Blues and Highlanders reveal teams for opening round Kiwi clash

That transition through NPC is the really important one. Rookies in SR simple aren’t upto the elite standards set by the international-quality-franchise/state-makeup. You need to perform at a good level before SR before you can get a contract.

The other big gap is how good players fill NPC. U18/20 yo’s are too young, as NPC is full of SR players, I really like the idea of kids around 21/22 coming out of a university system. Their could be a Super Rugby draft, and the kids go into the SR teams provinces (so a SR club has 50+ players registered etc, but half aren’t with the squad). And again, a club comp that competes with NPC for recognition.

For whetever reason, and by his own admission, he just didn’t nail down the spot soon enough to show he was really worth the big money.

I like a good blowtorch though, however I want Beauden nowhere near the 10 jersey. He should continue on for as long as he can as the bench option for fullback behind Jordan. Love is ready to be in the squad (Beauden only gets used at 10 if Dmac gets injured in game, otherwise Love starts and maybe replaces Beaduen for easy games). Dmac is a very particular 10 option, mainly because he’s so new at it, they need to get the setup right to best cover his weaknesses imo (like not being able to take it to the line like Mo’unga can in these examples).

He pulled it off in the WC final too, and then the TMO pulls him back. If you caught that other quarter, picture Love as looking much better as a 10. Reihana is more like a Merthens!

They kept chopping and changing Ben Smith as well, he just didn’t seem to be finding his grove, so they affected who was playing 10.

But I was one that just couldn’t see Barrett ever being, developing the skills to, the answer to a rush defence, so I was calling for them to switch to Moung’a a year before they did. Which is not to say they should have, but I think there was a chance to manage him better. Surely they saw him as the future.

Who knows why it took him so long to blossom otherwise, probably a mixture of things.

Yep Reihana in 2026, and Love in 2025! I don’t think Richie had anything to prove, this whole number 1 thing is bogus.

So I would find it concerning to see these guys paired with Savea against the likes of France or South Africa as some have suggested.

Papali’i was instrumental in the Blues win by dominating the breakdown when the Blues were on attack. When the Blues needed to retain the ball for long periods in the last quarter he made sure it happened. None of Kirifi, Lakai, Sititi, or Savea can be relied on in that facet against the top teams.

Also Sotutu was better than both Parker and Sititi at 8 last night.

Robinson is acutely observant/interested in the results of Barrett’s move. That is what is going to determine if it is “accepted”. At the moment the most one would say is that they are “happy” the foreign party has played ball and kept a tight ship.

Sititi actually had a mixed game against SA. He really struggled with physicality in the first quarter but then got better as the game went on. But overall PsDT was comfortably the best blindside on the field that day.

Against the top ranked sides he’s only been in one win against Ireland so he’s pretty much unproven against the best teams.