[2017 Super Rugby] Round 5: Bluess vs. Bulls

[TRF_stormer2010]

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[The Jones Boy]

Desperate times for the Blues

 

[Makos]

Desperate times for the Blues

Should be a win for them. The Bulls have a really leaky defense. I can see Moala and Ioane having a field day.

 

[galumay]

Yep, that was as one sided as I expected, even the 'worst' Kiwi side putting plenty of points on against the hapless Bulls.

 

[Larksea]

funny I thought the game was quite boring so decided to hand my GF the remote about the time Ihia West was warming up to come on lol.

So I didn't see the blues run away with it at the end, though I did expect them to win that way. Bulls chances were gone as soon as they subbed Pollard off. His play kicking mostly was what kept the bulls in the game.

Better effort from the blues forwards, they are a solid pack. I don't think they quite have the balance needed to deal with the Crusaders and Chiefs though.
Silly yellow from Tupo.
Kaino had a massive game.
I think they are missing Luatuas workrate. Without him they don't really have that player who is just "all over the park doing stuff".

Moala is still the pick of the backs, another very solid game.
Pulu has been very good but his decision making seems to have a low success rate at times i think hes making decisions as just options rather than looking for weaknesses to exploit. And lacks a bit of polish on his kicks.
Ioane has really struggled since that barnstorming opening game.
Collins had a good game, really nice touches on attack but did shell a lot of high ball.

Matt Duffie has been really impressive this season for the Blues. I honestly like the look of him as a potential test player. I dont know a lot from him of his league days. He has an impressive record and strike rate but it sounds like he has had to deal with a string of serious injuries, 2 shoulder reconstructions and 2 knee reconstructions? Still only 26, great skills, good decision making, hes very tall which IMO is a huge advantage for a winger in test rugby, fantastic at returning kicks, obviously brilliant at finishing.
I think its safe to say that Duffie is the form 14 in NZ right now? Between he and Vince Aso? who has the advantage of playing in a much better team, and hes more a midfielder filling in at 14 because of injury, I dont think his skillset is solid enough to consider him a potential test winger yet.

 

[The Jones Boy]

I'm deeply grateful that the Blues put in a performance in the second half.
They were sluggish in the first half and didn't show their potential.
But in the second half, maybe because of some hair dryer treatment from Tana at the break, the Blues came to life and played some inspiring rugby with the ball in hand.
Losing this one to the Bulls would have consigned the Blues to the basement early on in the tournament.
Now they have breathed some life into their sails and they can move forward with an eye to genuinely trying not to be the bottom placed kiwi franchise at the end of the tournament.
We'll see...