Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
2014 Super Rugby: Highlanders v Blues (Round 2)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="ABs2011" data-source="post: 625390" data-attributes="member: 57663"><p>Congrats to the Highlanders. I certainly did not pick them to win this one! I haven't gotten to see the game yet but have heard a lot of commentary on it. Sounds to me like Highlanders may well be the improver of the NZ conference (although I guess that is not hard given last season) but in saying that, based on what I have heard since the weekend, and my general understanding of the Highlanders and the Blues (and their respective players) these are very likely the bottom two teams of the NZ comp this year. How does that sit with you all? agree, disagree? </p><p></p><p>My take on the Blues is that they failed dismally in the off season to recruit who they needed and it is a massive disappointment IMHO. They needed to bolster the tight five (especially the locks) and they needed to do what ever they could to get Beauden Barrett! They failed on both accounts and instead seemed to think Benji would be the answer. I understand they stumped up $1m for him which I just do not get. Sure that is probably his asking price but I can almost promise you they didn't offer the same to Barrett, who would have been by FAR the better buy! Not only that but they Benji didn't play the ITM cup to prep himself for Super Rugby? WHY?? Makes no sense to me. Now you have the likes of Henry, JK and Benji himself all admitting he isn't ready largely because Union is "so different from League" and the transition is way harder than they expected....Holy crap did they really not foresee this? Such a dumb ass move... <strong>IRISH RUGBY MAN</strong>, from what I hear, Benji will play most of the early parts of the season coming off the bench (at full back) until the time when he is "ready" and then Piutau will switch to 13 and Benji will start at 15. Then after an ITM cup at 10 (assuming of course that the Blues arse things up again and don't sign Barrett) he may well be the Blues starting 10 in 2015. Conclusion BLUEs may well be the wooden spooners in the NZ conference this year!</p><p></p><p>Won't say much on the Landers until I watch the game. I am very glad though that they appear to have shown real grit and improvement from last year. Seems like they might pull off what the Hurricanes achieved 2 years ago?? On paper though I just don't see them making the playoffs. I don't think they will be able to consistently beat the top 6 to 8 teams in the comp (the likes of the Crusaders, Chiefs, Reds, NSW, Brumbies, Sharks...). A team such as the Highlanders will also really suffer if they have injury problems as well, particularly if any of their key guys go down. Teams like the Crusaders and the Chiefs on the other hand can arguably withstand the inevitable injury issues far easier. Fingers crossed this doesn't happen though but it is a real concern for the Highlanders IMHO. I think also that the Highlanders win over the weekend needs to be put in context as it is after all, the opening game of the season, at home, versus the Blues. However it was an impressive win and one can not take that away from them so congrats again! If I were a highlanders fan though, while I would be excited, I think you would want to wait and see how they go against a much better prepared team like the Chiefs this week. If they can compete strongly there, then maybe there is good reason to be very excited.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ABs2011, post: 625390, member: 57663"] Congrats to the Highlanders. I certainly did not pick them to win this one! I haven't gotten to see the game yet but have heard a lot of commentary on it. Sounds to me like Highlanders may well be the improver of the NZ conference (although I guess that is not hard given last season) but in saying that, based on what I have heard since the weekend, and my general understanding of the Highlanders and the Blues (and their respective players) these are very likely the bottom two teams of the NZ comp this year. How does that sit with you all? agree, disagree? My take on the Blues is that they failed dismally in the off season to recruit who they needed and it is a massive disappointment IMHO. They needed to bolster the tight five (especially the locks) and they needed to do what ever they could to get Beauden Barrett! They failed on both accounts and instead seemed to think Benji would be the answer. I understand they stumped up $1m for him which I just do not get. Sure that is probably his asking price but I can almost promise you they didn't offer the same to Barrett, who would have been by FAR the better buy! Not only that but they Benji didn't play the ITM cup to prep himself for Super Rugby? WHY?? Makes no sense to me. Now you have the likes of Henry, JK and Benji himself all admitting he isn't ready largely because Union is "so different from League" and the transition is way harder than they expected....Holy crap did they really not foresee this? Such a dumb ass move... [B]IRISH RUGBY MAN[/B], from what I hear, Benji will play most of the early parts of the season coming off the bench (at full back) until the time when he is "ready" and then Piutau will switch to 13 and Benji will start at 15. Then after an ITM cup at 10 (assuming of course that the Blues arse things up again and don't sign Barrett) he may well be the Blues starting 10 in 2015. Conclusion BLUEs may well be the wooden spooners in the NZ conference this year! Won't say much on the Landers until I watch the game. I am very glad though that they appear to have shown real grit and improvement from last year. Seems like they might pull off what the Hurricanes achieved 2 years ago?? On paper though I just don't see them making the playoffs. I don't think they will be able to consistently beat the top 6 to 8 teams in the comp (the likes of the Crusaders, Chiefs, Reds, NSW, Brumbies, Sharks...). A team such as the Highlanders will also really suffer if they have injury problems as well, particularly if any of their key guys go down. Teams like the Crusaders and the Chiefs on the other hand can arguably withstand the inevitable injury issues far easier. Fingers crossed this doesn't happen though but it is a real concern for the Highlanders IMHO. I think also that the Highlanders win over the weekend needs to be put in context as it is after all, the opening game of the season, at home, versus the Blues. However it was an impressive win and one can not take that away from them so congrats again! If I were a highlanders fan though, while I would be excited, I think you would want to wait and see how they go against a much better prepared team like the Chiefs this week. If they can compete strongly there, then maybe there is good reason to be very excited. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
2014 Super Rugby: Highlanders v Blues (Round 2)
Top