SuperRugby: Blues v Reds. 27/04/2012

[Draggs]

Time for some purple!

Eden Park, Auckland - 07:35 GMT, 27/04/2012

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[Sam Owen]

Time for some purple!

I agree. Time for some purple on some Reds players.

 

[Larksea]

I was pretty confident the blues would take this but Woodcock is not and now I'm not sure. He's been one of the shining lights of the blues season and destroyed pretty much every scrum he's come up against

Blues: Hadleigh Parkes, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Ma'a Nonu, Rudi Wulf, Gareth Anscombe, Piri Weepu, Peter Saili, Luke Braid (capt), Daniel Braid , Filo Paulo, Ali Williams, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau. Reserves: James Parsons, Pauliasi Manu/Angus Ta'avao, Liaki Moli, Chris Lowrey, Alby Mathewson, Michael Hobbs, Benson Stanley.

 

[donmcdazzle]

That is such a potent backline. How are they so bad with those players..

 

[madflyhalf]

Renee Ranger 13?
Pretty weak in defence, if the Reds can manage some possession, they will explore him with Ioane.

Oh, here's the Reds:


15. Luke Morahan
14. Dom Shipperley
13. Digby Ioane
12. Mike Harris
11. Rod Davies
10. Ben Lucas
9. Will Genia
8. Scott Higginbotham
7. Liam Gill
6. Beau Robinson
5. James Horwill (c)
4. Rob Simmons
3. James Slipper
2. James Hanson
1. Ben Daley

16. Albert Anae, 17. Greg Holmes, 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19. Jake Schatz, 20. Ed Quirk, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Anthony Faingaa.


I don't know how much Higginbotham at 8 could work, he uses to play too loose for me, the tight work made by Samo could be well missed.
After Stormers' match I thought that Beau Robinson would be dropped, IMO he's shamefully out of form now (too many times he's late @ bd, and take a look at Aplon's try and see how Robinson defended), and I can't understand why McKenzie has kept Gill on the bench so many times!

Liam Gill, to me, is the rising star of the Australian backrowers, much more than Michael Hooper, and I think if well managed, in a couple of years can be better than Pocock.

Anyway, fielding both opensides Robinson and Gill, and the too much seagulling Higginbotham at 8, means that Robinson could do the tight work near and at the breakdown made usually by Samo (in form), he could save some energies, but Higgers should play with good running lines and anyway tighter than his normal game.

Look forward to this game, the Reds can take it, but they have to play as a team, like they almost have never done before this year, maybe the presence of Mike Harris can take some pressure away from Lucas, I see more balanced backline than Tapuai and Fainga'a.

 

[cyRil]

they will explore him with Ioane.

Steady on mate!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Only a season ago Robinson was being heralded as the next big flanker in Oz...

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Reds will win. Ioane will tear that backline apart like a hot chainsaw through butter.

 

[Dizzy]

Blues 13+ You heard it here first!!

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Blues 13+ You heard it here first!!

I feel privilaged to have heard that bad joke here first Reds by 6

 

[Draggs]

Got these threads up early (for once) and completely forgot about it.
Just logged on to see all threads up and ready.
Looking forward to this one, there are indeed quite a few potential crackers this weekend.

 

[madflyhalf]

Only a season ago Robinson was being heralded as the next big flanker in Oz...

Based upon form, of course. Because he was in good form a year ago.
Not now.

And when you have a guy like Liam Gill, I don't understand why keeping him on the bench and Robinson in the starting XV.

Should be narrow, Reds should win it.

 

[Draggs]

Woldog returns and so does Ioane. Try for Digby, one minute in.
Reds reclaimed their kickoff and scored through a Lucas cross kick.
Harris misses the conversion, 0-5.

 

[madflyhalf]

Nice try, Morahan.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Bloody hell, have Blues even gotten off the bus yet?

 

[Draggs]

Nice try, Morahan.

Do the Blues realise that they can tackle if they want to? Quite a few could have if they so desired.
Nice touchline conversion from Harris to make it 0-12.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Based upon form, of course. Because he was in good form a year ago.
Not now.

And when you have a guy like Liam Gill, I don't understand why keeping him on the bench and Robinson in the starting XV.

Should be narrow, Reds should win it.

Yeah, I'd rather see a few seasons of consistency to be honest. Same goes for Gill, one season wonders are always around.

 

[madflyhalf]

Apart from tackling, horrible line defence, everyone absorbed by Mike Harris run after the lineout, just a cutout pass from Lucas put Morahan into space and... gone!

 

[Draggs]

Hanson and McCartney competing for most lost lineouts. Matthew Rees spreading his influence globally I see.

 

[austingtir]

Nonu's showing some heart on defence atleast. The rest of them look like a bunch of school kids so far.