@foobaNZ said in Blues v Hurricanes:

A shame we've had so many injuries and long term ones this year.

Sometimes losing a player through injury does not affect that team's chances of victory. Which category you place Reed Prinsep in I'll leave up to you to decide.

@Higgins yea for me it's not having Love yet, then Cameron getting a season ender. Then Godfrey goes to the 20s.

I don't think Morgan is the answer at 10 so losing our other options hasn't helped.

@foobaNZ yeah and then adding Jordie's unavailability in that last game made it almost impossible to win that territory battle, which is crucial in the wet.

That backline you've mentioned above would be ideal next year, definitely a much more skillful backline than what we saw on Saturday against the Chiefs.

Add in the likes of Cameron, Higgins, Sullivan and Umaga-Jensen (if we keep him) and that's some bloody good depth.

@Tim Interesting has he played any 10 this year I’ve been slack and haven’t followed any Blues games.

@foobaNZ said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Roigard
Godfrey
Naholo
Barrett
Proctor
Moorby
Love

The above would be nice in an ideal world. A shame we've had so many injuries and long term ones this year.

Despite that - we need more muscle across our whole pack. Enough talent in the squad if the right 8 is picked, but there are some serious drop offs in quality that make us way below average. Line out was appalling against the Chiefs.

I do think we'll beat the Blues but I can't see us getting past the semi stage if I'm honest.

Like the look of that backline, very much!
I will be happy if we make it past Quarter finals at this stage!

@mikey07 he's started 1 game at 10 only think it was the Force

@mikey07 said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Interesting has he played any 10 this year I’ve been slack and haven’t followed any Blues games.

Perofeta had one start against the Force. He went well.. he was first in the TSF voting for Blues MOTM in that game

Plummer has been in very good form at 12. When he had a start at 10 he struggled

Seems like the obvious choice is Perofeta and leaving Plummer where he is. But maybe it's Perofeta on the bench if they want to ease him back in

1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Nepo Laulala
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
5 Cameron Suafoa
6 Akira Ioane
7 Adrian Choat
8 Hoskins Sotutu
9 Finlay Christie
10 Harry Plummer
11 Caleb Clarke
12 Bryce Heem
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Mark Telea
15 Zarn Sullivan

Reserves:
16 Kurt Eklund
17 Jordan Lay
18 Marcel Renata
19 James Tucker
20 Anton Segner
21 Sam Nock
22 Stephen Perofeta
23 AJ Lam/Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Players not considered: Beauden Barrett (ABs rest), Sam Darry (arm), Alex Hodgman (shoulder, season), Dalton Papalii (suspension), Tanielu Telea (knee)

1 Xavier Numia
2 Asafo Aumua
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 James Blackwell
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere
6 Caleb Delany
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi
8 Ardie Savea
9 Cam Roigard
10 Aidan Morgan
11 Kini Naholo
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Billy Proctor
14 Julian Savea
15 Josh Moorby

Reserves:
16. Hame Faiva
17. Tevita Mafileo
18. Owen Franks
19. Justin Sangster
20. Brayden Iose
21. Jamie Booth
22. Brett Cameron
23. Salesi Rayasi

Unavailable for selection: Ruben Love, Tyler Laubscher, Reed Prinsep, TJ Perenara, Bailyn Sullivan, Dane Coles, Devan Flanders.

Unavailable due to New Zealand under-20s commitments: Siale Lauaki, Peter Lakai, Cooper Flanders, Jordi Viljoen, Hunter Morrison, Harry Godfrey

The two best 10s are on the bench.

Plummer needs to play better than his last start at ten

The first time we've seen the Heem/Ioane midfield combo this year. It has been very successful in previous years

Pretty happy with that forward pack, brutal.

Awesome news to get Brett Cameron back, also good to see Proctor isn't out for what looked like a serious shoulder injury.

Two solid teams, hopefully Auckland turns it on for Saturday.

I'm also glad Kini Naholo has kept his spot at 11, definitely the best wing we have atm.

Surprised that AJ Lam has recovered enough to be bracketed

Will RTS play again this season?

@Bovidae said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Will RTS play again this season?

If there are no injuries, probably not

Plummer (at 12) and Heem are playing well

@Bovidae It would be ironic if we had an injury crisis on the wing and we had to play him there and he carved up.

@Canes4life Agree on Cameron. In form he's a level or 2 above Morgan. Hope he can get back to his best quickly and start before the finals

And thank God that Aumua is back. Hope he can last the full match as we will lose half our lineouts when he's replaced.

The team selections are about right for once (I just accept Blackwell starting now. I'd prefer Bird) and some good surprises with Proctor starting and Cameron back. Also good to see Delany starting at 6 and the same wings

Good news about Cameron. For some reason I thought he was gone for the season.