The Blues have made three of their four personnel changes in the backs, handing a first start to impressive rookie Tanielu Tele'a on the right wing, moving Melani Nanai back to fullback with Michael Collins dropping out of the 23 altogether and bringing back Ma'a Nonu to start at second five-eighths
Holy shit - it's almost as if the coaches read the Fern too. How long has it taken to have Collins dumped?
@antipodean They dropped Collins out of the 23 last week but Caleb Clarke got injured in the final training run so Collins ended up starting.
Wouldve preferred Tele'a to either bench again given his impact off it - or given a go in the midfield but probably the only option given the squad they have at the moment. So when Rieko goes to the bench , TJ goes to the wing and SBW 12? Telea has decent speed but probably not Super rugby wingers pace....Jaguares may look to expose/target this?
@KiwiMurph said in Jaguares vs Blues:
@Nogusta When Rieko goes off - Otere to 15, Plummer to 10, Nanai to wing is another option. SBW to replace Nonu i'd say.
I’d rather SBW and Nonu keep swapping like that. You can’t play them together any more. Too slow.
Juan Cruz Mallia, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Ramiro Moyano, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Tomas Cubelli, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (c), Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Santiago Medrano, Agustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas
Reserves: Julian Montoya, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Enrique Piertto, Matias Alemanni, Rodrigo Bruni, Martin Landajo, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Joaquin Tuculet
@Nogusta said in Jaguares vs Blues:
Wouldve preferred Tele'a to either bench again given his impact off it - or given a go in the midfield
I hope he starts at 13 vs the Sunwolves. If he goes well, it solves a few problems.
Exactly.. and we're better off finding out soon if he's ready to start in the midfield. No point waiting until the last round
Interesting comment from Parsons:
"The mindset for us is exactly that; it's all about us," veteran hooker James Parsons said. "We maybe looked at the Sharks too deeply and got away from our game. As [coach] Tana [Umaga] alluded to, it's on us to be confident and stick to our game plan."
That would explain (aside from inexperience) why the team looked nervous and failed to execute a gameplan in the 1st half.
Strange feeling going into this game. I'm still shocked with Michael Tamoaieta's passing tbh to the point where I don't really seem to care about tomorrow's result.
Lavanini getting a card; no surprises there. He must be one of the most carded players in SR.
@akan004 said in Jaguares vs Blues:
The Blues have held up the Jags on a few occasions and this joke of a ref keeps on calling it a tackle.
If the tackled player is held up and one of his team-mates joins in the tackle - then surely at that moment it becomes a maul and if the ref hasn't called for the tackler to release, then at that point it should be too late - the maul is formed.
The organisation from that defensive area was nothing short of a disgrace ,for Talea to end with a clearing kick looked like something I would do in my backyard just makes you shake your head..unfortunately all this from a dumb Papali’i late tackle on halfway..all this against a 14 man outfit ..!
Papalii discipline is becoming an issue. You can take the boy out of league...
Definitely not missing Collins. Nanai again outstanding.
Faiane making a better fist of 13 this week.
Rieko and Tuipulotu playing very well.
Enjoyable game.
The good - some of the short passing close to the ruck. The strike runners are looking dangerous.
The bad - too many loose carries, some aimless/poor kicking from hand, people being driven into touch - soft turnovers.
The worst - no sign yet of an effective lineout drive.
@Chris-B said in Jaguares vs Blues:
@akan004 said in Jaguares vs Blues:
The Blues have held up the Jags on a few occasions and this joke of a ref keeps on calling it a tackle.
If the tackled player is held up and one of his team-mates joins in the tackle - then surely at that moment it becomes a maul and if the ref hasn't called for the tackler to release, then at that point it should be too late - the maul is formed.
Yes but affirmative action referee.
comms saying Telea wasnt expecting the ball for the kick, he looked like he was expecting it, was just a poor kick.
@KiwiMurph said in Jaguares vs Blues:
Papalii discipline is becoming an issue.
Every game he gives away dumb penalties. The coaches need to have a word with him.
@Stargazer isnt really a huge surprise TBH.
