Very impressive performance by the Canes front row and Dearns. They were ably assisted by the backrow, while the Blues laboured and couldn't catch a break with HIAs. Segner again impressing in a beaten pack performance. Wrampling looked much better, especially on attack.

Blues coaches making unfathomable decisions starting Beauden. And then to so early swap Nock out for Christie in the second half when you're chasing the game. Brainless decisions.

As for the refereeing team; some baffling decisions which shouldn't happen in a professional sport.

The better team came out with a deserved bonus point win. Highlight for me was the backline switch at the maul where Enari made a no look pop pass to Naholo. Superb play regardless if it was a set move.

@antipodean said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Proctor again. Superb defence tonight.

Are we talking about the same Proctor Lam walked past? The same one who left Shields to stop Wrampling?

Proctor had his 501's on for that passage of play.

Proctor is a good Super Rugby player. But 'sublime defence' is a bit much.

@nostrildamus said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@antipodean said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Proctor again. Superb defence tonight.

Are we talking about the same Proctor Lam walked past? The same one who left Shields to stop Wrampling?

No, we are talking about @Canes4Life's version of Proctor.

Looks something like:

View image

That was Higgins until a month or so ago, now it's magically turned into Proctor.

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

That was Higgins until a month or so ago, now it's magically turned into Proctor.

Difference being if Higgins tried that wide stance pose he'd immediately injure himself...

@nostrildamus said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Nepia said in Blues v Hurricanes:

That was Higgins until a month or so ago, now it's magically turned into Proctor.

Difference being if Higgins tried that wide stance pose he'd immediately injure himself...

And he'd still have a more positive impact on the Canes performance than Rova.

@Jnr said in Blues v Hurricanes:

And he'd still have a more positive impact on the Canes performance than Rova.

yes, classy player, shame we did not see more of Higgins.

Fi.nally getting around to watching this game now. All the talk has been about how bad BB was, but so far neither 10 has covered themselves in glory. BB's stuff ups have been well documented, but in the first 20 minutes alone, Love has missed touch from a penalty, missed a penalty from out front and passed along the ground.

On Fehi, he has always, so far, carried the ball under his left arm, suggesting he might be a natural left wing. Food for thought if some consideration is being g given to sneaking him in at 14 for the ABs.

Also, Fehi hasn't been used by the Canes when it comes to defending the high ball down his wing. So far it's been Love and Harkin there. Might be a sign Fehi isn't rated in that department yet.

@Crazy-Horse or Love and especially Harkin are usually very good at it, not to mention Jordie. Why get him to do it just for the sake of it?

@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Crazy-Horse or Love and especially Harkin are usually very good at it, not to mention Jordie. Why get him to do it just for the sake of it?

True, but it's something to consider. I know a number of us are scratching our heads wondering if he is any good under the high ball. And Clarke has been mentioned as the guy to pick in the ABs because he is better under the high ball.

@Crazy-Horse granted, it's pretty bizarre he just doesn't feature at all there! I'm sure I recall him being pretty decent last season.

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@canefan said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Scary moments there, CC looked like he'd done his ACL for a moment there

Viljoen is a whippet

Illegal strip. Blues knee on ground.

@Bovidae said in Blues v Hurricanes:

A word about the ARs. I know the obvious forward pass was mentioned but Perofeta's knee was clearly on the ground right in front of Petrie before the ball was stripped leading to the Viljoen break.

Clear forward pass before FF try.

@pakman said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@canefan said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Scary moments there, CC looked like he'd done his ACL for a moment there

Viljoen is a whippet

Illegal strip. Blues knee on ground.

Typical BoK call against the Blues

Tosi is not a fern favorite, isn't he ? He had a storming game and no one noticed it. He did all the carries which Numia used to do, and consistantly made the hard yards. His passing and scrummaging were also excellent. He has really stepped up this year.

@cgrant said in Blues v Hurricanes:

Tosi is not a fern favorite, isn't he ? He had a storming game and no one noticed it. He did all the carries which Numia used to do, and consistantly made the hard yards. His passing and scrummaging were also excellent. He has really stepped up this year.

No, I think the fern likes him

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test. Those three are the best ball carrying front rowers in the comp and they all hold their own at scrum time.

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test. Those three are the best ball carrying front rowers in the comp and they all hold their own at scrum time.

I think Numia vs Norris may be a tight contest, for me Norris is better in the loose - but others who know more than me have expressed scrum doubts. Tosi is a certainty and we are lucky to have 3 (and even 4 with Bell) very good hookers. Whoever misses out will be unlucky, but there will be injury and rotation opportunities no doubt.
Been saying it for years now, but I'd also go the other direction and start Aumua. I want brutal close runners and tight defence to start the game, and our best thrower on at the end of the game and that's Taylor.

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test. Those three are the best ball carrying front rowers in the comp and they all hold their own at scrum time.

I think Numia vs Norris may be a tight contest, for me Norris is better in the loose - but others who know more than me have expressed scrum doubts. Tosi is a certainty and we are lucky to have 3 (and even 4 with Bell) very good hookers. Whoever misses out will be unlucky, but there will be injury and rotation opportunities no doubt.
Been saying it for years now, but I'd also go the other direction and start Aumua. I want brutal close runners and tight defence to start the game, and our best thrower on at the end of the game and that's Taylor.

I'd have Norris and Numia over Bower in all honesty.

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test. Those three are the best ball carrying front rowers in the comp and they all hold their own at scrum time.

I think Numia vs Norris may be a tight contest, for me Norris is better in the loose - but others who know more than me have expressed scrum doubts. Tosi is a certainty and we are lucky to have 3 (and even 4 with Bell) very good hookers. Whoever misses out will be unlucky, but there will be injury and rotation opportunities no doubt.
Been saying it for years now, but I'd also go the other direction and start Aumua. I want brutal close runners and tight defence to start the game, and our best thrower on at the end of the game and that's Taylor.

I'd have Norris and Numia over Bower in all honesty.

Given a 14 test schedule + midweek games I suspect all of them will get opportunities in black this year.

@KiwiMurph this tour could work out well and unearth someone who probably would not have otherwise had a shot (this year at least) but thrives at the higher level

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test. Those three are the best ball carrying front rowers in the comp and they all hold their own at scrum time.

I think Numia vs Norris may be a tight contest, for me Norris is better in the loose - but others who know more than me have expressed scrum doubts. Tosi is a certainty and we are lucky to have 3 (and even 4 with Bell) very good hookers. Whoever misses out will be unlucky, but there will be injury and rotation opportunities no doubt.
Been saying it for years now, but I'd also go the other direction and start Aumua. I want brutal close runners and tight defence to start the game, and our best thrower on at the end of the game and that's Taylor.

I'd have Norris and Numia over Bower in all honesty.

Given a 14 test schedule + midweek games I suspect all of them will get opportunities in black this year.

You're right and there will also likely be more injuries before this Super season concludes.

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test.

I thought you meant at the back to defuse bombs, and I got interested!

@nzzp said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test.

I thought you meant at the back to defuse bombs, and I got interested!

View image

Tosi running from the back fence would be fun to watch.

@Canes4life this isnt the (AB) way

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

Maybe. If Newell and Lomax are both fit ... it's a terrible problem to have.

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

I wouldn't mind seeing a bomb squad of Aumua, Numia and Tosi to finish off a test. Those three are the best ball carrying front rowers in the comp and they all hold their own at scrum time.

I think Numia vs Norris may be a tight contest, for me Norris is better in the loose - but others who know more than me have expressed scrum doubts. Tosi is a certainty and we are lucky to have 3 (and even 4 with Bell) very good hookers. Whoever misses out will be unlucky, but there will be injury and rotation opportunities no doubt.
Been saying it for years now, but I'd also go the other direction and start Aumua. I want brutal close runners and tight defence to start the game, and our best thrower on at the end of the game and that's Taylor.

I'd have Norris and Numia over Bower in all honesty.

Agreed. I've been a little negative on Numia's scrummaging at the highest level but his play has been so good you'd have to try him at test level given Williams is likely out this year.

Hadn't honestly even thought about Norris until the last few Chiefs games. He's looked good. Core jobs done well and I think he's got what Rennie is looking for ie, fitness, workrate, BIGGA etc.

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

Not sure as Newell and Lomax are probably better scrummagers than he is. But he is the best as an impact player.

What I meant in my post on Tosi is that he does not generate many posts by the Ferners, especially during this game where he was outstanding, his best ever game IMO.

@cgrant said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

Not sure as Newell and Lomax are probably better scrummagers than he is. But he is the best as an impact player.

What I meant in my post on Tosi is that he does not generate many posts by the Ferners, especially during this game where he was outstanding, his best ever game IMO.

Is Lomax the same standard / form as he was a few years ago?
It's a tighthead fest! Now if we could only develop some big tough blindsides..

@cgrant said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

Not sure as Newell and Lomax are probably better scrummagers than he is. But he is the best as an impact player.

What I meant in my post on Tosi is that he does not generate many posts by the Ferners, especially during this game where he was outstanding, his best ever game IMO.

I think he's just so entrenched as the next in line behind Newell and Lomax that there's not a lot to say. He's playing very well and his impact off the bench could be a game changer for the All Blacks. Don't think there's much discussion to be had, unless perhaps Lomax is back fit by the end of the season. If that doesn't happen then Tosi has that 18 jersey locked down.

@nostrildamus said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@reprobate said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@cgrant He'd be in everybody's 23 at this point, surely?

Not sure as Newell and Lomax are probably better scrummagers than he is. But he is the best as an impact player.

What I meant in my post on Tosi is that he does not generate many posts by the Ferners, especially during this game where he was outstanding, his best ever game IMO.

Is Lomax the same standard / form as he was a few years ago?
It's a tighthead fest! Now if we could only develop some big tough blindsides..

Lomax has barely played in the last year but is likely back next week. The Canes are going to have to make a call on chancing their arm with him in the playoffs. Personally, I think he should only come into the team if injuries strike. Lauaki, Numia, Mafileo and Tosi all deserve to play playoff footy and are in form, would be silly to rotate one of them out for Lomax who hasn’t played for ages.