Blues vs Hurricanes (pre-season)
Just a few thoughts now that I am home. Let’s just put it perspective, it’s preseason hit out nothing more, nothing less, been around this game far too long to realise practise games are just that. Practice games.
One can only report on what it is..
The Blues
Firstly I will start with the Blues.. things you can’t coach..
Defence was good, and was paying close attention to the new faces and a couple that I am looking for more expectation
Really liked the look of Joe Marchant, really good on his feet and very strong, had good chat to a couple of players about him, add in what I said, and he looks to have a good rugby brain and pace.
Emoni Narawa looks really promising, could be a really addition in that vacant position.
James Tucker looked a workhorse until injury saw him leave the field. I had a quick word to him at match ends, right knee was a bit swollen, he was going to get assessed..
I was really pleased with Akira Ioane, looked much fitter and was way more involved, really direct from the boot of the scrum.
Papalii was superb, Lambourn surprised and was busy, Goodhue bought some real energy when he came on.
Liked the look of Plummer, made one slashing break and needed a runner off his shoulder on one particular hit up.
Not many scrums in the game, but the Blues looked solid for the first 60 minutes, lineout was solid.
The Hurricanes
On the Canes, if they get more accuracy on the pass, their backs are more than capable. Ben Lam looked the best of the Canes backs and when he has Laumape running off him, they make an awesome combo. Laumape was a handful throughout the game.
Fletcher Smith looked good at times, but I thought JGB looked better, seemed to have a bit more variety to his game and Booth had some great energy off the bench.
In the forwards, Liam Mitchell was prominent while on, Du Plessiss busy, along with Evans... Flanders added some real punch to the loosies and Rakete Stones put some heat on Renata at scrum time in the 2nd half...
Amua was well looked after, but did break one one occasion showing how good with ball in hand he is.
On the injuries:
- Lambourn will probably need stitches to the head
- Jamie Booth had a calf issue, talking to him he should be fine
- Only real concerns are James Tucker who’s knee injury looked dodgy
- There was some sort of issue with James Blackwell.. unsure
Canes squad to travel to South Africa should be named shortly.
And gee Patrick Tuipulotu is a very big human being... scary guy especially given I have criticised him over the years.. hope the guy for fills his potential now that he is the captain
On a lighter note, tried to convince Zarn Sullivan who was on the Blues bench to transfer up North to the Taniwha, but alas he’s signed with Auckland..
Good afternoon in the Sun.. real stuff starts next week
Close to full time, plenty of endeavour from the Canes late in the 2nd half ..but the Blues defence has been solid..don’t know what Tom Robinson runs on, but I would love some of it ..Akira has been very good, much improved work rate...JGB to me offers more variety in attach..Booth been very good,Flanders has added something
@Steven-Harris Flanders has so much potential. Still only 20 years old.
@Yeetyaah To be fair every year is our year until about round four when all hope is lost. Then we spend the rest of the season talking about all the talent we let get away and who we hope will beat the Crusaders this year. Oh well at least I'll always have my mighty Ponsonby RFC.
@Steven-Harris Thanks for your report. On your preseason game comment, I remember a super rugby preseason game many years ago won by 60 points by one team but the other team won the in season game. So I agree results mean nothing now its about bedding in the team systems and combinations.
@Steven-Harris Thanks for all that much appreciated, but trust me, big Pat is a teddy bear haha. He's a bit like how you describe Sam Nock to us. He may be big and scary looking, but very quiet and humble personality wise. Suprised he's seen as captaincy material but, hey, it may help his game.
@Nogusta @African-Monkey @Steven-Harris @Dice @Daffy-Jaffy
Any thoughts on young hooker Soane Vikena from Ponsonby? He's pretty young (19?) to be coming off the bench, even if it's a preseason game.
@Tim don't think he'll play at all this season. Training with the Blues on an ITC (along with Taufa Funaki & Zarn Sullivan) and will be part of the NZ20s programme. May play some Blues A games though?
@mikey07 said in Blues 2020:
@African-Monkey Ta is he the same size or smaller? Only asking because I’ve never heard of him before
@African-Monkey said in Blues 2020:
@mikey07 A fair bit smaller.
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
@mikey07 Ben is 194cm, 105kgs and 28 y/o.
AJ is 188cm, 100kgs and 21 y/o.
From Ben Lam's instagram:
He looked leaner post-training in hot Auckland conditions on Thursday and confirmed he had shed around 3kg from his 2019 weight.
"I'm the lightest I've been in a while," he said, confirming he'd gone from 105-106kg down to 102-103. "I thought this time round I'd try something a bit different and see how I feel a bit lighter. The fitness is up there, the speed is up there. I feel really good.
@Crucial maybe Akira needs to move franchise and get away from his comfort zone so to speak.
@Canes4life said in Blues 2020:
@Crucial maybe Akira needs to move franchise and get away from his comfort zone so to speak.
Just 90 minutes down the highway and we can move Sam Cane back to 7.
Good idea.
@gt12 Wouldn't complain, what's his contract length/status?
Edit: Some article says its until 2021? That meaning until the end of 2021 or the end of 2020, only asking coz it says until 2021 so could mean anything.
@Canes4life said in Blues 2020:
@gt12 any NZ team would be a better option right now.
Perhaps wait and see how he goes this year before saying this.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Perhaps wait and see how he goes this year before saying this.
I think every Blues fan complained about the over playing of Akira (every game.. every minute..) and the under playing of Sotutu and even Papali'i
From MacDonalds comments it sounds like he realises that was an huge error last year.
@Canes4life said in Blues 2020:
@Machpants he wasn't in the All Blacks was he?
You're a bit behind here @Canes4life
7 players other than the RWC squad are under the rest protocols. We have been trying to working out who they are.
see https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/3362/super-rugby-2020/486
@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Perhaps wait and see how he goes this year before saying this.
I think every Blues fan complained about the over playing of Akira (every game.. every minute..) and the under playing of Sotutu and even Papali'i
From McDonalds comments it sounds like he realises that was an huge error last year.
Yep, excellent point.
If they use them right and don’t have any big injuries, I think this loose forward roster could be really huge this year.
They have good players in every position even with a bit of rotation, especially if they bring Robinson back into that mix.
They’re young too; that’s it, it’s your decade!
@Machpants said in Blues 2020:
Maybe they are fully resting him for ABs SR rest protocols?
Nah its because Akira is a fat fukka and not fit
@JK said in Blues 2020:
@Machpants said in Blues 2020:
Maybe they are fully resting him for ABs SR rest protocols?
Nah its because Akira is a fat fukka and not fit
I hope he walked into the doctors....
Blues away jersey
adidas has today unveiled the alternate jerseys for all five New Zealand Investec Super Rugby sides for the highly anticipated 2020 season.
From material to design, the jerseys have been crafted to reflect and honour the natural environments of each team.
All 5 jerseys are part of the new adidas PRIMEBLUE range – made with Parley Ocean Plastic, which is recycled plastic waste intercepted from beaches and coastal communities before it reaches the oceans.From material to design, the jerseys have been crafted to reflect and honour the natural environments of each team. All 5 jerseys are part of the new adidas PRIMEBLUE range – made with Parley Ocean Plastic, which is recycled plastic waste intercepted from beaches and coastal communities before it reaches the oceans.
As part of its ongoing mission to end plastic waste, adidas has committed to shift entirely to recycled polyester by 2024.
To inspire rugby fans to join the movement, the designs of each teams alternate jersey features aquatic-style patterns and nods to the teams’ local environments:
• The Blues jersey takes inspiration from the Auckland Harbour bridge – an important icon of the city and beacon for sustainability due to its solar-powered lights. The jersey design features a water-effect graphic print of the bridge.
adidas unveils Investec Super Rugby alternate jerseys
adidas has today unveiled the alternate jerseys for all five New Zealand Investec Super Rugby sides for the highly anticipated 2020 season.
@Stargazer with Blues playing Tahs next it is likely Blues will be wearing this next weekend.