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Friday
11:45
Friday
12:10
Super Rugby PacificBluesHighlanders

Some important news from the Blues press conference


SBW (Photo: Blues Twitter)
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The Blues have announced their side to play the Highlanders this weekend. We bring you the main talking points from this morning’s press conference.

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Sonny.

Sonny Bill.

Sonny Bill Williams.

SBW.

He’s back, starting on the bench in his Blues debut after rupturing his Achilles while playing for the New Zealand men’s sevens team at the Rio Olympics last year.

It’s really happening.

This weekend.

Sonny Bill.

Playing for the Blues.

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In other news:

Steven Luatua returns from suspension.

Blake Gibson and Rieko Ioane return to the starting XV.

Scott Scrafton gets his first start of the season at lock.

Bryn Gatland is in line for his Super Rugby debut off the bench.

The game will be played at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday, with the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy on the line.

The Blues have not won an away game in New Zealand since 2013. That’s four years ago. Four years.

But Sonny Bill.

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'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash

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Comments on RugbyPass

G
GS 3 minutes ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

Look at recent U20 Results for England - clearly the development progamm is producing WC U20’s - those players given correct structure and coaching should be going on and replicating that success in terms of both ranking and Senior WC results.

England really should have zero excuses around results - they have the cash, players, rugby infrastructure - compare what England has vs Oz.



...

269 Go to comments
R
Rugby3 4 minutes ago
'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash

They have lost faith in their coaches. Most likely due to the defensive structure they know is wrong and the selection of Beale.

81 Go to comments
H
HenryAU 6 minutes ago
'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash



I think Hooper dropping out has been a big part of that as he’s so good at taking down the forward carrier and then getting back to his feet to contest the ball.

Agree, this is a big call but Hooper for me can be on par with PSDT, his ceiling is that high. Give him the big $$$ so he can play in AU, stop wasting it on league outside backs.



...

81 Go to comments
H
HenryAU 11 minutes ago
'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash

At what point will the players be held responsible? If the coaches are that bad giving them poor defensive structures and attacking shape, they can still show intensity, fight, pride in the jersey.

All things that were sorely lacking in the Bledisloe and Eng games.



...

81 Go to comments
R
Rugby3 11 minutes ago
Wallabies confirm breakout star’s Nations Championship campaign is over

Do you mean his older brother who plays 12 for the Brumbies ?

12 Go to comments
R
Rugby3 12 minutes ago
Wallabies confirm breakout star’s Nations Championship campaign is over

It is so freaking obvious Henry should be playing 12, where he has played most of his career and at 10, should be 12 and Ikitau 13. Strewth.

12 Go to comments
R
Rugby3 14 minutes ago
Half of this All Blacks team deserves praise

The trouble with Rennie is he spends so much time trying to play fast and fancy and pushing the envelope round the rucks, he comes unstuck against quality teams. Which is exactly what the Wallabies found when he was coaching them. He tries to push the players to their absolute limit and beyond to achieve it and the injuries and yellow cards follow.

Just speaking from the Australian experience.



...

1 Go to comments
H
HenryAU 15 minutes ago
'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash

Not a Jones issue, he was the Wallaby coach in that golden era you are referring to and came off a 75% win record (incl. a grand slam, 3 six nations titles and a World Cup finalist) with England when he took over in 2023.

Same with Rennie, look at how quickly he turned around the All Blacks in a short space of time but just didn’t have the player pool when he was coaching Aussie.



...

81 Go to comments
H
HenryAU 22 minutes ago
'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash

Enough quality players to field a ‘good’ 23 that can take the odd Lions or Bok scalp, not nearly enough to sustain the intensity of a 12-15 game test season. I don’t think anything has changed if you look how last season and this one is panning out.

Good performances early in the season only to drop off in Oct. and Nov. when the season plays long and the top players are getting injured/fatigue sets in.



...

81 Go to comments
R
Rugby3 23 minutes ago
Wallabies confirm breakout star’s Nations Championship campaign is over

Please not JAS back to 13. He obviously doesn’t have the skills or nuance for 13. Watch him take off playing 15 for the Tahs next year under Cheika. Cheika has said he has always seen him as a 15. He’s a Folau on steroids as far as potential goes. It will be something to see. I was amazed Ramm was let go by the Tahs. He has great potential too.

12 Go to comments
J
Jon 30 minutes ago
Neil Barnes: 'We can make a few changes and still put a damn good side out there'

As a Wales supporter I wish I had as much confidence about the team as Josh Moorby. I am sure we will be playing the Allblacks B+ team this weekend!

1 Go to comments
H
HenryAU 30 minutes ago
'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash

Agree, if it was open season with overseas selection it might be a different story but as it stands .. you have good (not great) super rugby level players running around in a Wallaby jersey.

81 Go to comments
J
JW 36 minutes ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

You dont think Hoskins will make it?

269 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

The only real issue is the best of the best being able to be lured away. Currently there might be some of the English in the Top 14, but we don’t really know, generally these players are ones who clearly would be in the top team and embedded before they go to France (and so wouldn’t need to go to France).

269 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

Huh a pure 3 loosie bench? Lol

The whole backline is really covered if Dmac is at 15. With a reserve 9, LF is basically everything else 11 through 14.



...

269 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 1 hour ago
'Outcome hardly surprising' as Australian fans hope for Wallabies backlash

Good to see a good swag of comments, Brett. And many very good and insightful. As I watched the game in Edinburgh, I was thinking “ I don’t think the WB’s can beat this Scottish team. That was before the WB’s played England. That result now makes the task up in Edinburgh look harder still.

But there are positives for the Wb’s. I seem to be the only person who sees the WB scrum with the starting front row as having been surprisingly stable, and at times dominant. The one scrum they were penalised at was a bad error by Pierre Brousset. The WB scrum had England on roller skates, stayed compact and drove straight, England wheeled…so a WB penalty. And there were plenty of very good phases by the WB’s. I do agree with the many comments on defence. That was often poor, hestitant…big task for Kiss and his coaches. However I think too many don’t see how good England were.



...

81 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

Our CEO (Bill Sweeney) claimed ENG are the 2nd best team in the world when they have 15 players on the pitch and said we were the 9th best team with 14 players.

I watched the other teams and thought SA, FRA, NZ & IRE were better. So suggests we are 5th best with 15 on the park and I think we have been woeful when going down to 14.



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269 Go to comments
C
Carlos 1 hour ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

No no no! I mean the tackler declares it….🤡

269 Go to comments
C
Carlos 1 hour ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

With Oviedo out, Isa is a great option. He’s doing extremely well in the very competitive French Top. Felipe has his favorites.

It was an unfair hit on Edward’s, but I’m frustrated. I’m starting to think that the Pumas reflect Argie society. Uneven and unpredictable. Maybe this is why I left…



...

269 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
Why ‘generational talent’ Peter Lakai is the new ‘man in black’ for all seasons

Yes, he started with an injury but has returned and has been playing but Steve Borthwick has shown very little interest in calling him up.

ENG have a full shelf when it comes to No 7’s and he will not be looking for many alternative 8’s with Earl, Pollock & CC-S as the current incumbents.



...

269 Go to comments
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