


That will rely on an injury to the starting 10, Josh Ioane.Ali's Choice wrote:I would love for the Highlanders to end the Blues title hopes on Sunday, with Mitch Hunt outplaying Barrett at no.10. Nothing would make me happier.
I guess that's possible, although they have said no-one is being stood down and Thompson is the only one of the regulars who is missing. I'm presuming it's form and the ability to use Ioane at second-five at a pinch.jdogscoop wrote:No Rob Thompson in the 23. I wonder if he's on the naughty step.
Hands off sonnymrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
+ 1Maniototo Man wrote:Hands off sonnymrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
Just like last year, I fully endorse bold poaching raids south of the Bombays in the off-season.mrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
Imagine him coming to terms with the Barrett signing, and then they go and announce Dan Carter as well.Couch wrote:You gotta feel for a guy like Otere Black, he purposefully left the Canes to pursue a career in the 10 Jersey, gets injured his first season at the Blues, and upon coming back learns his former Canes nemesis, Beauden Barrett wants his jersey. He should go to easy rugby up north and become a God like Jimmy Gopperth.
2 million people in Auckland and not one decent hooker and halfback?Auckman wrote:Just like last year, I fully endorse bold poaching raids south of the Bombays in the off-season.mrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
We're a team of 5 million. We require food and wine when we come down SH1 in the off-season.Couch wrote:2 million people in Auckland and not one decent hooker and halfback?Auckman wrote:Just like last year, I fully endorse bold poaching raids south of the Bombays in the off-season.mrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
Shame.
Auckland = King's Landing.Auckman wrote:We're a team of 5 million. We require food and wine when we come down SH1 in the off-season.Couch wrote:2 million people in Auckland and not one decent hooker and halfback?Auckman wrote:Just like last year, I fully endorse bold poaching raids south of the Bombays in the off-season.mrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
Shame.
Plenty of decent Hookers in Auckland but they don't play Rugby.Couch wrote: 2 million people in Auckland and not one decent hooker and halfback?
Shame.
Sotutu and Robinson would be so good in this selection.Auckman wrote:I wish we had Hoskins back.
As a Hurricanes supporter - Riccitelli has always seemed like a journeyman to me. Eklund looks to have a way bigger up side from what I've seen of him. Is this his first season of soup? No point ever going back to Parsons imomrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
Yeah Eklund looks good. His set piece work is tidy and he looks very athletic in general play. That's what separates the elite hookers in the game from the also-rans; Athleticism. That's why Taylor, Coles and Aumua standout from the pack, when compared to players like Harris, Coltman and Parsons.elcamino wrote:As a Hurricanes supporter - Riccitelli has always seemed like a journeyman to me. Eklund looks to have a way bigger up side from what I've seen of him. Is this his first season of soup? No point ever going back to Parsons imomrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
You're being unkind to Coltman aren't you? He can be astonishing around the ruck and maul... if only he could throw the ball in straight, consistently, at lineout time... sighAli's Choice wrote:Yeah Eklund looks good. His set piece work is tidy and he looks very athletic in general play. That's what separates the elite hookers in the game from the also-rans; Athleticism. That's why Taylor, Coles and Aumua standout from the pack, when compared to players like Harris, Coltman and Parsons.elcamino wrote:As a Hurricanes supporter - Riccitelli has always seemed like a journeyman to me. Eklund looks to have a way bigger up side from what I've seen of him. Is this his first season of soup? No point ever going back to Parsons imomrbrownstone wrote:Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli.
Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and will struggle for game time, while Riccitelli is 50+ cap Super Rugby winner who has proven himself at this level, but is stuck behind two All Blacks in Coles and Aumua. Both would be clear upgrades on Eklund and Christie. Reckon those two could really round out the Blues squad and take them to the next level.
Your cultural (lack of) awareness may be showing AukMay Ofa's Allah be merciful!!! Huzzah!
They seem to have toned them down. I'm sure they had one earlier this year with splashes of blue that made it look like they had been involved in the chainsaw massacre of a smurf colony.Kahu wrote:Blues deserve to lose because of those jerseys alone.