Parsons also gives back off it. He is on the Board of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, a regular contributor on SKY Television and hosts his own weekly rugby show on Radio Sport.

Pretty sure he appears on the Darcy & Goran show, not his 'own show'

Cant recall who it was from the Highlanders coaching team this week, said Parsons was 'always excellent' ...one of these players that coaches somehow manage to see more about a player than we ever do?

Great to see Moulds dropped again was planning on heading to the Kamo v Otamatea game tomorrow that I assume he will be released for.

@taniwharugby There must be more to the Moulds thing that we know about. It's too many coaches in a row with the same selection pattern.

@Kirwan yeah I've already alluded to that I think there is something else at play here...but more to the point he had a solid performance sitting on the bench v Sunwolves, got dropped, actually got on the park v Chiefs for 25/30 mins was solid and gets dropped...

@taniwharugby its weird, especially when you look at other positions. Nock gets rewarded for good form, Pulu gets dropped for being continually shit. Seems to be a difference there between Parsons and Moulds.

Same with Collins.

@Kirwan how many of these forward coaches have been North Harbour coaches?

Remember turning up to a Northland vs North Harbour game and watching Parsons out on the field warming up with throws and then running and stepping - with no other players around for about 20mins. So great work ethic but he just doesn’t have impact. Strength is lineout throwing. Weakness is his lack of athleticism around field which really shows in 2nd half. His performance last week was poor and follows a number of games where the lineout has been weak. Hookers of the modern era are ball carrying / ball running players. I think not having a more dynamic player ( anyone else ) in this position significantly impacts the Blues go forward

In particular there is no excuse for selections and game management by Blues coaches. Regardless of his selection for set piece work in first half, all you have to do is look at walking in the 2nd half to know he should be subbed. Most teams pull hookers and halfbacks with at least 20 mins to go.

The decision to resign Parsons for 2 years continues years of poor recruitment. One year absolute max - never knew they offered retirement plans.

Not selecting Moulds on the bench after another good 20 minutes off the bench is just so odd. He should definitely get out the Blues - there is only so much bullshit one should take.

@kev the last two were NH coaches sure, but the forwards coach under Kirwan was Glen Moore.

I don’t think this is a provincial bias thing, Leon, Tana and Kirwan were the head coaches and if they wanted a different player it would have happened.

If you include the head coaches and the forward coaches we are looking and six coaches that have seen issues with Moulds and not trusted him.

Personally, if I think if you aren’t going to play him he should have been replaced in the squad. It’s the halfway house approach that is confusing.

@Kirwan said in Highlanders vs Blues:

thats the thing, both Kirwan and Tana said good things about Moulds and his leadership yet neither gave him much time on the park, he is captain of his province too, I know he is a hard worker (training wise) so I have serious doubts it is anything related to his actual play, somewhere somehow he has pissed off the wrong person and is paying for it...

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders vs Blues:

somewhere somehow he has pissed off the wrong person and is paying for it...

But the coach is in charge of selection

Three different coaches he pissed off?

@Duluth why would coaches say good things about him if he pissed them off?

Why would they not play him if they think he is good enough?

Just strikes me as odd, not necessarily on MOulds (just seems I am vociferous on his defence cos he is from Northland, if Apisai wasnt shit I'd be backing his case too) the fact we have that many coaches that rate Parsons so highly...as I said last week, one of the highalnders coaches mentioned Parsons was always excellent, so is that some of the data they see we dont that shows he is a beast or something?

But even so, still doesnt explain why in this day and age of rugby, when the bench is important, Parsons is played for such huge minutes so often (when whoever is on the bench)

@taniwharugby

Because the coaches (3 in a row) don't rate the 2nd/3rd choice hookers? Despite what they say in the media.
Why keep picking him in the squad? Well there's no one else and they have experimented with the 3rd hooker spot.

That seems like the most simple explanation.

Unless you have heard something else you haven't said on here?

@Duluth none of that explains why you drop a hooker who plays well for 25mins for a guy who struggles almost everytime he takes the park...and dont even release him to play club rugby.

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders vs Blues:

none of that explains why you drop a hooker who plays well for 25mins for a guy who struggles almost everytime he takes the park...and dont even release him to play club rugby.

The not releasing him part is simple. If someone turns an ankle on match day we need the third hooker in Dunedin

I just think that Parsons has become the Luke Whitelock of hookers - solid, high workrate, good leadership, not much physical impact in the looser phases.

Sweet, I like Lose as commentator. Been so nice without TJs negativity the past few games.

Amusing having the Imperial March for Parsons running out.

@Tim Luke Whitlock is a miles better player and All Black than Parsons.

Some good play from Nonu early on, he looks super keen to impress

Bit slow there to clear defenders, lost a good opportunity

Highlanders defence looking solid so far.

Coltman with two good turnovers, but we are dominating. Need points to reflect that. Black with some nice touches

@Kirwan Yup, the Highlanders will gain confidence from weathering this storm.