[2017 Super Rugby] Round 11: Waratahs vs. Blues (06/05/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Allianz Stadium
Time: 11:45 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Teams:

Blues team:

Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Piers Francis, Augustine Pulu, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Pauliasi Manu

Replacements: Matt Moulds, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Sione Mafileo, Leighton Price, Murphy Taramai, Billy Guyton, Bryn Gatland, Melani Nanai.

Waratahs:

Israel Folau, Reece Robinson, Rob Horne, David Horwitz, Cam Clark, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper ©, Ned Hanigan, David McDuling, Dean Mumm, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Tom Robertson

Replacements: Hugh Roach, Paddy Ryan, Angus Taavao, Will Skelton, Michael Wells, Nick Phipps, Bryce Hegarty, Irae Simone

Again, the Waratahs look good on paper but, with the way they're playing, it would be no surprise if they got spanked. Especially since they're up against a Blues side who look even better on paper and are actually playing like they want it.
Disappointing to again see Nanai on the bench, such poor selection from Tana. He should easily be starting ahead of Collins and I'd have him ahead of Ioane too. Other than that it's a very pleasing Blues line-up. Especially excited to see the continued development of that dynamite midfield combo, as well as Akira getting another chance to show us what he's made of. He was good last week.

 

[Brigantine]

Apart from the Chiefs Brumbies game in the last round, this is the best remaining opportunity for aussie to get on the scoreboard this season, in terms of the trans-tasman record.

 

[SomeOke]

Melani Nanai now seeming to cement the 23 spot makes me a sad panda.
On the flip side, happy to see Akira continue at 8!

 

[The Jones Boy]

Another big test away from home.
The Waratahs look good on paper, if they bring it, this weekend, they could cause the Blues all sorts of problems.
They have a chance to make up ground at home, against the Brumbies.
If the Blues win again this week it is going to start to make a mockery of the final spots seedings.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Melani Nanai now seeming to cement the 23 spot makes me a sad panda.

It makes me genuinely mad! Anyone can see that Nanai should be starting ahead of Collins, so why can't Tana? >_<

 

[The Jones Boy]

Did Collins play the last game?
Did the Blues beat the best Aussie team away from home?
Hard to change a winning line up mate.
Maybe it's an attitude thing at training, who knows

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Collins has played every game and the Blues sit at the bottom of the NZ conference.... Not exactly a winning formula.

Nanai is a far better player and is in far better form. Not starting him makes no sense. There's clearly something else going on there, maybe it's a training thing like you said. Who knows...

 

[Ground We Won]

It makes me genuinely mad! Anyone can see that Nanai should be starting ahead of Collins, so why can't Tana? >_<

Collins has been excellent this season.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

IMO Collins has been solid, not excellent.
I've got nothing against him and he is doing his job well, I just feel like Nanai offers a lot more.
Nanai has a great, skillfull, exciting all round game and is in good form, every chance he's had of late he has looked very good.
Collins is just solid... not really in the same caliber as Nanai imo.

 

[Ground We Won]

IMO Collins has been solid, not excellent.
I've got nothing against him and he is doing his job well, I just feel like Nanai offers a lot more.
Nanai has a great, skillfull, exciting all round game and is in good form, every chance he's had of late he has looked very good.
Collins is just solid... not really in the same caliber as Nanai imo.

So who's at 11 now for the Blues? Haven't been following their latest matches. Thought Nanai and Duffy were at 11 and 14 with Collins at 15?

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

So who's at 11 now for the Blues? Haven't been following their latest matches. Thought Nanai and Duffy were at 11 and 14 with Collins at 15?

Ioane's at 11, Duffy at 14.
Duffy 100% deserves to be there, he's probs been the Blues best player this season. I think Reiko should be there too, he's a talent worth persisting with, but if it came down to a shootout between him and Nanai I'd prefer Nanai atm.
I think it should be 11. Ioane 14. Duffy/Nanai 15. Duffy/Nanai

Also... I still have no idea wtf has happened to Ranger??? He got a few minutes off the bench early in the season and has been nowhere to be seen since.

 

[Ground We Won]

So they've given up on Ioane in the middle? He just hasn't done it and pushed on from that great first match sadly.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Ioane's at 11, Duffy at 14.
Duffy 100% deserves to be there, he's probs been the Blues best player this season. I think Reiko should be there too, he's a talent worth persisting with, but if it came down to a shootout between him and Nanai I'd prefer Nanai atm.
I think it should be 11. Ioane 14. Duffy/Nanai 15. Duffy/Nanai

Also... I still have no idea wtf has happened to Ranger??? He got a few minutes off the bench early in the season and has been nowhere to be seen since.

Ranger was dropped to the development squad and was out injured (not sure if he's fit now) for a while. Don't know if we'll see him again in the A team.

 

[galumay]

Much as I would love to see a Tahs win tonite, its very hard to imagine anything other than a win for the Bloos. The Tahs were pretty awful in their win over the even worse Reds last week and I just cant see them having the skill or accuracy to really trouble the Blues over 80 minutes. I also think the Blues are building into the season nicely now.

I guess the one thing the Tahs have as a motivation is that its still within their reach to make the finals due to the ludicrous conference system.

EDIT - looks like there is the added incentive of being the only skippy team to beat a kiwi team this season, and while I dont think the Tahs are good enough, this is possibly the best opportunity this season.

 

[galumay]

25 minutes and the game looks gone already, the gulf in ability, skills, accuracy and confidence between NZ teams and the rest is growing by the week. I really think this season is the death knell for Super Rugby, its just got ridiculous and there is no sense of a competition. The translation of this into the Rugby Championship will be a disaster for the game.

Fans are deserting the game in droves and even locked on supporters of Rugby struggle to watch this sort of unbalanced comp week in week out.

I watch every game in Super Rugby, every week, but its getting to the point where the NZ derbies are the only games I really enjoy - thats a pretty damning admission by an Aussie!

Apologies for my dark mood!

 

[mania]

I really think this season is the death knell for Super Rugby,
!

Sorry I disagree. Death knell for aus rugby. I can concievably see aus getting kicked out of super if they don't stop the decline.
Something needs to be. Australia isn't generating new fans or getting new players

 

[galumay]

Sorry I disagree. Death knell for aus rugby. I can concievably see aus getting kicked out of super if they don't stop the decline.

I think its worse than that, the stupid system with 2 African conferences flatters their teams and most of them are completely outclassed by the Kiwi teams too. Look at the Stormers, one of the 2 best SA teams, and they look hopeless against the Kiwis.

Australia cant be 'kicked out' of Super Rugby, anyway, but that only makes the problem worse not better.

Super Rugby will die without both Aus & SA being at least partially competititve, NZ cant generate the sponsorship or TV rights for a Super Rugby comp that is NZ only.

The big risk is that players will accelerate the exodus to Europe, at least there SA & Aus players can be part of a competition which is much more balanced - as well as earning a lot more money.

 

[Ground We Won]

Sorry I disagree. Death knell for aus rugby. I can concievably see aus getting kicked out of super if they don't stop the decline.
Something needs to be. Australia isn't generating new fans or getting new players

I'm starting to feel this way about Rugby League in New Zealand.

 

[mania]

Australia cant be 'kicked out' of Super Rugby, anyway, but that only makes the problem worse not better.

I know it's hard to believe but aus need to start addressing it. What if I'm right? Aus are losing fans. No new players no next generation. nrl and afl will benefit.
Japan and Argentina replace the market and money that aus used to provide.
Aus shouldn't be saying it'll never happen and start acting acting like it will.
Answer is grassroots grassroots grassroots.