Blues 2024
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From the herald -
Despite confronting stiff competition from past or present All Blacks Dalton Papali’i, Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu in the stacked Blues loose forwards, Segner knocked back overtures from other Super teams - namely the Crusaders - to commit to a fulltime Auckland base.As Cotter adopts a full squad policy to this season, having already rested All Blacks Rieko Ioane and Finlay Christie, Segner is expected to return to start at blindside flanker for the Blues’ trip to Wellington this weekend after sitting out last week’s win over the Highlanders, with Akira Ioane shifting to the back of the scrum and Sotutu reverting to the bench after a standout start that includes five tries from two outings.
Sam Darry is also set for a six-to-eight-week spell on the sidelines with an MCL injury to further deplete the Blues locking stocks, while captain Patrick Tuipulotu continues his recovery from a broken jaw.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/super-rugby-anton-segner-knocks-back-rivals-to-go-all-in-on-blues-and-auckland/Segner is expected to return to start at blindside flanker for the Blues’ trip to Wellington this weekend after sitting out last week’s win over the Highlanders, with Akira Ioane shifting to the back of the scrum and Sotutu reverting to the bench after a standout start that includes five tries from two outings.
Good to hear. This is correcting an error the previous coaching made. In some seasons one or two players played excessive minutes and faded
Segner can play 3 positions, Papali'i and Ioane 2 positions and Sotutu is a specialist. So it's easy to rotate amongst that four. Then there's still Choat, & Suafoa who are can easily slot in too
Ioane at 8 is something worth using at times. A couple of the tries for Auckland last year had Zinzan like control at the base.. a lost art
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Underrated loss that. He's a decent scrummager. Ofa and Fusitua as LH props.
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Confirmation and details. Step up Ben Ake I guess -
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@Daffy-Jaffy isn't Ake at the Chiefs?
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@KiwiMurph Ahio is at the Chiefs.
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Probably looking at Tuipulotu being back after the bye, which would mean the round nine game against the Brumbies (20 April, another four games without him).
If Darry is out for six to eight weeks, that would mean he would miss round eight or 10, so could be back in round 9 (Brumbies, 20 April) or 11 (Rebels, 27 April).
Round 10 is away against the Reds, it would be great to have everyone fit for then.
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Early days, but the comments from the start of the season look fairly accurate: tight five depth is a concern, we don't have a international level hooker, we are missing Hodgman and Laulala, and midfield depth is also a concern, especially in regards to having a top notch 12.
Tevita Mafileo would be a nice get for a prop, Fusitua looks a good prospect, and Renata is playing his best rugby, but his ceiling is not high. Sheck hasn't played, and Lay is out for the season. Who could come into the squad from U20s or development backgrounds? Who might be available to pick up from outside the region? Ahio to return?
At hooker we have a couple of journeymen who are solid, and Vikena who is in a make-or-break year. Same question applies: who could be pick up for next year?
At lock we could have good depth if the players weren't injury prone (Tuipulotu, Darry, McWhannell). Any one on the radar?
Loose forward depth is great, but the question is whether Ioane will want to stick around for longer? Will Rob Rush leave for more (i.e. some) game time? Suafoa is a nice backup to have, and the region is never short of promising young loose forwards. Any young players who must be signed?
Halfback: Christie is good enough at this level, but not excellent. Funaki is improving, Nock has all the skills but rarely plays with confidence or decisiveness. Will be interesting to see if there is any turnover in this position.
First Five: Pretty good depth here
Midfield: Who is the best 12? Are their any young hotshots to sign? Is Heem done after this year? Will Plummer and Evans stick around? Who is the backup for Ioane? Difficulty here is that MacDonald was loath to play young players, so there are a lot of unknowns. Has Grindley got the skills? Can Evans force his way into the 23? AJ Lam has put in some really good hits this year, but looks like a wing adjusting to centre. How would Telea go in the midfield?
Outside Backs: Seldom any problems here, the region produces a lot of quality players.
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Early days, but the comments from the start of the season look fairly accurate: tight five depth is a concern, we don't have a international level hooker, we are missing Hodgman and Laulala, and midfield depth is also a concern, especially in regards to having a top notch 12.
Tevita Mafileo would be a nice get for a prop, Fusitua looks a good prospect, and Renata is playing his best rugby, but his ceiling is not high. Sheck hasn't played, and Lay is out for the season. Who could come into the squad from U20s or development backgrounds? Who might be available to pick up from outside the region? Ahio to return?
At hooker we have a couple of journeymen who are solid, and Vikena who is in a make-or-break year. Same question applies: who could be pick up for next year?
At lock we could have good depth if the players weren't injury prone (Tuipulotu, Darry, McWhannell). Any one on the radar?
Loose forward depth is great, but the question is whether Ioane will want to stick around for longer? Will Rob Rush leave for more (i.e. some) game time? Suafoa is a nice backup to have, and the region is never short of promising young loose forwards. Any young players who must be signed?
Halfback: Christie is good enough at this level, but not excellent. Funaki is improving, Nock has all the skills but rarely plays with confidence or decisiveness. Will be interesting to see if there is any turnover in this position.
First Five: Pretty good depth here
Midfield: Who is the best 12? Are their any young hotshots to sign? Is Heem done after this year? Will Plummer and Evans stick around? Who is the backup for Ioane? Difficulty here is that MacDonald was loath to play young players, so there are a lot of unknowns. Has Grindley got the skills? Can Evans force his way into the 23? AJ Lam has put in some really good hits this year, but looks like a wing adjusting to centre. How would Telea go in the midfield?
Outside Backs: Seldom any problems here, the region produces a lot of quality players.
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I know you don't love him, but TUJ would be a good get to match with Rieko in a big midfield - we need @Stargazer here but I think he is off contract this year.
You could then bring along Grindley as a 13 and keep Evans as a utility.
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Early days, but the comments from the start of the season look fairly accurate: tight five depth is a concern, we don't have a international level hooker, we are missing Hodgman and Laulala, and midfield depth is also a concern, especially in regards to having a top notch 12.
Tevita Mafileo would be a nice get for a prop, Fusitua looks a good prospect, and Renata is playing his best rugby, but his ceiling is not high. Sheck hasn't played, and Lay is out for the season. Who could come into the squad from U20s or development backgrounds? Who might be available to pick up from outside the region? Ahio to return?
At hooker we have a couple of journeymen who are solid, and Vikena who is in a make-or-break year. Same question applies: who could be pick up for next year?
At lock we could have good depth if the players weren't injury prone (Tuipulotu, Darry, McWhannell). Any one on the radar?
Loose forward depth is great, but the question is whether Ioane will want to stick around for longer? Will Rob Rush leave for more (i.e. some) game time? Suafoa is a nice backup to have, and the region is never short of promising young loose forwards. Any young players who must be signed?
Halfback: Christie is good enough at this level, but not excellent. Funaki is improving, Nock has all the skills but rarely plays with confidence or decisiveness. Will be interesting to see if there is any turnover in this position.
First Five: Pretty good depth here
Midfield: Who is the best 12? Are their any young hotshots to sign? Is Heem done after this year? Will Plummer and Evans stick around? Who is the backup for Ioane? Difficulty here is that MacDonald was loath to play young players, so there are a lot of unknowns. Has Grindley got the skills? Can Evans force his way into the 23? AJ Lam has put in some really good hits this year, but looks like a wing adjusting to centre. How would Telea go in the midfield?
Outside Backs: Seldom any problems here, the region produces a lot of quality players.
@Tim said in Blues 2024:
Midfield: Who is the best 12? Are their any young hotshots to sign? Is Heem done after this year? Will Plummer and Evans stick around? Who is the backup for Ioane? Difficulty here is that MacDonald was loath to play young players, so there are a lot of unknowns. Has Grindley got the skills? Can Evans force his way into the 23? AJ Lam has put in some really good hits this year, but looks like a wing adjusting to centre. How would Telea go in the midfield?
It's hard to know what the rankings are at 12. Heem was unavailable in the first week but he's basically been alternating with Plummer
The backs haven't clicked yet I do wonder if the loss of O'Halloran has had an impact there. Brown is a good replacement obviously but would've brought in his own ideas just as the season started
As for other options? Evans in the preseason did what he always does.. looks good but then makes errors particularly on defence. Gordon had a promising preseason but needs time at NPC level first
Grindlay is worth a look soon. I think he might have more success at 12 at SR level than 13.
I like the idea of Lam becoming a centre/wing he just needs more time.. probably needs a full NPC at 13
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@Tim said in Blues 2024:
Midfield: Who is the best 12? Are their any young hotshots to sign? Is Heem done after this year? Will Plummer and Evans stick around? Who is the backup for Ioane? Difficulty here is that MacDonald was loath to play young players, so there are a lot of unknowns. Has Grindley got the skills? Can Evans force his way into the 23? AJ Lam has put in some really good hits this year, but looks like a wing adjusting to centre. How would Telea go in the midfield?
It's hard to know what the rankings are at 12. Heem was unavailable in the first week but he's basically been alternating with Plummer
The backs haven't clicked yet I do wonder if the loss of O'Halloran has had an impact there. Brown is a good replacement obviously but would've brought in his own ideas just as the season started
As for other options? Evans in the preseason did what he always does.. looks good but then makes errors particularly on defence. Gordon had a promising preseason but needs time at NPC level first
Grindlay is worth a look soon. I think he might have more success at 12 at SR level than 13.
I like the idea of Lam becoming a centre/wing he just needs more time.. probably needs a full NPC at 13
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@Tim said in Blues 2024:
Midfield: Who is the best 12? Are their any young hotshots to sign? Is Heem done after this year? Will Plummer and Evans stick around? Who is the backup for Ioane? Difficulty here is that MacDonald was loath to play young players, so there are a lot of unknowns. Has Grindley got the skills? Can Evans force his way into the 23? AJ Lam has put in some really good hits this year, but looks like a wing adjusting to centre. How would Telea go in the midfield?
It's hard to know what the rankings are at 12. Heem was unavailable in the first week but he's basically been alternating with Plummer
The backs haven't clicked yet I do wonder if the loss of O'Halloran has had an impact there. Brown is a good replacement obviously but would've brought in his own ideas just as the season started
As for other options? Evans in the preseason did what he always does.. looks good but then makes errors particularly on defence. Gordon had a promising preseason but needs time at NPC level first
Grindlay is worth a look soon. I think he might have more success at 12 at SR level than 13.
I like the idea of Lam becoming a centre/wing he just needs more time.. probably needs a full NPC at 13
