Blues A review vs Hurricanes Hunters
I just arrived back from the Hurricanes Hunters v Blues A game. I'll report the general and Blues A part in this thread, the general and Hunters' part in the Hurricanes 2020 thread.
It was a game of two halves, but not two equal halves. The Hunters had about 95% of territory in the first half and had most of the possession; I think the Blues only entered the Hunters' half about 3-4 times, only to lose possession immediately and enabling the Hunters' to enter the Blues' half again. It's a credit to the Blues' defence that they didn't concede more than one try, because the Hunters' threw everything at them.
In that first half, the Hunters dominated the scrum and had several line-outs that went well. The Blues had only a few line-outs, which also went well. I think I only saw one line-out steal by the Hunters. The Blues had to defend quite a bit in their own 22 and managed to make a few turnovers. The Hunters came close to scoring a few times, but then someone dropped the ball, knocked it on or threw it straight at a Blues player, leaving the Hunters with a miserable 5 point lead at the break. Based on how that first half went, the Hunters should have led at least by 15-20 points, but ball handling let them down (the Blues can take some credit for that).
The second half was a different story; very different. I don't know what was said during the break, but it worked for the Blues. Most noticeable was that the Blues didn't kick possession away as much and used the line-out way more often in that second half. It was Tolai who scored the Blues' first try not long after the break from a line-out maul. The second try was scored from the pick 'n go, I couldn't see by who, at about 54 minutes. Tamati Tua scored a nice try in the approx. the 68' and Kianu Kereru-Symes scored the try of the game when he caught a high ball and went for a solo run to the Hunters' try line and they couldn't stop him from dotting down (approx. 76th min). Riedlinger-Kapa had the final say with a try in the last seconds of the game. All in all, a great second half from the Blues and a well-deserved win!
About some individual players: Tolai looked good (some good carries) and it was a big arm wrestle with Riccitelli. He made two huge tackles and both players didn't come out undamaged. In a SR game, Tolai would have been taken off for a HIA; in this game, the doctor talked to him for about 3-4 minutes while he was sitting on his knees and after play resumed, he looked a bit out of it for 5 minutes. IMO he should have been taken off at that point, but he played on and played well, and was replaced in about the 65th minute.
Kereru-Symes also went well. I sat close to family/friends of his, and overheard them talk about him. He's definitely a member of the main squad now. His line-out throws were solid and held his own in the scrum, too. By then, Riccitelli was replaced by O'Reilly.
Some of the Blues players were wearing jerseys without numbers and I don't recognise all of them, so it's hard to say a lot about other players.
Finlay Christie was still very rusty and was one of the players who butchered some of the Blues' attacks in the first half. Wobbly passes, forward passes, knock ons, bad box kicks ... Jack Heighton was only marginally better at 10. Strangely enough, Zarn Sullivan didn't replace him at 10 (I couldn't see who he replaced, not sure it was the fullback), but had a positive influence on the game in the second half. He came on in about the 48th minute. I'm not sure whether Niko Jones is ready for SR, yet. He's quite small and struggled against the Hunters' loosies in the first half. He conceded several turnovers and knocked the ball on a few times. He may need a bit more time. He was replaced at half time.
Finally, I had the impression that the Hunters started losing the game more due to their own substitutions than due to the Blues subs, as far as the players on the field are concerned. And as I said, they changed things up in their game plan, which worked very well in the 2nd half.
Newshub again claiming Barrett will play against the Hurricanes in Round 11
Super Rugby 2020: Beauden Barrett poised for club hit-out before Blues debut | Newshub
The All Blacks first-five/fullback will turn out for his Coastal outfit against Southern.
Newshub can reveal Barrett will play his first game of competitive rugby in five months on April 4, running out for his home club.
The appearance will serve as the precursor to Barrett's Blues debut on April 11 against his former team, the Hurricanes.
Coached by Alama Ieremia
Note no. 16 @Stargazer
The Blues A team to meet Hurricanes A at Evans Bay Park on Saturday at 1pm is:
Starting XV:
1. Joe Walsh, 2. Luteru Tolai, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Samipeni Finau, 5. Sam Caird, 6. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa ©️, 7. Niko Jones, 8. SamMcNamara, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Jack Heighton, 11. Emoni Narawa, 12. Tamati Tua, 13. AJ Lam, 14. Jordan Hyland, 15. Jared Page
Replacements:
16. Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17. Fatongia Paea, 18. Jack Straker, 19. Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 20. Jonah Mau’u, 21. Taufa Funaki, 22. Zarn Sullivan, 23. Tomas Aoake, 24. Joel Cobb
@Duluth So, does that mean that he's the temporary injury cover for Parsons (Tolai being the replacement of Ray Niuia)?
Edited to add that Samipeni Finau trained with the Crusaders during preseason, but didn't play for the Crusaders Dev team two weeks ago.
@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:
Edited to add that Samipeni Finau trained with the Crusaders during preseason, but didn't play for the Crusaders Dev team two weeks ago.
He was playing for Waikato in the CCCC (how's that for an acronym) so is back up north.
Congratulations to our Harbour Men who have been named to play for the Blues A team v the Hurricanes A team this afternoon.
Jared Page
Tomas Aoake
Jack Heighton
Luteru Tolai
Xavier Cowley-Tuioti
Congratulations also Tate Evans who has assembled with the team as injury cover. Go well today men.
@pukunui said in Blues 2020:
Thanks for posting that.
Was very interesting to hear Savea say he had the same struggles as Akira in 2017, and had to find the enjoyment again too. Hopefully Akira delivers on his promise like Ardie did after whatever switch happened there.
Some facts too about the weight gain, 119kg after Super Rugby 2019 and blew out to 128kg at the start of last years Mitre 10. Sounds like he was really struggling during that comp. Had to work hard after Mitre 10 to get back into shape.
So pleased to hear he is happy and fit now, genuinely one of my favourite players. I like players that bring something unique (like Carlos or Zinzan).
@Kirwan I never get time to watch the Youtube vids but have found them in the Podcast app so will give them all a listen on my walks to work.
I wonder if Ardie's planning to interview any white players? 
@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:
Any guesses on who the other 3 players in the leadership group are?
Parsons, Faiane and Rieko maybe?
It's Robinson, Rieko and Parsons I think (definitely the first 2, can't remember the 3rd).
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
It's Robinson, Rieko and Parsons I think (definitely the first 2, can't remember the 3rd).
The 3rd was Parsons
@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
It's Robinson, Rieko and Parsons I think (definitely the first 2, can't remember the 3rd).
The 3rd was Parsons
Hopefully he can exert his leadership mana to ensure the Blues don't use him as a ball runner.
@Nepia said in Blues 2020:
Hopefully he can exert his leadership mana to ensure the Blues don't use him as a ball runner.
He's actually a decent option off the bench, or as a squad hooker. We're seeing that- leadership, commitment, team activities; it's almost late stage Mealamu; not a great player any more, but hugely influential in the team. I like him as a person, but his carrying and physical presence isn't at starting hooker level. He's been much better this year off the bench
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
@Nepia said in Blues 2020:
Hopefully he can exert his leadership mana to ensure the Blues don't use him as a ball runner.
He's actually a decent option off the bench, or as a squad hooker. We're seeing that- leadership, commitment, team activities; it's almost late stage Mealamu; not a great player any more, but hugely influential in the team. I like him as a person, but his carrying and physical presence isn't at starting hooker level. He's been much better this year off the bench
He may not be a great ball runner, but he's crucial to our lineout and is a good scrummager. Just have him hit rucks and let any number of the other big boppers run it up.
Only replace him if we have someone better, and at the moment we don't.
@Kirwan said in Blues 2020:
et any number of the other big boppers run it up
thats the funny thing, he still gets called on to do carries.
TBF, despite his relatively small ball carries, he doesnt often get turned over, guess thats cos the support dont have as far to go to secure the ball 
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
@Tim Lamborn has actually been bloody useful.
one of the real strengths that the coaching team has is developing fringe players. It means we have depth in so many positions that we didn't previously. You go through:
Front row,
Locks
Loosies (multiple backups)
Midfield
Back 3
really, the only area that's thin is 9/10.
A lot of those players have come from nowhere too - Jacob Pierce, Mark Telea - despite the injuries some have already suffered (BoP lock, and that hooker)
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
really, the only area that's thin is 9/10
I don't think 10 is thin.
Otere is better than most sides second choice
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
really, the only area that's thin is 9/10.
You've got so much depth at 10, Beaudy hasn't played a game yet!
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
Jacob Pierce, Mark Telea
Pierce was NZ U20, and Telea was in the 7's dev squad, so not really out of nowhere.
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
Jacob Pierce, Mark Telea
Pierce was NZ U20, and Telea was in the 7's dev squad, so not really out of nowhere.
OK, out of nowhere for me. Not front of mind for many folk I suggest, when looking at the year. Patty and J Goodhue were probably the first choice locks; Jacob has come in and performed really well.
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
Not front of mind for many folk I suggest, when looking at the year. Patty and J Goodhue were probably the first choice locks; Jacob has come in and performed really well.
I wanted Pierce to have the first chance this year. Regardless of that, the other locks have raised their game. Goodhue probably played his most physical game of SR just before getting injured, Robinson did a good job and GCT had his best ever 40mins last weekend
Completely agree with your point about internal competition
Happy for Mark and his family that he's playing so well, especially with what they've had to go through the last year with the brutal death of his brother.
I really like our winger depth going forward.
Mark Telea
Rieko Ioane
Tanielu Telea
Emoni Narawa
Caleb Clarke
That's probably the best wing depth we've had in about a decade. I don't think Rieko will play much wing in the future though.
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
Mark Telea
Rieko Ioane
Tanielu Telea
Emoni Narawa
Caleb ClarkeThat's probably the best wing depth we've had in about a decade. I don't think Rieko will play much wing in the future though.
Really looking forward to seeing Clarke back in XV's next year. He's got a lot of good bulk now and he's still fast. Relatively low error rate too.
I guess a few of those guys will drift into other positions. Tanielu Tele'a to the midfield & Narawa is more suited to fullback
@Duluth Clarke has also become freakishly good at taking high balls too. I don't know where that came from, but he was catching everything for Auckland last season.
@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
really, the only area that's thin is 9/10
I don't think 10 is thin.
Otere is better than most sides second choice
Otere is great, I have been really impressed with him.
Perofeta at 15 is a revelation too; the nous of Michael Collins, but with some speed 
Blues A to play Chiefs Dev in Hamilton this afternoon:
15 Jared page, 14 Tomas Aoake, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Tamati Tua 11 Joel Cobb 10 Jack Heighton 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Tony Lamborn, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa ©, 5 Sam Caird, 4 Samipeni Finau, 3 Ropate Rinakama, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Fatongia Paea.
Reserves: 16 Michael Lea, 17 TBC, 18 Teague McIlroy, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 25 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Patrick Elia, 23 Kade Banks.
https://blues.rugby/blues-a-take-on-chiefs-in-super-rugby-curtain-raiser-in-hamilton/
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If you are going to this game, please, report back to the Fern!