[2017 Super Rugby] Round 7: Highlanders vs. Blues (08/04/2017)

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Blues leading 20-13 away from home at half time
Too much to bear

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Aaaargghhh !!
6 minutes into the second half and its 20-all

Aaaan thy're losing...

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A one score game, but you just know the Blues won't win it.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Very proud to see so much ticker from the boys, great comeback

 

[galumay]

As a neutral, that was one of the games of the season so far. In the end it was a game that shouldnt have had a loser, but the 'Landers held their nerve and snuck a valuable win in the context of the NZ conference. Great to see SBW back on the paddock, Shields was immense and about 40 other players had a night to be proud of.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Same old Blues

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I doubt we will even get a bonus point next week

 

[Ground We Won]

Buckman and Fekitoa really schooled Moala & Ioane. Hard to look past Fekitoa for the All blacks now, what a turn around in form he's had since the first few game weeks. Another outstanding performance. SBW looked pretty good in patches, but made that error that cost the Blues a try scoring opportunity. Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock are both really aggressive players and ball carriers. Ben Smith had a good 2nd half as well. Aaron Smith is really inconsistent at the moment, needs to stick to the basics a bit more.

 

[The Jones Boy]

SBW is rusty, he's had a long lay off, a few more games and he will come good.
Youth is still a killer for the Blues

 

[Larksea]

SBW still had some impressive touches. A couple of trademark runs which his team mates failed to convert to points.

Got to give Buckman huge props. The guy is so underrated, at one stage he completely nailed Ioane, just so reliable. IMO Buckmans return started the turnaround for the highlanders this season, he sures up the defense and lowers the turnover rate, makes Fekitoa look good and helps out the 10.

Liam Squire is mind blowing this season. Hes had a stint out with injury but his game has clearly going in the right direction. The guy is a lockin for the AB's now, and of the flip side. While Dixon is playing a bit better I don't think he is good enough to make the AB's anymore.

This game looked like a barn burner. It was almost like watching a finals game, I think both teams realised that even though the season is only reaching the middle stages. The NZ conference is so tight that this game could very well have decided who makes the playoffs and who doesn't.

 

[The Jones Boy]

I can't see the Blues making it into 4th in the Kiwi conference, not now and it's a bit weird because they have the same points as the Brumbies who arte top of the Aussie conference.

 

[SomeOke]

Quick question, how do you think the back line will line up with SBW back.
Collins and Duffie have been weirdly good this year which makes it hard?

If we assume SBW at 12 what happens? Does Moala lose out? Rieko move to wing and Melani Nanai lose out? Nanai to Fb and Collins loses out? Rieko to 23?
Personally I would drop Collins, he's a good solid player but I worry he is making you lose your identity, there is no reason why would shouldn't counter attack like the Chiefs or the Canes, is a "solid" fullback really necessary?

 

[The Jones Boy]

Yeah its turning into a wealth of resources in the backs but the issue is with the forwards, in particular the tight five

 

[Ground We Won]

Quick question, how do you think the back line will line up with SBW back.
Collins and Duffie have been weirdly good this year which makes it hard?

If we assume SBW at 12 what happens? Does Moala lose out? Rieko move to wing and Melani Nanai lose out? Nanai to Fb and Collins loses out? Rieko to 23?
Personally I would drop Collins, he's a good solid player but I worry he is making you lose your identity, there is no reason why would shouldn't counter attack like the Chiefs or the Canes, is a "solid" fullback really necessary?

I suspect it will be

11.Reiko/Melani 12.SBW 13.Moala 14.Melani/Collins 15.Duffie

23. Reiko/Melani/Collins

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

It should be: 11. Nanai 12. SBW 13. Moala 14. Ioane 15. Duffy.

Or you could swap Nanai and Duffy, or put Ranger on the left wing and have Duffy or Nanai at FB, but for whatever reason Tana doesn't want to play Ranger so that won't happen.

Either way, it should be Collins who misses out. He's an OK player, but he's not in the same caliber as the other guys. I don't know why Tana seems to rate him so much actually, he's just not really that good.