Blues minus 4 All Blacks

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08-02-09, 09:07
travelling_gerry

Blues minus 4 All Blacks

Blues minus All Blacks

2/8/2009 1:16 PM

The Blues will be without four of their All Blacks for their season-opening Rebel Sport Super 14 match against the Western Force in Perth on Friday

The Blues will be without four of their All Blacks for their season-opening Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby match against the Western Force in Perth on Friday.

Rudi Wulf was not considered for the trip because of his broken wrist. Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino and Joe Rokocoko are also out of the travelling party which left Auckland this morning. Williams has an ongoing back problem. Kaino and Rokocoko are both on paternity leave as their partners are expecting their first children.

Josh Blackie will join the squad in Perth this week as his Japanese club has been eliminated from the playoffs.

http://www.radiosport.co.nz:80/Sport...aspx?id=152197
08-02-09, 09:48
Burgs

Bummer....
08-02-09, 10:33
slomo

with the depth of their squad, theyve got more than ample back up.....
08-02-09, 11:33
James

Quote:

Originally Posted by slomo

with the depth of their squad, theyve got more than ample back up.....

I fully disagree. From the reports going around Jay Williams is also out. So you've got a backrow minus Kaino who is an absolute monster and has a super aggressive tackle, Blackie may play but won't've had time to form a partnership with his fellow backrowers and will be match fit but Japanese match fit I imagine is very different to Australian match fit. With departures of Daniel Braid, Troy Flavell and Nick Williams from last year the backrow now has a big target painted on it. Likewise the second row. Boric and Haiu are now definites and neither is that great and who knows who will cover it from the bench. They do have the depth to cover Wulf and Rokocoko but they are both pretty experienced.

If ever there was a time to play the Blues this season it will be right now and we should definitely be looking at this as a winner.
08-02-09, 11:43
GIGS20

Thanks for saving me the time of typing all that James, I'm with you!

Blues to go down in Perth on friday because the cheating bastard Williams isn't there to take the dodgy quick lineout throw!
14-02-09, 10:04
slomo

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIGS20

Thanks for saving me the time of typing all that James, I'm with you!

Blues to go down in Perth on friday because the cheating bastard Williams isn't there to take the dodgy quick lineout throw!

Quote:

Originally Posted by slomo

with the depth of their squad, theyve got more than ample back up.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

I fully disagree. From the reports going around Jay Williams is also out. So you've got a backrow minus Kaino who is an absolute monster and has a super aggressive tackle, Blackie may play but won't've had time to form a partnership with his fellow backrowers and will be match fit but Japanese match fit I imagine is very different to Australian match fit. With departures of Daniel Braid, Troy Flavell and Nick Williams from last year the backrow now has a big target painted on it. Likewise the second row. Boric and Haiu are now definites and neither is that great and who knows who will cover it from the bench. They do have the depth to cover Wulf and Rokocoko but they are both pretty experienced.

If ever there was a time to play the Blues this season it will be right now and we should definitely be looking at this as a winner.

hindsight is a fantastic thing, if your bringing on players like jimmy gopperth youve got depth........
14-02-09, 11:16
James

Quote:

Originally Posted by slomo

hindsight is a fantastic thing, if your bringing on players like jimmy gopperth youve got depth........

My opinion hasn't changed with hindsight. We just played badly not them playing well.

Only if you rate Jimmy Gopperth.