Blues 2026
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Healed, healthy and motivated, Stephen Perofeta ready to rise again for Blues in Super Rugby
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@Daffy-Jaffy It's strange that only the Chiefs have officially announced their NDC players.
Maybe one of the NZ U20 props is the other Blues player?
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@Daffy-Jaffy heard from a team mate of Robson Faleafa that he suffers from
Turf Toe: Hyperextension of the big toe joint, common during tackles or when the foot is planted and the body is forced forward, can cause significant pain and ligament damage.It’s a real issue on the foot plant especially at scrum time apparently struggled during the Under 20 RWC this year
Faleafa will require an operation to correct this issue
From what I have been told , Riley Tofilau is a better scrummager but missed the NZ 20 team because of his fitness
Saw Riley play for the Blues Super Development squad this year and he more than held his own against the Chiefs and Moana Props who were all experienced provincial players -
@Steven-Harris I have had Turf Toe, its bloody awful and had to basically learn how to re-strengthen my foot and use my foot again properly. Got the piss ripped out of me when i was getting my big toe strapped for a while
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@Steven-Harris As an aside, I thought Tofilau was mobile enough and his scrummaging should have got him selected amongst all of the Blues props in the NZ U20s.
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@DurryMexted hope you have made a full recovery, sounds like Faleafa has big rehab ahead of him.
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@Steven-Harris Its just a niggly injury. Within 3 weeks i was running around fine, but took me ages to get that spring back in my foot
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Post World Cup Succession Planning
It seems likely that we will have a new coach in 2028, and will have lost a large number of core players. Especially with some of the "odd" selections from the moronic AB's coach. So whoever comes in faces rebuilding a squad.
From the 2026 squad I expect us to lose:
Tu'ungufasi
Renata
Eklund
Tuipulotu
Papalii
Sotutu
Christie
Funaki
Nock
Barrett
Perofeta
Lam
Evans
Ioane
Forbes
SullivanSo, which coaches would want the job, and would we want them?
Ideal choice would be Joe Schmidt, unless he goes for an AB role post 2027. Then there is Dave Rennie, but would he want it? Surely he would be trying for an AB role? Pat Lam? If promoting from within, Halangahu has been mentioned before. Maybe O'Halloran or Tito?
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Let's just remove those players, a 2028 starting team could look like:
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Fusitua
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Oudenryn
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??
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Darry
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Beehre
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Christie
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Woodley
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Wrampling-Alec
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??
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Simpson
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Clarke
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Taele
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Cameron
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Saunoa?
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Spencer
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Slater
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Ake
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??
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Cook
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Clark
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??
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??
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Vai?
Any one able to fill out the question marks? I've assumed a lot of the younger players will be coming through by then.
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I'd expect Norrie to be there somewhere
Yates is an unusual selection at this stage. However he's only 25 and large. Feek must see something he likes longer term. So I'd pencil him in as one of the TH's
Halfback is the problem position. I've wanted at least one of the halfbacks to move on for years but we've stayed with the same 3
So yeah, a lot depends on the young guys kicking on. Maybe a couple of the older guys don't leave. Also 2-3 recruits in certain positions makes a huge difference. The BB top up cash frees up soon
