[2017 Super Rugby] Round 3: Blues vs. Highlanders (11/03/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Eden Park
Time: 08:35 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[Makos]

The Highlanders have 14 injuries and have taken to calling local trials in Dunedin to fill the reserves.

Their All Blacks are not putting in match winning performances. Their forwards are like the walking wounded.

They have one of the toughest starts to a season fixture wise than most teams.



Big chance for the Blues here, can't see the Highlanders lasting a full 80 minutes to win the match here.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Its the battle of the bottom feeders.
This is the Blues chance to show they can keep their discipline and go one step up from last year and finish as the 4th best Kiwi franchise.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Watching the Highlanders vs Crusaders first half just now and think the Blues could take both of those sides at home. Highlanders are like another side without Ben Smith and seem reluctant to play out of their own 22, which is maybe exposing some limitations in Sopoaga's kicking game?

 

[Larksea]

BLUES: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Ihaia West, Augustine Pulu; Murphy Taramai, Blake Gibson, Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons (c), Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Sam Prattley, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Akira Ioane or Kara Pryor, Billy Guyton, Piers Francis, Melani Nanai.



HIGHLANDERS: Richard Buckman, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Elliot Dixon (c), Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienart-Brown. Reserves; Sekonia Pole, Aki Seiuli, Siate Tokolahi, Joe Wheeler, Jackson Hemopo, Dillon Hunt, Kayne Hammington, Marty Banks.


big game, I think the blues have the edge at home. Highlanders have some injuries. Elliot Dixon is at 7... Squire was a best at the start last week till injured, he is really developing well and will be missed. IMO Dixon isn't really following suit and I don't think he will make the AB's this year.

Neither team can continue dropping derby games if they want to make the finals.

 

[Makos]

Watching the Highlanders vs Crusaders first half just now and think the Blues could take both of those sides at home. Highlanders are like another side without Ben Smith and seem reluctant to play out of their own 22, which is maybe exposing some limitations in Sopoaga's kicking game?

I agree. Also Sopoaga's decision making with Ben Smith absent is mind blowingly bad. Whether it's Tony Brown or himself making those poor choices to kick is unknown, likely a bit of both.. I'd like to see him develop a running game as well, he's been pretty poor so far.

That Landers starting 15 is actually pretty good, but the bench is very green. We could see a repeat of last weeks 2nd half with the Highlanders not being able to keep up the intensity of 80 minutes. Considering how strong that Blues bench is, I can see them running away with it in the last 25 minutes.

 

[The Jones Boy]

All bets are off on this one.
The Highlanders are a strong squad with pedigree playing well below themselves.
The Blues are a mostly young squad with a sprinkling of top drawer calibre that are trying to fight their way out of a rut that has been many years in the making and nobody knows if they'll manage it.
Not even them.
A win in this one would be a massive boost to the Blues.

 

[The Jones Boy]

10-nil down after 20 minutes the Blues are doing it hard.
Fekitoa is on fire and showing his All Black calibre.

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A penalty for the Blues and the score is Blues 3
Highlanders 10 at the halftime whistle

Blues forwards very slow to get into this game

 

[Makos]

This is the worst game of New Zealand rugby I've ever watched.

The handling errors, the decision making, the basic skills and set pieces are a complete mess, I feel like I'm watching the Ukrainian 2nd division mens social pub relegation game.

Two poorly coached teams in my opinion, Tony Brown telling the Highlanders to kick away too much ball and Tana Umaga telling the Blues nothing.

Really bad.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Blues within a point now, 12-13.
Poor display from both teams but an exciting finish is on the way

- - - Updated - - -

The Blues clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.

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Into injury time they get a penalty and tap and go from 4 points behind and.... drop it.
DoH !

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Tana, what is going on mate.

 

[Makos]

Both these sides aren't getting the appropriate coaching for their talents.

The Landers are kicking away a ridiculous amount of pill from attacking positions and the Blues aren't using their fantastic backline enough.

Guys like Moala and Ioane should be seeing more ball..

 

[BobbyM]

Handling errors like that at the end are not acceptable. In that position you need to protect the Ball as you know the tacklers are going to be targeting it to force a knock on

 

[nzlizard]

How **** were the Blues, same issue as last year as in they need a 1st five to direct them.

Should have beaten the Highlanders by 20 points in all honesty.

 

[Larksea]

didn't see the game, kinda surprised by the result. Makes me wonder if the blues are just struggling to find the right formula for beating other NZ teams. I think a few things are upsetting their flow as well, the later return of Kaino and the Luatua Red Card. I dont think they are dealing with disruptions as well as other NZ teams, probably a function of "rebuilding". Tana is doing good things but they still seem fragile when things dont go their way.