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Rieko Ioane setback hands Blues yet another bad break
By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald
It’s far too early in the season to think fate is once again against him and the Blues, but Leon MacDonald may have cause to wonder given the news wing Rieko Ioane – probably his side’s best performer in their defeat to the Chiefs – faces a long layoff due to a broken hand.
Coaches are generally relentlessly optimistic people, and MacDonald is almost certainly one of those – after all the former Crusaders fullback and assistant coach chose to join a franchise which last won a Super Rugby title in 2003 and made the playoffs in 2011, but his All Black’s injury after a stunning two-try performance in the 37-29 defeat at Eden Park is a massive blow.
Ioane, 22, has arrived at the Blues in excellent physical condition – he revealed he has dropped his weight a little in order to find more mobility – and he showed during his 56 minutes against the Chiefs that he will once again be a key attacking weapon for MacDonald’s side as he attempts to force his way back into the All Blacks starting mix.
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It was Ioane’s 50th match for the Blues – afterwards his brother Akira presented him with an official keepsake – and there was no hint of the news that broke via the Blues today, news that unfortunately comes on top of a season-ending knee injury for hooker Ray Niuia and a calf strain for prop Alex Hodgman.
“To be able to do that in his 50th game, I’m pleased for him,” MacDonald said of Ioane’s performance straight afterwards. “I’m pleased he could do it in front of his friends and family. He’s a really passionate Blues man and I think his performance showed that today; he gave it everything.”
He won’t be in a position to do that again for presumably six weeks. The Blues play the Waratahs in Newcastle on Saturday and straight away MacDonald has been forced to re-shuffle his side. Six days later the formidable Crusaders visit Eden Park.
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Another potential absentee this week is flanker Tony Lamborn, who scored a try in an impressive debut for the Blues but has an infected cut on his head.
The cut, suffered in the narrow pre-season win over the Hurricanes at Onewa Domain on January 24, needed seven stitches but unfortunately for Lamborn, who didn’t train today, that hasn’t been the end of it and MacDonald may opt to start Blake Gibson instead.
Hooker and former skipper James Parsons is close to a return from a back injury and first-five Otere Black could be available after suffering a rib injury in pre-season. Halfback and former Hurricane Finlay Christie may be close to full fitness following a neck problem – a helpful addition given the lack of direction and errors that hampered the Blues throughout their defeat, particularly in the second half during which they shipped 32 points.
None of those players make up for the loss of Ioane, however.
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Should MacDonald keep faith in fullback Matt Duffie and right wing Mark Telea, Jordan Hyland could come into the mix as Ioane’s replacement against a Waratahs side who showed despite a 43-25 defeat to the Crusaders in Nelson in round one that they have pace and talent among their outside backs.
Left wing Mark Nawaqanitawase, 19, scored two tries against the Crusaders in his Super Rugby debut and is already being announced across the ditch as one of a handful of youngsters who could “save Australian rugby”.
That’s pressure their new coach Rob Penney would probably rather Nawaqanitawase do without but his side played with a structure and maturity in spite of their round one loss that suggest they could be one of the better Australian sides this season. They will certainly test the Blues.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
28 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
28 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
28 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
28 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
28 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments