Match thread

Duluth
  1. Joshua Fusitu’a (38)
  2. Bradley Slater (1)
  3. Marcel Renata (67)
  4. Laghlan McWhannell (24)
  5. Josh Beehre (28)
  6. Anton Segner (38)
  7. Dalton Papali’i (c) (98)
  8. Hoskins Sotutu (80)
  9. Finlay Christie (70)
  10. Stephen Perofeta (73)
  11. Caleb Clarke (76)
  12. Pita Ahki (14)
  13. AJ Lam (59)
  14. Cole Forbes (31)
  15. Zarn Sullivan (43)

Reserves: 16. Kurt Eklund (73), 17. Mason Tupaea (9), 18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (154), 19. Che Clark (2), 20. Torian Barnes (1), 21. Sam Nock (83), 22. Xavi Taele (6), 23. Codemeru Vai (1)

Players not considered due to injury: Cameron Christie (knee, season), Sam Darry (concussion), Corey Evans (ankle), Jordan Lay (concussion), Payton Spencer (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder), Malachi Wrampling (concussion).

Duluth

No specialist lock on the bench

Nock very lucky

Duluth

Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Franco Molina, Darcy Swain, Jeremy Williams (c), Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Divad Palu, Mac Grealy

Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Sef Fa'agase, Misinale Epenisa, Lopeti Faifua, Kane Koteka, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Kurtley Beale

Did see Malachi training during the week, can't be far away.

Duluth

Hopefully the 4 young guys on the bench get plenty of time

A big match for Clark after Barnes played well last week

Kirwan

Nock? Seriously, WTAF.

KiwiMurph

It's pretty hard to excited for this Blues team until they start making some selection changes.

Kirwan

@KiwiMurph said in Force v Blues:

It's pretty hard to excited for this Blues team until they start making some selection changes.

Like what? Injuries aside, and the charmed Nock, what changes would you make?

African Monkey

Strange that there's no cover for lock, and yes, Nock gets a 2nd life.

Playing at a new venue for this one. A random Aussie Rules field in Joondalup due to HBF Park being out of action for the women's football Asia Cup.

KiwiMurph

@Kirwan said in Force v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Force v Blues:

It's pretty hard to excited for this Blues team until they start making some selection changes.

Like what? Injuries aside, and the charmed Nock, what changes would you make?

An actual right winger instead of Forbes.

An ineffective midfield gets another crack

Barnes went well past week now benched

Kirwan

With all the kicking two fullbacks makes sense to me.

Chopping and changing the midfield from week to week isn’t going to improve the combination. I liked the hard running from Ahki

Barnes shrugs

I’m pretty happy with the spine of the team, the new hookers look very good. We defend well, strong forwards, good set piece.

Backline attack hasn’t improved from last year, but I suspect that’s not the players, I’m looking at the attack coach there.

@KiwiMurph said in Force v Blues:

@Kirwan said in Force v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Force v Blues:

It's pretty hard to excited for this Blues team until they start making some selection changes.

Like what? Injuries aside, and the charmed Nock, what changes would you make?

An actual right winger instead of Forbes.

An ineffective midfield gets another crack

Barnes went well past week now benched

Yeah Forbes was great in 2024 at 15 but hes a pretty average 14.

African Monkey

Nice day here, not too hot, never thought I'd ever sit on a hill for a Super Rugby match with the way stadiums are designed these days but here we are.

mariner4life

Do they have little creatures at the stadium?

African Monkey

@mariner4life said in Force v Blues:

Do they have little creatures at the stadium?

Lol yup, they're the one's who have turned up in Chiefs jerseys.

mariner4life

Oh well fuuuuck you

Tim

Getting ready for the game.

HBYB4dSbEAAP9Z-.jpg

mariner4life

Some pro lineouts make my teeth ache

What are they teaching these guys?

KiwiMurph

Props on having a ground that is bad for both viewers there live and on tv.

mariner4life

Wow this is a spectacle.

No crowd noise boring commentary

Canes4life

This footage has real pre season vibes about it.

KiwiMurph

@mariner4life said in Force v Blues:

Some pro lineouts make my teeth ache

What are they teaching these guys?

Meanwhile one of the most promising NZ hookers is playing for the Tahs

Tim

Is it just me, or is this like watching a club game with these camera angles.

Victor Meldrew

@Tim said in Force v Blues:

Is it just me, or is this like watching a club game with these camera angles.

I was just about to say the same thing. Almost like watching park rugby at the Basin.

mariner4life

@KiwiMurph said in Force v Blues:

@mariner4life said in Force v Blues:

Some pro lineouts make my teeth ache

What are they teaching these guys?

Meanwhile one of the most promising NZ hookers is playing for the Tahs

Its not just the throwing. The movement, timing and calling is really poor. And that makes the throwing harder.

mariner4life

@Victor-Meldrew said in Force v Blues:

@Tim said in Force v Blues:

Is it just me, or is this like watching a club game with these camera angles.

I was just about to say the same thing. Almost like watching park rugby at the Basin.

As an ex OBU guy yes exactly

Well, except for the sun

Tim

Super Rugby really is amateur bull shit. This is unwatchable.

KiwiMurph

@Tim said in Force v Blues:

Super Rugby really is amateur bull shit. This is unwatchable.

And that's not even talking about the ground....

Blues need to be better with their discipline

Tim

This ref is just cheating now

MN5

Seeing George Bridge playing is bringing back all sorts of traumatic memories

Feel like I'm watching a glorified club rugby match.

KiwiMurph

@Steven-Harris said in Force v Blues:

Blues need to be better with their discipline

Difficult when its Damon Murphy. He's Doleman level shit.

Tim

How the fuck is a not straight throw an accidental offside?

Victor Meldrew

@Tim said in Force v Blues:

Super Rugby really is amateur bull shit. This is unwatchable.

Yeah, but the commentary....

Bones

@Tim said in Force v Blues:

Is it just me, or is this like watching a club game with these camera angles.

Bizarre, pitch looks about 20m wide.

mariner4life

They have tickets on that tizzano but he's too fucking dumb

KiwiMurph

That card was coming