@KiwiMurph cheers.

More importantly, the TAB has Bulls as $3.60 outsiders. Worth some loss insurance perhaps?

@nzzp that's a good bet - especially considering the predicted wet conditions which you would think would play into the Bulls hands.

I want to see Tele'a get some good minutes from the bench. Then start him in the midfield vs the Reds

[Tinfoil hat]

Do you think they already know that he won't be selected for the ABs so are running him into the ground because he'll only have to go to Mitre 10 cup anyway?

@gt12 No. There's 5 weeks between the Blues last regular season game and the first AB test.

@gt12

I think they need to win and can't rest anyone. Simple as that

If the Blues win against the Bulls and Reds there's a possibility they could sneak in with an upset against the Canes in the last round

(last year the Sharks squeaked in with 7 wins and 36 points. Not sure what will be needed this year.. but the Blues currently have 5 wins and 26 points)

@Duluth The Blues will be hoping the Canes win their next two games and seal 4th place, because as a result, they will likely rest all their star players, with the exception of maybe Evans and Coles for that last round-robin game - an ideal chance for the Blues to get one back over the Canes.

If the Canes have their full team, they will beat the Blues at home comfortably.

Coles will have reinjured his calf muscle by then surely

@Duluth

I understand, but I also wonder why there hasn’t been any thought at all about managing his workload - it’s probably a limitation of the squad and current injuries, but Akira already looks flat, I don’t see how ringing him out even more is even really helping the Blues chances. For example, Hoskins looks good enough to perhaps give Akira a bench spot, which could help keep him fresher and ready to close out games?

@gt12

Yeah it’s probably a lack of trust in the squad depth.

I would have liked it if Sotutu played more this year, but it seems they don’t trust him with a start yet.
If he had time off the bench in the earlier would they trust him now? I think they made a mistake not having a look.

@Duluth trusting in the squad players is something the Blues have struggled with for a long time

@Duluth According to the Article Akira was due to be on the bench, with Papalii to start at 8 until he failed concussion protocol's.

@Duluth said in Blues v Bulls:

I want to see Tele'a get some good minutes from the bench. Then start him in the midfield vs the Reds

Rieko is due another rest week, right? If he takes it next week, it probably means Telea starts on the wing against the Reds. Then SBW probably comes back and takes that 23 jersey.

@Chris said in Blues v Bulls:

@Duluth According to the Article Akira was due to be on the bench, with Papalii to start at 8 until he failed concussion protocol's.

Papalii at 8, sounds like a great experiment.

Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 1:Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2:Dan Waenga
TMO : Ben Skeen

@Duluth I rate Sotutu. He's very good in the tight. I would have started him this week to give Akira a rest.

@African-Monkey said in Blues v Bulls:

@Duluth I rate Sotutu. He's very good in the tight. I would have started him this week to give Akira a rest.

It worked well for Auckland to use them like that.

Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal (c), Rosko Specman, Manie Libbok, Ivan van Zyl, Paul Schoeman, Hanro Liebenberg, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Schalk Brits, Lizo Gqoboka

Reserves: Jaco Visagie, Simphiwe Matanzima, Wiehahn Herbst, Jannes Kirsten, Ruan Steenkamp, Andre Warner, JT Jackson, Divan Rossouw

Non-stop rain today. Looking at metservice, we might get lucky and avoid anything too bad for the game. Hopefully that's the case, because we're not built for wet weather rugby.

@Dice said in Blues v Bulls:

Non-stop rain today. Looking at metservice, we might get lucky and avoid anything too bad for the game. Hopefully that's the case, because we're not built for wet weather rugby.

it's been tipping it donw on the isthmus today. That said, I'm optimistic of nothing more than than the odd showers tonight. The really heavy rain should have headed east.

sarc: Some days, I wonder if our Blues are built for any rugby style at all

Cant see either team scoring a lot of points in these conditions. Even in dry weather these two teams would struggle

Neither team to score 30 or more is paying $1.85...get some!

@JK said in Blues v Bulls:

Cant see either team scoring a lot of points in these conditions. Even in dry weather these two teams would struggle

Double hat trick to Parsons, Plummer kicks 5 penalties and it's a crushing forty point win?

The rain has been insane this morning. Is giving me fond memories of the NPC final, so there is that.

@nzzp said in Blues v Bulls:

@JK said in Blues v Bulls:

Cant see either team scoring a lot of points in these conditions. Even in dry weather these two teams would struggle

Double hat trick to Parsons, Plummer kicks 5 penalties and it's a crushing forty point win?

Would happily lose a few bucks for a result like that!

Plumbers goal kicking is mud tho

Its all up to Parsons and his double hatty!

@Kirwan said in Blues v Bulls:

The rain has been insane this morning. Is giving me fond memories of the NPC final, so there is that.

cleared up nicely, blue skies and a good afternoon. Will be crisp with the odd shower I expect, but still a pleasant night out at the Garden of Eden.

Rain is coming down hard right now at the ground....a flash of lightning....

Full time in the curtain raiser.
Blues A 52, Honda Heat 29. Only caught the last 15 mins. Reserve halfback Rilloy Sueuse looked very sharp, Hamdan Tuipulotu 19yo brother of Pat scored a powerful try from 22 metres out. The centre for the Blues made some good solid stops on D.

@Nogusta said in Blues v Bulls:

The centre for the Blues made some good solid stops on D.

Aoake or Aumua?

@Tim just checked the team list it was Asaeli Tikoirotuma
Halftime score was 40-7

@Nogusta Cheers.

Stadium to ourselves, lots of rain and lightning.

@Nogusta Nice to see 2 more St Peter's College boys showing their worth. Plenty of talent coming out of that great school over the last few years.

@African-Monkey Suesue played very well on Monday night as well by all accounts

Probably worse weather than the NPC final, with patches of drizzle , followed by torrential rain.

Lots of handling errors in Bulls warmup.

Nisbo on commentary instead of TJ - nice.

Plz stop hitting up Nonu off scrums.

Pouring with rain. Take quick tap and fumble.

Did someone forget to mention "play percentages in this weather"?

@antipodean yep and Mils goes 'smart play Faiane'. Wtf

@antipodean said in Blues v Bulls:

Pouring with rain. Take quick tap and fumble.

Did someone forget to mention "play percentages in this weather"?

Oh and the stupid chip kicks on the run