Blues vs Hurricanes

@hydro11 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@No-Quarter said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@hydro11 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

I think the major difference was how dangerous the Blues looked with the ball in hand. With the new interpretations you are going to struggle to retain the ball for long periods of time. We just weren't good enough to manipulate an overlap. Many times Reiko Ioane created one from a two on two situation and put the winger away.

Lineout must improve for the Crusaders as well.

I feel like Rieko moved to centre a few years early, but man he has the potential to be world class in that position. Will be interesting to see how he develops over the next couple of seasons.

I think centre is a tough position and he needs the time to learn. You need to move early and it's best to do it in year one of a World Cup cycle.

That's silly, we all know it's way better to shift outside backs into the midfield immediately before or even during a RWC campaign

@hydro11 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@No-Quarter said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@hydro11 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

I think the major difference was how dangerous the Blues looked with the ball in hand. With the new interpretations you are going to struggle to retain the ball for long periods of time. We just weren't good enough to manipulate an overlap. Many times Reiko Ioane created one from a two on two situation and put the winger away.

Lineout must improve for the Crusaders as well.

I feel like Rieko moved to centre a few years early, but man he has the potential to be world class in that position. Will be interesting to see how he develops over the next couple of seasons.

I think centre is a tough position and he needs the time to learn. You need to move early and it's best to do it in year one of a World Cup cycle.

Most AB wingers crap out in their mid to late twenties. He’s just getting in early.

@hydro11 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@No-Quarter said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@hydro11 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

I think the major difference was how dangerous the Blues looked with the ball in hand. With the new interpretations you are going to struggle to retain the ball for long periods of time. We just weren't good enough to manipulate an overlap. Many times Reiko Ioane created one from a two on two situation and put the winger away.

Lineout must improve for the Crusaders as well.

I feel like Rieko moved to centre a few years early, but man he has the potential to be world class in that position. Will be interesting to see how he develops over the next couple of seasons.

I think centre is a tough position and he needs the time to learn. You need to move early and it's best to do it in year one of a World Cup cycle.

Toughest position in the backline for sure.

@Machpants said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@sparky nonu couldn't pass for shit when he first started in the midfield, hopefully Ioane improves as much as nonu did!

Yet by 2015 Ma'a was the best midfield long passer in the game and he still passed some gems last year.

@No-Quarter said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@hydro11 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

I think the major difference was how dangerous the Blues looked with the ball in hand. With the new interpretations you are going to struggle to retain the ball for long periods of time. We just weren't good enough to manipulate an overlap. Many times Reiko Ioane created one from a two on two situation and put the winger away.

Lineout must improve for the Crusaders as well.

I feel like Rieko moved to centre a few years early, but man he has the potential to be world class in that position. Will be interesting to see how he develops over the next couple of seasons.

Agree with this, but I cannot say that he hasn't been impressive. Having him playing well at 13 gives the ABs more options and coverage in the match day squad too. Not that it's something we are likely to see, but with him, ALB / Goodhue and B Barrett in the match day squad, you can almost run a 6/2 split on the bench if you want.

I’m really pleased Pinetree and BJ weren’t here to see an AB tight forward with pink hair

@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Today was the best I've seen Rieko play at Centre. Great lines and angles of running. Defended the big channel confidently. Still needs to work on his passing game to get up to AB standard as a 13.

The biggest work-on for Rieko at centre will be his defensive reads but he is showing improvements this season.

@nzzp Have to say this game was more exciting to watch than yesterdays one. Man, the Chiefs serve up some dross sometimes. Not so the Blues! They did everything right and were in the right parts of the field when it counted. Rieko and Clarke were just loving their roving commssion weren't they. We may see Rieko end up at centre I dare say (needs a bit of time on D first)
I would have given MOTM to Sotutu, he was everywhere. The Blues loosies completely outplayed the Canes trio. Big Red was a star in the LOs and Paps/Gibson were excellent too.
Patty T gets a pat on the back - jeez he was good, solid and uncompromising.
If only the Chiefs had a forward pack......

Ref was fine.

Canes found wanting, probably says something when your best back is arguably JGB.

Something which would be interesting to see would be Blackwell on the blind, one of the hardest workers in the game but just not that effective right in the tight.

I hadn't been convinced by Ioane at centre previously but definitely am now. He looked a lot keener and I thought he also looked leaner. Good to see him hungry.

Savea also looked like he's lost a lot of bulk and it seemed to show. No impact at all.

Funny that this game is being deemed so much more exciting and "proper rugby" as opposed to the game which went to the wire yesterday and only had one less try.

Mafileo looked impressive for a young fella.

Canes looked poorly coached, no vision and awful option taking.

Take a bow Black, not many would've thought you had that performance in you.

Lastly - as I hoped, Sotutu and Telea carried on looking goooood.

@African-Monkey

I don't know where you get the idea that Barrett wasn't effective. 62 metres from 7 carries. Solid under the high ball. Great passing. Very effective when needed as a Second playmaker.

Trust me, there's a franchise that would welcome their prodigal son back next year in open arms and we'd play him at 10.

@sparky there's a massive leap from 'not htat effective' to 'we don't want him'.

He'll get there, and will dominate I'm sure, but not there quite yet. Provides some confidence from teh back, though, and by god seemed a better communicator than previous 15s. You could see him bossing people on the paddock

@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Machpants said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@sparky nonu couldn't pass for shit when he first started in the midfield, hopefully Ioane improves as much as nonu did!

Yet by 2015 Ma'a was the best midfield long passer in the game and he still passed some gems last year.

That was my point, hopefully Ioane makes it too nonu level from a similar base

@Machpants said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Machpants said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@sparky nonu couldn't pass for shit when he first started in the midfield, hopefully Ioane improves as much as nonu did!

Yet by 2015 Ma'a was the best midfield long passer in the game and he still passed some gems last year.

That was my point, hopefully Ioane makes it too nonu level from a similar base

I'd be happy if he makes it to Connie level. ALB can do Nonu.

Fairly dominate win by the Blues.

Favourite part was when the Canes scored and they pulled Barrett into the celebration huddle. That was brilliant.

Loved that. Had it recorded and watched it after the wife went to bed. First time that I haven't fallen asleep on the sofa watching TB in quite some time.

Pretty much every blues player was good, if not really good. Even more importantly they looked like a "team". Weird I know.

@Snowy Step to one side Helen Keller's teacher!

@Chris-B Haha. I actually expected that from you as @Phooey isn't around anymore, but he would be proud of his boy Rangi.

@Snowy Here's a bit of dialogue from Leon's entry interviews.

Leon: Why do you reckon the Blues haven't won for so long?

Universal whining from Bluesland : Aw, we can't get a decent first five Leon. There's none to be had!

Leon: Hmm? Why not? Sounds a bit odd to me.

Leon signs Beauden Barrett. Then he signs fucking Dan Carter as well, just to be sure. Then he uses neither of them. He uses Otere Black and Harry Plummer AND gives the Canes a decent touch up.

Leon: Hmm. I think we've solved the first five problem. What's next?

@African-Monkey said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Important for us to win with such a big crowd as a loss would have been soul destroying for the franchise as a whole. We weren't at our best but we got better as the game went on I thought.

Defence was found wanting out wide which was concerning but it improved as the game went on led by Tuipulotu who was very strong in contact. He'd have to be pushing for a starting ABs birth whenever they play next.

The wingers and Ioane looked dangerous every time they touched the ball. Caleb Clarke is going to be some player and Mark Tele'a continues to be hard to stop every time he touches the ball. Funnily enough, I thought Barrett was our least effective back. Black and Faiane continue to flourish together in partnership.

Our loosies were strong as usual. A real strength for us with our ridiculous depth in that area. Gotta feel for Gibson who simply has no luck with all the injuries he cops. Hope it's not too serious for him as he was strong in the first 30. I guess Lambourn will come in if Gibson is out.

Not usually a massive fan of his, but I thought Goodhue had one of his better games for us. Got around well and was effective with ball in hand. Played his part in dominating their lineout along with Robinson and Tuipulotu.

On Parsons, yeah he cops a bit o here myself included, but he's still our best thrower. Eklund gets around a lot better, but his throwing is hideous. Parsons stays starting for me for now.

Discipline could improve going forward but good to start winning when we're not at our best. Roll on the Chiefs.

I have to say he looked born to the role yesterday avo.

@Chris-B said in Blues v Hurricanes:

What's next?

Not convinced about our half backs Leon - what you got in mind?

@Snowy Ere Enari might want to come home. His career has stalled in Christchurch. He would get better coaching at Auckland than Canterbury.

TTT and Smith are others for the wishlist.

Lisati Milo-Harris is an Auckland player who has improved at the Chiefs.

@Tim said in Blues v Hurricanes:

an Auckland player who has improved at the Chiefs.

I actually have a little faith that players might get better at the Blues now which I wouldn't have said in the last decade.

From within the squad there's also Jack Heighton, though he may concentrate on 10 or 15.

Who are the hot prospects at U20 and High School levels?

what a depressing match for a Canes fan. But an exciting one for the Blues fan

The Blues look a very well coached side with some exciting players. Their attack was a joy to watch. Plumtree loved plodders. Sadly these current coaches are the same. This plodder mindset has flowed into the Canes attack. Once the Canes were an exciting team to watch. Now I feel it going to be the Blues. Or Chiefs. Not the Canes

What can the Canes do,. For starters remove the plodders from the team. This will send a message out that the Canes coaches have seen the light - that too many (useless) plodders don't work. Like Armstrong, Blackwell and Prinsep. And maybe Tiatia. Bring in Numia, Fifita (for Blackwell as the lineout must improve) and Flanders. And Barrett (or anyone else) for Taitia (even though he was ok)

Or maybe Savea although I would give him another week or two to start. I know posters here don't like Fifita but we need him for his line-out skills. Either at lock or 6

BTW I though JGB went well. But hes not a great goal kicker. We need Barrett back at FB.

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Kirwan Time will tell but not obvious to me tbat Beauden Barrett is being trusted yet with as a big a role with the Blues as he had in his last couple of seasons with the Hurricanes.

John Plumtree was a big believer in starting BB at 10 and now he's now All Blacks Assitant Coach. Smiley and Robyn like to see their son at First Five too.

He was also a big believer in starting Blackwell at lock, so questions must be asked of both him and NZR.

And also having a seven foot three SA lock to compensate.

@Higgins said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@sparky said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Kirwan Time will tell but not obvious to me tbat Beauden Barrett is being trusted yet with as a big a role with the Blues as he had in his last couple of seasons with the Hurricanes.

John Plumtree was a big believer in starting BB at 10 and now he's now All Blacks Assitant Coach. Smiley and Robyn like to see their son at First Five too.

He was also a big believer in starting Blackwell at lock, so questions must be asked of both him and NZR.

And also having a seven foot three SA lock to compensate.

I suppose one lineout target is better than none. That's genius level coaching right there.

@antipodean Makes it rather easy for the opposition when they throw in, just biff it to where Blackwell is standing and it is sure lineout win for your team.

My facetiousness aside, there's a reason everyone says you need three genuine options to throw to. It's an amazing shortcoming in the squad selection and retention programme to end up where they're at.

The hurricanes looked really one dimensional on attack. Traditionally the canes have had a soft pack compensated by dazzling backs. There it was just NH style smash it up bro tactics with no guile. No great options at 10 or 15. Reckon they finish 5th of the franchises.

Proctor's and Barrett's departures could explain that.

@sparky I never said he was terrible, I just thought he was well contained by the Hurricanes. It was a solid, without being spectacular debut.

I watched at a pub catching up with an old mate, so didn't focus terribly hard on the game, but I hought Laumape was awful, particularly defensively.

Ah well, after one week of getting into Canes rugby again, I'm now prepared to sacrifice them if the old adage "when Auckland rugby is strong..." holds true...

Interesting stat I'd not seen before -post contact metres- 72m!

With all the hype and attention we got leading up to this game, and with the big crowd that turned up, I'm glad we got the win. It would've been more demoralizing than usual if we bombed.

Happy to see Beauden finally debut for the Blues. Would've been nuts if he got the pass from Caleb in the first half and scored.

@Machpants I'm guessing they got the idea for post contact metres from the NRL. The NRL probably got it from the NFL, who call it YAC(Yards After Contact).

Pedant alert

YAC in NFL is Yards After Catch.

@KiwiMurph Crap. You're right. Similar thing, but rushing yards after contact would be a bit more accurate.