Yeah it's not looking good for us so close to the playoffs.

From the Hurricanes Instagram account Asafo Aumua was training and smiling away, hopefully that's a good sign because Faiva is beyond average.

Jordie Barrett, Ardie Savea and Tyrel Lomax should all come back into the fray to bolster our line-up.

In terms of the midfield, I'm not sure what the status is on B Sullivan but I think he could be gone for the season. Riley Higgins has been playing very well for Petone in Wellington club rugby, and has also spent some time at centre. He's good enough to slot in if Proctor/Umaga-Jensen are ruled out for a long period.

Still no word on Ruben Love. Hopefully we get a nice surprise eventually and see his name on the team-sheet, but I highly doubt it. We really miss his kicking game at the back, was a massive reason the Lions went so well in the NPC. Morgan just isn't good enough with the boot.

Hopefully Naholo remains on the wing, he's showing that he has a very high work-rate. Savea and Rayasi are just full of mistakes.

In saying all that, the biggest issue this team faces every year (or since 2020 anyway) is poor selections. Holland continues to select an undersized pack and then looks so bemused in the coaching box when his forwards get demolished in the bigger games. The guy never learns and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

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.

@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.