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'People thought I wanted to be a ball-running, crash-ball Ma'a, Sonny sort of person': Blues midfielder comfortable with new role
There’s something slightly old school about this year’s Blues backline.
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Yes, the wingers are fast and the halfbacks are nippy, while Stephen Perofeta’s role as a second playmaker in the No 15 jersey has become part and parcel for the modern game in New Zealand.
But it’s in the midfield – specifically in the No 12 jersey – where things get really interesting.
While it’s become common to see a massive behemoth carting the ball up in the middle of the park – think Manu Tuilagi or Hunter Paisami – Harry Plummer operates more like the 12s of old, your Aaron Maugers and your Luke McAlisters.
Plummer, effectively, is operating as a second five-eighth.
“I had played quite a lot of representative rugby, and NZ Schools, at second five-eighths, so I’ve played a bit there and talking to the coaches they’ve seen a rise in my game at 12,” Plummer said at Blues training this week.
With TJ Faiane still nursing an injury, Plummer could be set for an extended stint in the midfield, allowing the Blues to operate with three playmakers – assuming Stephen Perofeta or young Zarn Sullivan is perched at fullback.
The set-up gives the Blues plenty of kicking options across the park as well as plenty of guiding voices.
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It’s a fairly harmonious set-up now, a year on from when the trio first trotted out together against the Bulls in last year’s Super Rugby competition.
Plummer has had time to settle into the role which, although not unfamiliar to him, he wasn’t necessarily 100 per cent comfortable with. That’s not a surprise, given the men that preceded him in the Blues No 12 jersey – the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Ma’a Nonu.
The two young first fives could be fighting it out to be Richie Mo'unga's understudy. https://t.co/Dtww767IeB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 10, 2021
“I think something I fell into early on was thinking that people thought I wanted to be a ball-running, crash-ball Ma’a, Sonny sort of person, but that’s not my game. It’s about being able to adapt. I’m picked for a reason and, [that means] backing the skills I’ve been picked for.
“We’ve got a nice flow of dual/triple playmaker set-up at the moment. My role is to be able to put guys like Rieko [Ioane], Mark [Telea] and Caleb [Clarke] into spaces.”
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The Blues will name their side to take on the Highlanders tomorrow. Their Sunday afternoon match-up marks the Blues’ first home game of the season and could be played in front of a bumper crowd – should the NZ government decide it’s safe to open up major sporting events in Auckland to the wider public.
The match is set to kick off at 3:35pm NZT and will be available to stream via RugbyPass with a Super Rugby Aotearoa subscription.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments