the last line. It was a joy to watch!! Canes kept it tight and ground away to score 2 tries of their own to make the score 19all at halftime. The 2nd half was an even affair. Errors creeping in to both sides games understandable given all the movement on the subs benches. In the end it was only 2 missed conversions in it. Both teams scored 2 tries in the 2nd half, the Canes converting both of theirs. Final score 33-29 to the Canes. Blues staff would have been quietly pleased with that effort as they would certainly have to have been considered the underdogs. 10 (out of 26) of that Blues 20s squad will be eligible again next year against probably just 2 from the Canes (Proctor and Moimoiseia).
Players to catch the eye for the Blues.
Dalton Papali’i – Gee this kid is a machine. It’s no wonder he is very highly regarded in the Blues organization. Another 2 tries against the Canes to go with his 2 the week before against the Chiefs 20s.
Caleb Clarke – Will easily be the first choice winger for the NZ U20s. Bigger, stronger and faster than his old man at the same age. Crazy to think he is still 17 – turning 18 this year.
TJ Vaega – Although not tall for an outside back –was great under the high ball, and extremely dangerous with ball in hand making a lot of threatening runs.
Cameron Suafoa – Big test against the premiere up n coming lock Walker-Leawere but gave a good account of himself. Called up to the March NZ U20s camp
Tanielu Tele’a – Given a start this week after good impact off the bench against the Chiefs the week before. Looked confirtable at this level. Also called up to the NZ U20s camp
Lewis Gjaltema – Great game by the halfback. Ran well and good option taking.First post
Cheers – ex pat Aucklander living in the capital.
-
The sauce reckons the game could be on the skids...if it does go ahead both run on teams will be a wee bit different to the teams named
-
Blues on the lookout for a new defense coach according to the sauce!
-
@steven-harris good sauce...Paddy T out with a neck injury. Darry in and Robinson starts at 6 and (c). Aki on the bench.
-
@Kirwan said in Blues 2020:
And the other Barrett for fullback.
I reckon you could be onto something there....
-
@African-Monkey
Lay
Riccitelli
Laulala
Tucker
Darry
Robinson
Choat
Sotutu
9 Funaki
10 Barrett
11 Telea
12 RTS
13 Rieko
14 Lam
15 JRK -
Papali'i (C) and BB (VC)
-
The sauce reckons Foster is staying - with Schmidt as assistant.
-
@Chris said in Blues 2023:
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Maybe heading to the Crusaders
Signed with the Landers
-
Papalii to start. Jed Brown moves onto the bench. Duffie takes Collins bench spot.
-
Bronco today for the boys. The trainers reckon Beauden Barretts record might be under threat today from young Jock Mackenzie.
-
@nzzp lets be honest... if that was Tomkinson with the tackle....? Ash Dixons status as one of the more 'beloved' players in NZ got him off the hook
-
@crucial Yep. Definitley more than just that. Apparently he did little coaching just 'oversaw' and even thats being generous. Turn up to training unprepared and just go off the cuff, lacking coaching IQ for that level. Dan Bowden pretty much looked after the backs & attack/strikes. I remember seeing the halftime shots of the Akl change room in the semi against Waikato. Akl behind on the scoreboard in the premiership final - and its Dan Bowden who has the whiteboard up and pumping up the backs - Ieremia standing behind him looking rather awkward and out of place lol. Some personal things happened too in which the players lost respect for him as a person.
-
@toddy loves a shoulder charge ol Jordie. I hate to say it but if that was an MP player....
-
@Steven-Harris RTS given leave to attend Roosters 2013 premiership winning team 10 year anniversary this weekend.
Akira, Patty, AJ still 'on ice' as per higher ups orders. Plummer pretty much demanded to play 12 for Auckland as that's where he wants to hang his hat for SR. So Zarn has insisted on playing 10 as that's where HE wants to play SR.
So question has to be asked are the inmates running the asylum? Personally I don't mind seeing the shuffling around. Esp RTS at fullback. -
@Tim yea I think he signed a 2 year deal. Can confirm Vikena
is signed as well on a draft contract. Not sure if 100% true but apparently Alama Ieremias approached Tom Coventry/Blues about somehow 'un'contracting Vikena for some reason. One of the many reasons why he's (AI) offside with some of the players.
Also - I believe AJ Lam has agreed to terms with the Blues (2 year deal). -
@kiwimurph probably be a 6-2 split again this week. I think Gibsons back so if Papaliis not fit then Gibson and Choat in there. Hodgman should be good to go too so James Lay out.
-
@Tim Not 100% sure but I heard a whisper that Ruru has been released.
-
@nzzp MAGs should win.
Kelston are the team to beat this year. Even this early out I reckon they could potentially go all the way to winning the top 4. They have a very well balanced team, reminiscent of the MAGs 2016 title winning side. Majority Y13s who have played (rugby and league) together since the mini/mod - rippa rugby days. 3 or 4 out and out stars with a very very good 'supporting cast'. There 9 and 10 are both very good, calm composed game drivers; they have smarts, pace and power in the 3/4's but their strength is their forwards. Prop Tony Tafa, no.8 Lauaki (surely related) and no.6 Zyon Maiu'u could be playing NPC right now! Height in the lineouts is perhaps their only 'weakness' but they have most other areas covered. Great to have a strong, contending team from KBHS again.
The Kelston vs St Peters game will be the match of the round. Pity this one wasn't being played as the curtain raiser.
All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2
Blues 2017
Blues v Highlanders
Blues 2022
Blues v Hurricanes
Blues 2020
Blues v Drua
Blues 2022
Foster, Robertson etc
Blues 2024
Chiefs vs Blues
Blues 2022
SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders
Auckland Rugby 2021
Moana Pasifika vs Hurricanes
BOP v Auckland
Blues 2021
Blues v Crusaders
Blues 2021
Blues v Force