@taniwharugby Wait what? Pulu was fine in his last start. One of his better Blues games. Ruru was the one who butchered the scrum at the end.

As for Plummer at 10 - excellent. I'm pleased Plummer will get a crack at 10 from the start - so far he's had to come on late at 10 and then once late at 15. Now he gets his shot. @nzzp Depending on how Plummer goes who could very well be the Blues new starting 10. Otere has done some good things but hasn't played so well that his jersey should be unchallenged imo.

@Tim said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Big game for Cowley-Tuioti. Hasn't impressed so far this season. We've lacked grunt off the bench from him.

Looking forward to seeing Renata off the bench. Be interesting to see what kind of shape Aumua is in.

i thought C-T put in a couple of pretty decent hits last week, one of which resulted in a turnover.

@KiwiMurph I thought Pulu was all over the shop, yes Ruru wasnt great either, but thought he still looked better than Pulu.

@mariner4life Fair play. I didn't see all the last game due to a shit stream.

@taniwharugby Fair enough. I disagree.

@KiwiMurph tis funny how we can be watching the same player and have different views of how they played

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?

I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.

What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.

Black will get on the field, so it’s not like he’s getting rusty.

The big plus with Plummer is he’s a very vocal player, and really drives the team around. Should give us good direction and isn’t afraid to take the line on.

Also won’t have to dick around hiding Black on the wing in defence as well.

Downside is goal kicking form.

@taniwharugby said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@KiwiMurph I thought Pulu was all over the shop, yes Ruru wasnt great either, but thought he still looked better than Pulu.

Main problem with pulu still is how slow he is to clear the ball. He’s like trying to race with the handbrake on.

@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?

I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.

What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.

Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?

I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.

What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.

Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.

I’m sure he knows, and like with other positions that are using the full squad, you can’t play every game.

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?

I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.

What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.

Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.

Look at this way, we’ve rotated the props, locks, back row, halfback, centres, and back three so far, but swapping the ten is what’s going to do us in?

Some interesting stuff on the Shortball podcast this week about where the Blues are not quite clicking.

@Tim said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Some interesting stuff on the Shortball podcast this week about where the Blues are not quite clicking.

Bullet point summary?

@taniwharugby said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@KiwiMurph tis funny how we can be watching the same player and have different views of how they played

Haha agreed. It beats watching Collins and having the same view!

@dK Comments (from Mils, Ali Williams, and Stevenson) were that (mostly on attack) they look like they're trying hard to replicate the drills from practice, rather than playing what's in front of them. Possibly this is due to a lack of self confidence and experienced leadership. The confidence issue is also exposed by hesitancy on counter-attack, when they're just not backing themselves. Might take some wins to crack this.

Ali Williams also commented that Karl T blew the last scrum by "smoking" his opposing prop, rather than concentrating on stability.

@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Look at this way, we’ve rotated the props, locks, back row, halfback, centres, and back three so far, but swapping the ten is what’s going to do us in?

Fair point.

I just felt triggered seeing a new 10 ... brings back the bad old days

on Plummer

There is also confidence that the 20-year-old Plummer can shake off his goalkicking misfires from week one, which cost the Blues a result against the Crusaders, and excel in his first start for the franchise.

"We've got a lot of faith in Harry," added MacDonald. "He was right in contention for game one with his pre-season form, and we'd pencilled this opportunity in for him a while back, because of the travel and wanting a few fresh legs out there and a little bit more energy. We're looking forward to seeing how he goes, because he's a real talent."

@Tim Yeah been disappointed with Cowley Tuioti so far. He needs a big one with Scrafton back, and yes, the first point you make from the podcast you watched is dead right imo. In a funny sort of way, we seemed to play with a bit too much structure out there. Great to have a plan in place, but there seemed to be no plan B out there when the Jaguares were containing us on defence.

Am also looking forward to seeing Michael Little back at Albany. Losing him and Matt Vaega was pretty annoying.

Sunwolves

1 Pauliasi MANU
2 Atsushi SAKATE
3 Hiroshi YAMASHITA
4 Tom Rowe
5 James MOORE
6 Hendrik TUI
7 Shuhei MATSUHASHI
8 Rahboni WARREN VOSAYACO
9 Jamie BOOTH
10 Rikiya MATSUDA
11 Jamie HENRY
12 Michael LITTLE (C)
13 Jason EMERY
14 Gerhard van den HEEVER
15 Semisi MASIREWA

Reserves
16 Nathan VELLA
17 Alex WOONTON
18 Asaeli Ai VALU
19 Uwe HELU
20 Dan PRYOR
21 Keisuke UCHIDA
22 Hayden PARKER
23 Phil BURLEIGH

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?

I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.

What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.

Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.

On the other hand - panicking against the Sunwolves and thinking you've got to roll out the A1 number one team to try to snatch a win isn't really sending the right signal.

@Chris-B said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@Duluth said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@nzzp So Plummer should not start all season?

I don't think he shoudl start in Round 4, after a big travel game, in a team that's copped multiple changes, in a must win game, unless he's our new starting 10.

What happens if Black gets injured in a few weeks? You need game time in your backups, and games against teams like the Sunwolves is when you do it.

Fark that, we need to start winning, and we need to start building that habit. Look, I'd be delighted if Plummer is the goods - but I don't think he should be starting this game unless he's our number one 10. And if Leon doesn't know who is best 10 is, then I'm worried.

On the other hand - panicking against the Sunwolves and thinking you've got to roll out the A1 number one team to try to snatch a win isn't really sending the right signal.

yeah, those bastards would never tip over a kiwi side at home.

@nzzp Was only the Chiefs.

Leon's still got to treat this game like a bit of a gimme. If he's giving his backs-to-the-wall team talk against the Sunwolves, the well is going to be dry against sterner opposition.

Blues to win at a canter!

How many blues region players in the wolves?

@Machpants I make it 12 if you count Vella who is an Aucklander playing in Canterbury, and a few players Auckland born like Hendrik Tui, Will Tupou and Jamie Henry. I think that is more than there are indigenous Japanese players.

Having watched the Blues dev. team play the Hurricanes and the first half of the chiefs dev. game, I have grave concerns about Amua's defense. His poor defensive misses were basically the difference in what was otherwise an even Hurricanes game and he again cost a try with a simple one on one miss in the Chiefs game. Players simply out paced him on the outside and it was like having a prop trying to defend midfield with his lack of pace and agility. Lets hope he proves me wrong.

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Having watched the Blues dev. team play the Hurricanes and the first half of the chiefs dev. game, I have grave concerns about Amua's defense. His poor defensive misses were basically the difference in what was otherwise an even Hurricanes game and he again cost a try with a simple one on one miss in the Chiefs game. Players simply out paced him on the outside and it was like having a prop trying to defend midfield with his lack of pace and agility. Lets hope he proves me wrong.

The first missed tackle in this video for instance:

Coventry was complaining loudly about Aumua in that Hurricanes A game. I'm a little surprised that he's getting time off the bench.

He was totally offside too.

Ugh Ken Labann, hopefully the game is better than the commentary will be

@Machpants said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Ugh Ken Labann, hopefully the game is better than the commentary will be

I'll listen to the radio commentary instead. Always do that when Marshall (esp in combo with TJ), Laban or Lose are commentating.

Much rather Laban than TJ.

Blues look shit.

Why would Pulu keep going right putting players under pressure?

Geez, how easily did Henry steal that ball from SBW.

@antipodean Slow and telegraphed too.

@KiwiMurph every move tries a huge yell, is like listening to an American. The way he's going on this is the best game ever

@Machpants said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Ugh Ken Labann, hopefully the game is better than the commentary will be

Sonny BILL.. GETS the offload away.. then PULU with the half break.

It's hard to listen to

Another shit pass by Pulu.

@antipodean said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Another shit pass by Pulu.

I could just quote this every 20 seconds...

@antipodean said in Blues v Sunwolves:

@antipodean said in Blues v Sunwolves:

Another shit pass by Pulu.

I could just quote this every 20 seconds...

Yeah fucking abysmal so far.

@antipodean amazing that he was an All Black.