Really pleased wtih that win. Once again, we did enough to win, but just weren't clinical or effective. Opened the door to them over and over again, but they just weren't quite good enough to get over the line. A better team would have.

That said, any win there is a good win. Mentally really stuck at it.

The refereeing was interesting. Really not sure how a shoulder to the head isn't a red any more - the judiciary may have a good look at that.

Anyway, Perofeta looks much better at 15, Black seems to be the number one 10 for me, and I can't see why Ruru gets so much gametime. Lots to work on, but a win is a win is a win.

I thought Narawa went very well in his first start in the wet - promising signs there.

Caroll actually had some impact which was pleasing.

As others have said Perofeta went very well at 15, Robinson was outstanding, Black did well at 10 and Ruru is a nightmare to watch. Parsons off the ball tackle was so dumb.

Was a must win so nice to see Blues season isn't dead just yet.

So two young gingas (Big Red and Cullen Grace) are battling it out for 6?

Was nice to win one of these close ones.

Ref was wildly inconsistent, sometimes in our favour, sometimes not. Again, nice to get past a bit of a home town referee.

Conditions were awful, made Duffies try and Perofetas high takes even more impressive.

Robinson was great again.

@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:

Was nice to win one of these close ones.

Ref was wildly inconsistent, sometimes in our favour, sometimes not. Again, nice to get past a bit of a home town referee.

Conditions were awful, made Duffies try and Perofetas high takes even more impressive.

Robinson was great again.

I was sure he's would spill that bullet offload, tricky to take a full speed in the wet

@Machpants said in Bulls v Blues:

@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:

Was nice to win one of these close ones.

Ref was wildly inconsistent, sometimes in our favour, sometimes not. Again, nice to get past a bit of a home town referee.

Conditions were awful, made Duffies try and Perofetas high takes even more impressive.

Robinson was great again.

I was sure he's would spill that bullet offload, tricky to take a full speed in the wet

hell yeah, Duffie threw that full noise at Perofeta. Great hands by both of them

that last try of the Bulls, the 9 has gone to pick it up between the 8s legs, who has then pretty much pulled it from his grasp, surely that is accidental offside or a forward 'pass'...

How was Hendricks not penalised for batting the cross field kick to Telea forward into touch?

@taniwharugby said in Bulls v Blues:

that last try of the Bulls, the 9 has gone to pick it up between the 8s legs, who has then pretty much pulled it from his grasp, surely that is accidental offside or a forward 'pass'...

It doesn't look too bad to me, but if there was a problem with it, it might've ended with a penalty try anyway. With Sotutu in the bin, we were scrumming with 7 men then.

@Dice oh it didnt look bad, but just wondering about the ruling, the player in front has taken from a player behind a moment after he grabbed at it, so assume more likely forward pass, be accidental if the 9 had grabbed at it and let go I guess.

All split second stuff

@antipodean said in Bulls v Blues:

How was Hendricks not penalised for batting the cross field kick to Telea forward into touch?

That was a shocker. He was the last defender too, so another YC IMO.

Boobo'd the thread.

Great win for the blues, fought hard.

Had to laugh at Ruru taking the kick off when three 10's have been selected. Then Plummer taking that kick at goal...isn't he the worst goalkicker?

When you listen to Nkumane you can really begin to understand those SA home ref stats.

Good win Blues. Good coaching

@Bones said in Bulls v Blues:

Then Plummer taking that kick at goal...isn't he the worst goalkicker?

Nope

3/4 before that long range attempt. Kicked mid 70’s for Auckland last year. Seems to have recovered his technique

Perofeta is 5/12. Plummer seems to share the blame for his shitness

@Duluth cheers. It was a bit of a lame attempt though!

Anyway, thought it apt that the final blow to my awesome tipping was dealt by the blues.

I'm not sure if its just a perception thing but it feels like Tuipulotu is talking to the refs a lot more as captain this year. Seems more comfortable in the role.

Being in the leadership team hasn't hurt Robinson's game either - he really lead from the front on the weekend.

Meanwhile former captain Parsons gave away a completely needless penalty late in the game. Glad he is not captain anymore.

@KiwiMurph said in Bulls v Blues:

I'm not sure if its just a perception thing but it feels like Tuipulotu is talking to the refs a lot more as captain this year. Seems more comfortable in the role.

Being in the leadership team hasn't hurt Robinson's game either - he really lead from the front on the weekend.

Meanwhile former captain Parsons gave away a completely needless penalty late in the game. Glad he is not captain anymore.

Patrick seems way more forceful with it as well. I like it. As long as he doesn’t err on the Ali Williams side, he cost us games getting refs offside with us.

@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Bulls v Blues:

I'm not sure if its just a perception thing but it feels like Tuipulotu is talking to the refs a lot more as captain this year. Seems more comfortable in the role.

Being in the leadership team hasn't hurt Robinson's game either - he really lead from the front on the weekend.

Meanwhile former captain Parsons gave away a completely needless penalty late in the game. Glad he is not captain anymore.

Patrick seems way more forceful with it as well. I like it. As long as he doesn’t err on the Ali Williams side, he cost us games getting refs offside with us.

Not only that, the reputation takes a long long time to shake. Agree that Pat T seems much better this year

reflecting back, that was a massive win for us. Away, at altitude, with a late yellow card. Big effort by the boys, great result

@nzzp said in Bulls v Blues:

Not only that, the reputation takes a long long time to shake. Agree that Pat T seems much better this year

Since midway through last year IMO

Which is when the ABs adjusted his nutrition plan

@Duluth said in Bulls v Blues:

Which is when the ABs adjusted his nutrition plan

joke in here about stopping beer and chips. Except it's not funny because it's true.

Mmm. Craft beer.

edit: I meant random internet person like me. Not Pat T. Pro athletes no doubt eat well

@nzzp said in Bulls v Blues:

joke in here about stopping beer and chips. Except it's not funny because it's true.

Well I guess I might as well point out that it's not true. He was scoring well on all the fitness tests but was gassing on game day.

The main problem was he wasn't eating enough on match day. The opposite of what most people would guess..
I think Hansen said they upped his carbs as well

@Duluth oops, joke was on internet me sitting on couch with beer and chips. Not Pat T ... long day brain fade.

@nzzp ahh, my mistake

@Duluth said in Bulls v Blues:

@nzzp ahh, my mistake

my bad, wrote it terribly. I have no words left today. I'm done.

Good chat boys

@African-Monkey said in Bulls v Blues:

Glad Perofeta played well too. I think he'd go better at the back in a 2nd playmaker type role as I don't think he's the man to be guiding us around the paddock from 10 at this stage.

He’s a specialist fullback. I hope all talk of Perofeta as a ten has ended

@Duluth said in Bulls v Blues:

@African-Monkey said in Bulls v Blues:

Glad Perofeta played well too. I think he'd go better at the back in a 2nd playmaker type role as I don't think he's the man to be guiding us around the paddock from 10 at this stage.

He’s a specialist fullback. I hope all talk of Perofeta as a ten has ended

He looked genuinely good at fullback. Can’t wait to see him there on a dry track.

@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:

@Duluth said in Bulls v Blues:

@African-Monkey said in Bulls v Blues:

Glad Perofeta played well too. I think he'd go better at the back in a 2nd playmaker type role as I don't think he's the man to be guiding us around the paddock from 10 at this stage.

He’s a specialist fullback. I hope all talk of Perofeta as a ten has ended

He looked genuinely good at fullback. Can’t wait to see him there on a dry track.

His positional play at fullback isn’t too bad and from my armchair he looks a little more comfortable there than at 1st 5.

He’s not that much bigger than DMac, so he will be tested on defence. Also what’s his top end speed like? He looks fleet footed but I can’t say I recall him gassing defenders ala DMac.

@ACT-Crusader said in Bulls v Blues:

@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:

@Duluth said in Bulls v Blues:

@African-Monkey said in Bulls v Blues:

Glad Perofeta played well too. I think he'd go better at the back in a 2nd playmaker type role as I don't think he's the man to be guiding us around the paddock from 10 at this stage.

He’s a specialist fullback. I hope all talk of Perofeta as a ten has ended

He looked genuinely good at fullback. Can’t wait to see him there on a dry track.

His positional play at fullback isn’t too bad and from my armchair he looks a little more comfortable there than at 1st 5.

He’s not that much bigger than DMac, so he will be tested on defence. Also what’s his top end speed like? He looks fleet footed but I can’t say I recall him gassing defenders ala DMac.

He's quick, but not as quick as DMac. Faster than Duffie, so would an upgrade for the team.

With Lamborn only making 1 tackle last week, I'm hoping we put Papali'i at 7 this week. We have to roll out our very best line-up against the Stormers.

Hopefully Rieko is ready to go this week.