@paekakboyz Nock also had the ball clean ripped off him twice like candy from a baby.
@taniwharugby I think this is the first time SBW and Rieko have played together in the midfield? Blues need to stick with this combo for a while (if SBW can stay on the field).
@kiwimurph Yeah I know, but pretty much all the Blues game plans simply must revolve around Rieko, whether as a ball carrier or decoy, add the threat of SBW, if those 2 gel, they could be very destructive.
Yep, has to be last chance saloon for Nock and can probably consider himself lucky to get the start!
@MN5 like passing?
@taniwharugby said in Lions v Blues:
@kiwimurph Yeah I know, but pretty much all the Blues game plans simply must revolve around Rieko, whether as a ball carrier or decoy, add the threat of SBW, if those 2 gel, they could be very destructive.
Yep, has to be last chance saloon for Nock and can probably consider himself lucky to get the start!
@MN5 like passing?
He never did quite become the Nonu that we hoped he would.
Excited about that midfield, but Gatland will need to help them out a bit by not standing deep and just shovelling.
A bit perplexing that our best lock is on the bench. This will be our 3rd lock pairing in 3 weeks.
I really thought they'd start Ruru. Nock looked so mentally shot after a couple of turnovers last week, he tried his best to avoid touching the ball altogether near the end of the game.
Bench looks pretty average overall and lacks impact value for the most part. Good to see Perofeta back though.
@taniwharugby said in Lions v Blues:
@kiwimurph
Yep, has to be last chance saloon for Nock and can probably consider himself lucky to get the start!@MN5 like passing?
Nock really is playing for another contract with communication (or lack of) being one thing the Blues have told him must improve.
@dice said in Lions v Blues:
A bit perplexing that our best lock is on the bench. This will be our 3rd lock pairing in 3 weeks.
Yeah it's odd, Scrafton is clearly the best performing lock (and tight forward) in the team.
Tuipolotu should be on the bench.
@sammyc said in Lions v Blues:
@dice said in Lions v Blues:
A bit perplexing that our best lock is on the bench. This will be our 3rd lock pairing in 3 weeks.
Yeah it's odd, Scrafton is clearly the best performing lock (and tight forward) in the team.
Tuipolotu should be on the bench.
I agree, even more so with this game being played at altitude. It'd also help balance out a bench devoid of impact type players.
It seems to me that they see the 3 locks as interchangeable with 1 of them rotated onto the bench - Tuipulotu was on the bench week 1, GCT in week 2 and Scrafton this week.
Maybe also they think Scrafton on the bench will help balance the second half slump the Blues have been having? Bringing on a hard worker off the pine to help the Blues battle against the altitude?
Proof will be in the pudding.
Finally, the Blues get over the line; excellent try from Akira Aioneee. (What's up with these commentators not being able to pronounce his name correctly?)
Half time: 21 - 10 to the Lions.
Blues are really struggling to get through the Lions' defence. Also giving away a lot of penalties. Gatland-Nock combo not working. I suspect the effect of altitude that will kick in during the 2nd half, will make it even harder for the Blues to catch up.
Gatland's kicking game has been terrible thus far. Not kicking into touch; inaccurate cross-kicks; now also missing an easy penalty kick. Bring on Perofeta!
Geez, and now a pass from Ruru is intercepted and the Lions are over again. 28 - 10.
They showed a stat earlier that the Blues had 62% possession and the Lions a lot of missed tackles, but that's clearly not reflected in the score.
Rieko gets the try after a great pass from Ruru.
Lots of subs have been made in the mean time, including Perofeta.
Wow, another try from Rieko! The subs have had a positive influence and have sped up the game considerably.
Ruru + Perofeta is miles better than Nock + Gatland.
@stargazer said in Lions v Blues:
Wow, another try from Rieko! The subs have had a positive influence and have sped up the game considerably.
Ruru + Perofeta is miles better than Nock + Gatland.
More cohesion and the Team is really moving forward.
@stargazer said in Lions v Blues:
SBW is pretty disappointing though.
Duffie's defence has been suspect, he still comes in and exposes his Wing.
@number9 said in Lions v Blues:
@stargazer said in Lions v Blues:
SBW is pretty disappointing though.
Duffie's defence has been suspect, he still comes in and exposes his Wing.
Not just Duffie's defence. Lions strike back immediately.
35 -24 to the Lions with 6 minutes to go.
Boys chancing their arm, bench has been strong. Lions have been strong at the breakdown. We can get the ball wide, keep the all in hand we can win this.
Awesome! The Blues beat the Lions with a converted try in referee's time! Geez, how much did the Blues improve after the subs came on!
Final score: Lions 35 - 38 Blues
@stargazer your not wrong about the names
@steven-harris said in Lions v Blues:
Brilliant win against a very good lions,there were times I wanted to turn off and go to bed,delighted I stayed up..!,some great impact from the bench..,
I was worried Ruru had been given the TSF curse when his first three touches were ankles/above the head/intercept but he added impetus after that.
@rebound said in Lions v Blues:
@crucial
What about his charge down, it was always going to be a charge down. He and Nanai are the most frustrating, always do something crap mixed with the good they do
With Ruru he may have just edged on the right side of the ledger, but only just.
Do you mean Nye-nye?
I have never understood why Gatland was so highly rated. The times I've watched him he was distinctly underwhelming.
I know several people who reckon he wasn't even the best at HBHS. But his name was excellent PR for them.
Hopefully that's the win the Blues need to get confidence and stop trying too hard.
They were lucky their persistence paid off in the end as they were really searching for things that weren't there.
@rebound said in Lions v Blues:
@crucial
What about his charge down, it was always going to be a charge down. He and Nanai are the most frustrating, always do something crap mixed with the good they do
Can't believe you're including Ruru in a sentence that contains the word 'always'. He's just arrived on the scene. Rookies make mistakes.
