Blues-Bulls

[Charles]

Nice game, some crazy attacking rugby by the Blues and it's always nice to see the Bulls lose ...

Rene Ranger was good, although should have taken off the blinkers sometimes, Roks was instrumental, and I think it's the first time I've been impressed by Rudy Wulf.
Also, the Auckland Blues should be renamed the Islanders. In the starting XV I think there's two pakehas, Alby Mathewson, Anthony Boric and maybe Stephen Brett as well but I'm not sure. Rene Ranger also maybe... All the rest are (partially) of Island decent.

Starting XV:

15. Isaia Toeava,
14. Joe Rokocoko,
13. Rene Ranger,
12. Benson Stanley,
11. Rudi Wulf,
10. Stephen Brett,
9. Alby Mathewson,
8. Viliami Ma'afu,
7. Serge Lilo,
6. Jerome Kaino,
5. Anthony Boric,
4. Kurtis Haiu,
3. John Afoa,
2. Keven Mealamu,
1. Charlie Faumuina

 

[Intercept King JDV]

Charlie Faumuina had a massive game from what I saw, was almost everywhere on the park.

 

[Charles]

Charlie Faumuina had a massive game from what I saw, was almost everywhere on the park.

Yeah the forwards just dominated the Bulls pack, and that doesn't happen everyday.You'd think only the Saders would be able to pull this off but the Blues pack was really impressive. Big tackles time and time again, good drives. Once again Pierre Spies wasn't anywhere to be seen btw.

 

[Steve-o]

Also, the Auckland Blues should be renamed the Islanders. In the starting XV I think there's two pakehas, Alby Mathewson, Anthony Boric and maybe Stephen Brett as well but I'm not sure. Rene Ranger also maybe... All the rest are (partially) of Island decent.

New Zealand is an island?

 

[Charles]

New Zealand is an island?

Mmmm yes. New Zealand is very much an island. But is see your point, I should have said indigenous, as in Maori, Samoan, Tongan, etc...

 

[sambãd5]

This was a massive game for the blues. If there not too far back, (which i think they are now) they would be major contenders for the ***le. Yes the bulls may be on a slump the last 2-3 games, the blues did everything right. their loosies, plus haiu and stanly were massive at the tackle. 2 on 1's, dominant hits and kept the bulls on the back foot. the best thing about it was that they hit the right people. they hit the strong fowards (props and loosies) plus du press and styne. the scrum was strong and the backline passes were sticking. there were a few disipline problems, for both teams, but they will be ironed out. good to see mcallister back, but we really need to have 16 on the feild to make room for him. you have to have ranger, (who had a off game) wulf, and rokocoko. I prefered paul williams above toaeva, but he is on form also. The only thing would be to have brett at 10, and mcallister at 12, then swap them around to sub stanly on for brett at the 60-65min mark. what a headache for the selectors! unless have a regig of the backline putting ranger at the wing instead of wulf or rokocoko.

definatly the team to watch atm. A team that likes to score tries, run the ball, make hits, and that will be winning a few more games from now on in.

 

[d1e1m]

The main weapon that defeated the Bulls was the pack not letting their maul going. SA teams have used it consistently to wear down others but the Blues made sure that their main weapon was painful to use. Viliami Ma'afu and Charlie Faumuina, especially the latter were immense in hitting that big Bulls pack. Bett is not consistent enough to be a match winner but got the job done that day. McAlister, short cameo, and Toeava had a decent game but I wouldn't call it form, class one-handed pass to JRoc thou. Ranger looks better every game, even on his off-day, better than Freuan.