2014 Super Rugby: Blues vs Waratahs (Round 11)

[Jaguares]

15. Charles Piutau
14. Frank Halai
13. Francis Saili
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Lolagi Visinia
10. Simon Hickey
9. Bryn Hall
8. Peter Saili
7. Luke Braid
6. Jerome Kaino
5. Tom Donnelly
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
3. Charlie Faumuina
2. Keven Mealamu
1. Tony Woodcock

1. Benn Robinson
2. Tatafu Polota Nau
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Will Skelton
5. Kane Douglas
6. Jacques Potgieter
7. Michael Hooper
8. Dave Dennis (c)
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Kurtley Beale
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Cam Crawford
15. Israel Folau

 

[steblin]

Right, so Luatua is on the bench now??? Come on JK!!!! I understand maybe a bit of rotation but at least give the loose trio some stability!! The last 3 weeks we've had a different combination, even if its same players but Luatua and Kaino switching between 6 and 8.

Pleased to see West on the bench, I want him to get a shot (at this point in the season we might as well see what we have in people!), although not sure what Moala has done to deserve getting dropped from the squad all together ... I understand picking on form but so many changes not injury related each week ...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/9969854/Weepu-back-as-Blues-drop-All-Black-Luatua

Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Francis Saili, Ma'a Nonu, Lolagi Visinia, Simon Hickey, Bryn Hall, Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Patrick Tuipulotu, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock

Reserves: James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta'avao, Hayden Triggs, Piri Weepu, Steven Luatua Ihaia West, Pita Ahki

 

[ABs2011]

HUGE game for the Blues, IF a team doesn't rebound after a big controversy like this it is very hard to get things back on track later. Ref: Warriors this season after Elliot got dropped, they probably played their best game of the year v the Dogs, lost (just) and for me the writing was on the wall for the rest of the season. On the other hand if you can fight back from adversity and win, confidence comes back and things can change quickly. The Blues "should" win this week, but time will tell!!

 

[steblin]

Oh and should add, great to see Piri on the bench, he should get a hell of a reaction when he comes on.

 

[Darwin]

I don't actually mind seeing Moala and Luatua rested. I can't stand it when caoches 'rest' player in week 2 or 3, but both have played almost every minute of the season so far. I thought Moala had his worst performance of the year last week, so giving him a week off to freshen up won't hurt. It is good to see Visinia given another start on the wing, and good to see Weepu back playing. West could make an impact from the bench if he gets a chance. Not sure why they need both Triggs and Luatua on the bench - personally I would have had Luatua on the bench covering lock and loose-forward and O'Connor covering openside from the bench (if Braid goes off they will have either Kaino or Luatua on the openside....).

 

[Jaguares]

Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota Nau, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4.Will Skelton, 5. Kane Douglas, 6. Jacques Potgieter, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Dave Dennis(c), 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Rob Horne, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Cam Crawford, 15 Israel Folau.

Replacements (one to be omitted): 16. Tolu Latu , 17. Jeremy Tilse , 18. Paddy Ryan , 19. Pat McCutcheon , 20. Wycliff Palu , 21. Brendan McKibbin , 22 Jono Lance , 23. Matt Carraro 24. Stephen Hoiles .

 

[Darwin]

Not sure why, but I reckon the Blues will win this. On paper the side looks pretty good, and they should be fired up after last weeks performance (and the Benji Marshall debacle). Alternatively I suppose they could completely implode and get beaten by 30!

Both sides have international front rows, but I think the Blues have the slight edge here. I'm looking forward to the battle between Tuipolotu and Skelton at lock. Skelton is freakishly large and has been a real weapon as a ball carrier - his only real downside is that he isn't a lineout option (as no-one wants to be lifting someone who is 140kgs!). Tuipolotu is nowhere near as big, but is still large in his own right (around 120kg). He is still raw (like Skelton), but has a lot of power, and is incredibly athletic for such a big man. The loose-forwards are pretty evenly matched IMO. Hooper vs Braid will be a highlight for me. They play contrasting styles - Braid is more powerful but Hooper is more dynamic - and are both excellent at the breakdown. They are the best two opensides in Super Rugby in my opinion.

The Waratahs perhaps have a slight edge in the halves (due to experience), but both Hall and Hickey have played well this season. I feel this will be a massive test for Beale at 12 this week. I'm sure Beale knows exactly what Nonu is going to do when he gets the ball, but whether Beale will be able to stop him is another thing! If Beale manages to contain Nonu (and Saili) this week I may start to believe he could be successful at 12 at test level. Folau is obviously the Waratahs biggest threat - the best way to stop him is prevent him getting the ball. The Blues aren't exactly short of firepower themselves out wide, as Halai, Visinia, and Piutau are all big strong and fast. I do think the the best way to exploit he Blues is with a strong tactical kicking game - something I'm not sure the Waratahs possess (which is good for the Blues).

I'm picking the Blues to bounce back this week and win a close one by around 5 points.

 

[austingtir]

LOL Beale looked like a real sooky bubba after he got smashed by Kaino, Mealamu and Woodcock!

Edit: Kaino is going to walk into the AB's 6 jersey. He looks even better than 2011 to me!

 

[austingtir]

I dont like these refs that control the break down like this... giving players a split second to place the ball after tackle with opposition players pilfering like crazy. Its totally bullcrap and just ends up with a lolly scramble going on at every opportunity.

 

[Kapa O Pango]

Jerome Kaino was immense against the Waratahs.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Jerome was a beast today and Luke always present what a work rate from these two

 

[Jaguares]

Mmm... Tahs are falling

Jerome Kaino was immense against the Waratahs.

So he returned to the ABs?

 

[jessta]

Jerome kaino... wow

If I was liam messam id be worried. great games from tuipulotu (in with a shot of making abs by world cup), kaino, braid, hall, visina, nonu. But overall pretty much all the starters played well.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Dat Kaino.

 

[nickdnz]

Nonu's best game of the season in my opinion but Jerome Kaino was very, very good. I'd happily start him over Messam based on this game. The dude is just so damn strong.

 

[Kapa O Pango]

So he returned to the ABs?

Possibly he could claim the black jersery.

Also Nonu had a great game as well, direct and aggressive, that wide cut-out pass and tactical grubber kicks.

 

[Darwin]

My take on the game:

- The Tahs made a lot of errors. Like a ridiculous amount of errors. The Blues played a lot better this week, but the Tahs were really their own worst enemies.
- Tuipolotu again impressed with ball in hand. He needs to improve his accuracy though, as he made a couple of errors and missed a few tackles too.
- Kaino. Immense.
- Luke Braid was everywhere. I hope the injury he suffered near the end wasn't too serious.
- I will say it again, despite his size Hickey is a good defender at 10. He even nailed Folau in full flight on a couple of occasions.
- Nonu made a big impact, not just with his play, but with his leadership on the field.
- Halai was ok, but looks slow this season. Visinia impressed again. Unlike the other Blues wing options he does the basics - catching, tackling, kicking - very well. He looks a bit ungainly at times when he runs, but he is more than capable of breaking the line too. I feel he has shown enough to be starting on the right wing every week for the Blues (with Moala on the left).
- Hooper was outstanding at 7 with his running game (and defense), and was the pick of the Tahs forwards for me. Potgieter impressed me too, but I thought Skelton was strangely quiet
- Foley was pretty good at 10, but the rest of the backs made a lot of errors
- Beale was unconvincing at 12. He ran the ball a ridiculous number of times but didn't really threaten to break the line, and seemed to disappear from existence the moment the Blues get the ball and Tahs are on defense. He wasn't missing tackles as such - he just didn't seem to exist in the defensive line!
- Folau looked dangerous and broke the line on occasion, but good cover defense (and poor execution from the Tahs) kept the Blues in it.

 

[tenpm]

All five NZ teams sit between Sharks and Bulls, who are respectively #1 and #2 in the South African conference. How's that for a congested table?

 

[smartcooky]

All five NZ teams sit between Sharks and Bulls, who are respectively #1 and #2 in the South African conference. How's that for a congested table?

► Four of the five South African teams in the bottom six on the table.
► Four of the five South African teams on minus points difference (compared with one NZ team and two Aussie teams)

This rather makes a mockery of SARU's demand for a sixth team doesn't it?

LOL Beale looked like a real sooky bubba after he got smashed by Kaino, Mealamu and Woodcock!

I reckon Kirwan talked tactics about this at half time, because the Blues shut him down in the second half by putting two on him.

Also, I think they figured out that if you shut Beale down, you will also keep Israel Folau quiet. While Folau had 14 carries for 74m, I reckon most of those were in the first half. I hardly recall his name being mentioned in the second half, and between the two of them, they turned the ball over 6 times out of the 'Tahs 26 turnovers conceded.

At this stage, neither of these teams appear to have the goods for the pointy end of the season.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

► Four of the five South African teams in the bottom six on the table.
► Four of the five South African teams on minus points difference (compared with one NZ team and two Aussie teams)

This rather makes a mockery of SARU's demand for a sixth team doesn't it?

No more than the Highlander's performances last year makes a mockery of Nonu, Smith etc. being All Blacks.

Team have bad seasons, team perform beyond their means, ebbs and flows.

That's not to say that SA deserves another franchise, but how often do they justify it by saying that SA currently have the players to perform well with six franchises?