Match thread

Duluth

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Drua:

our depth is being tested

So far the young guys have responded

I'm always nervous about Clark covering lock. It's asking a lot of a guy who hasn't settled into the loosies at this level

Huge game for Melvin. He's basically playing for a 2027 contract

Daffy Jaffy

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

nervous about Clark covering lock

Its an interesting and risky choice. If a lock goes down early we put the scrum and lineout at risk. Also both dev. Locks (Cook and Lee) have been going very well. Mind you I still rate Clark as a player and hope he gets some decent game time in his specialist position at some stage to give him confidence.
Random thought - could Akira be off contract soon and be back next year?

Tim

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Drua:

Random thought - could Akira be off contract soon and be back next year?

Was wondering about that the other day. I couldn't find anything on how long his Japanese contract was.

KiwiMurph

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues v Drua:

Random thought - could Akira be off contract soon and be back next year?

The thought crossed my mind too - with Rennie in Japan and Rennie made a reference in his initial press conference around how many kiwis are overseas and looking to get some back.

TheMojoman

Consistency. Love it.

Backrow is the Blues back row for the next 3-5 years. Unless we can find a really good 7, Segner will cover.

Need a bonus point win going into the bye seeing how log jammed 1-5 are.

Hopefully Canes will do the job against Reds and Tahs can upset the Brumbies.

@Duluth said in Blues v Drua:

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  1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (159)
  2. Bradley Slater (3)
  3. Marcel Renata (72)
  4. Josh Beehre (33)
  5. Sam Darry (c) (39)
  6. Torian Barnes (5)
  7. Anton Segner (44)
  8. Malachi Wrampling (2)
  9. Taufa Funaki (37)
  10. Beauden Barrett (47)
  11. Caleb Clarke (81)
  12. Pita Ahki (19)
  13. AJ Lam (64)
  14. Cole Forbes (34)
  15. Payton Spencer (1)

Reserves: 16. James Mullan (9), 17. Mason Tupaea (14), 18. Sam Matenga (4), 19. Che Clark (6), 20. Jed Melvin (debut), 21. Finlay Christie (74), 22. Xavi Taele (11), 23. Codemeru Vai (6)


Players not considered due to injury: Cameron Christie (knee, season), Corey Evans (ankle), Joshua Fusitu’a (bicep), Jordan Lay (concussion), Laghlan McWhannell (concussion), Sam Nock (concussion), Dalton Papali’i (back), Stephen Perofeta (calf), Hoskins Sotutu (knee), Zarn Sullivan (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder)

African Monkey

Don't think it's been mentioned, but the Joeli Vidiri Memorial Trophy will be on the line for the first time between these sides.

Tim

Will be interesting to keep an eye on Darry's captaincy.

Tim

Forbes should not be playing wing.

KiwiMurph

@Tim said in Blues v Drua:

Forbes should not be playing wing.

Bingo. No reason he should be starting over Vai. Ridiculous

KiwiMurph

Forbes butchers the kick chase by chasing too hard....

KiwiMurph

Funaki caught napping and its 7-7

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Drua:

Funaki caught napping and its 7-7

That clean out on Funaki after they stole it should have been a card.

Landers92

Feel like I’m watching the 2014/2015 Highlanders with the Drua wearing that colour jersey

Tim

It's been hot (26C) and humid today, but this handling is disappointing.

African Monkey

Drua playing well so far.

Tim

@African-Monkey Our defence is a bit different with this loose trio.

Torian

What was that Spencer

KiwiMurph

The harsh truth is that Spencer would be nowhere near Super Rugby with a different surname

Landers92

Can’t give the Drua a sniff. If the blues don’t get their stuff together this could be quite the interesting game

African Monkey

@Landers92 said in Blues v Drua:

Can’t give the Drua a sniff. If the blues don’t get their stuff together this could be quite the interesting game

We've been 2nd best so far.

Where is this from the Drua away from home every week?

Victor Meldrew

@Grooter said in Blues v Drua:

What was that Spencer

Comedy?

Tim

The hell is going on with ball security?

African Monkey

Our handling has been atrocious.

Landers92

Half time rark up incoming. Need a response like last weekend

KiwiMurph

Can see why the crowds stay away

This game is awful

Tim

Spencer looks way too skinny.

KiwiMurph

Deadshit penalty by mr experience beauden

African Monkey

That was a seriously shit half from the Blues.

KiwiMurph

What's the story with not allowing Drua to do their challenge on the field?

KiwiMurph

@African-Monkey said in Blues v Drua:

@Landers92 said in Blues v Drua:

Can’t give the Drua a sniff. If the blues don’t get their stuff together this could be quite the interesting game

Where is this from the Drua away from home every week?

The opposition usuallly offers more than this....

Tim

Can't say that was worth watching.

There was one example of Barrett bailing on contact by throwing a pass to no one, in his own half.

Dan54

Any chance the lights will go out on this one?

Tim

Apparently the All Whites game got a crowd of 17,603 people last night.

Tim

Would like to see Taele on.

KiwiMurph

Looking at the Drua bench they should go on to win this one

Bones

Geez that can't have been far from a YC. Maul carving up a couple of metres from the tryline.

Lomani is an oustanding halfback