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The other factor is the Swans were on in the afternoon across the road at the SCG. From my experience there is a lot of crossover fans between Tahs and Swans - and seemingly the number of times the Swans and Tahs have clashed with their games this year has been multiple. I believe the Swans...

Sharks have a very good record v NZ teams this year too - beat 3 out of 4 and the 1 they lost (v Canes) they should have won if not for Canes going length of the field after the siren for the match winning try.

Tom Coventry confirmed as forwards coach for next year. Him and MacDonald are seriously rated coaches who have had success - Tana needs to get out of the way and let them do their thing. http://theblues.co.nz/tom-coventry-to-join-blues-super-rugby-coaching-team/

Interesting. Certainly was ridiculous not to select Little. Faiane has been a dud in comparison. Plenty of other dud signings too, Preston from Harbour, Apisai from Wellington, Kirikiri as cover etc.

That's strange. I know there is friction between Blues and Auckland but I thought the Blues private ownership (Murray Bolton etc) and management had links with Harbour? Plus Blues current forwards coach is ex Harbour head coach Steve Jackson, plus Blues scrum coach is also Harbour scrum coach...

This is actually some bloody good news. It's become obvious Blues need a new forwards coach. Coventry was the forwards coach for the Chiefs when they won back to back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013. He was also very successful in his first season as head coach of North Harbour of last...

If they can stay fit (huge if) Auckland will have a very tidy Mitre 10 Cup loosie trio - Blake Gibson, Dalton Papali'i and Akira Ioane.

The Blues team to play the Hurricanes is: 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Rieko Ioane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Augustine Pulu (c) ; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Matiaha Martin, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Matt Moulds, 1...

I disagree. Rieko is a locked in AB starter wherever he plays his Super Rugby so it's really about Akira. Akira is on the fringes and yet to play an AB test. He has obvious work ons and if he went to the Hurricanes he'd link up with an outstanding coach (Plumtree). As for Aumua - I...

The heavy rumours are both the Ioanes are off to the Canes next year.

Sounds like it will be close to a sell out - good news - especially as clashing with Socceroos v France.

New Zealand Under 20 Coach Craig Philpott has named the team to face Australia in their last pool match at the World Rugby U20 Championship. The team is; Rob Cobb - Auckland Flynn Thomas - Southland Tevita Mafileo - Bay of Plenty Laghlan McWhannell - Waikato John Akauola-Laula - Auckland...

Well Blues are also resting their best player Rieko Ioane - who I think has played every minute of every game so far this season. EDIT - oh and also SBW - who is out injured for 4 weeks.

and still had enough left in the tank to own the Aussie Conference leaders....

Blues play Canes then Crusaders at Eden Park, then Rebels and Reds at Eden Park, then away to Canes and Crusaders to finish. It's worth noting the Ioanes both need to be rested from 2 games still. My guess is it will be the last two games.

Blues named for game vs Canes. Papalii is out but in better news SBW, Ofa T and Nanai are back. 15. Matt Duffie, 14. Rieko Ioane, 13. Orbyn Leger, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Stephen Perofeta, 9. Augustine Pulu (c) ; 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Murphy Taramai, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5...

I'll add to this Grant Nisbett "Snapped up by..." Also - I'm sure he's already been mentioned but Hoiles seems to be the new Kearns - watches games through Tahs lenses and agrees/disagrees with the refs calls depending on if they go for/against the Tahs. For NZ Steven Bates is rubbish -...

A lot of talk about Beale - he was one of the shining lights for the Tahs I thought - his influence at 12 was one of the real positives. However I thought the loose forwards for the Tahs got outplayed by the Blues - Papalii was much more effective at the breakdown than Hooper and Akira was...

Blues named Brisbane 10s MVP Caleb Clarke gets a debut start on the left wing. Back 3 and back row look handy on paper. Bench looks mostly underwhelming. 15 Matt Duffie, 14. Tumua Manu, 13. Orbyn Leger, 12. Rieko Ioane, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Stephen Perofeta, 9. Augustine Pulu (c) 8...

I'm not sure how much you've seen of Faiane. He definitely is a passer. The problem is when he does ball run he's on the small side so despite throwing himself into the defense he generally has a limited impact. The midfield is probably more a worry on the defensive side than the attacking...