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Three for the price of one: Is this the playmaker combination that can get the Blues back on track?
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The Blues created only one clear chance in their defeat to the Crusaders – and scored from it through skipper and lock Patrick Tuipulotu. Now, in a major reshuffle of his backline, Leon MacDonald has named three playmakers in a bid to unlock the Bulls’ defence in Pretoria.
Otere Black returns from a rib injury suffered in pre-season to start at No 10 on Sunday morning, with Harry Plummer replacing TJ Faiane at second-five and regular first-five Stephen Perofeta starting at fullback.
Lock Jacob Pierce earns his first start of the season in place of Josh Goodhue, who injured an ankle against the Crusaders, and there is a re-shuffle among the loose forwards, with Tony Lamborn back at openside flanker and Tom Robinson at No 6, with in-form Hoskins Sotutu staying at No 8.
The Blues’ inability to breach an admittedly excellent Crusaders’ defensive line in the second half of their match at Eden Park last weekend has prompted MacDonald’s triple playmaker gamble. It’s clear too that his side will want to play a fast game against a Bulls team yet to win this season without neglecting a kicking strategy on the highveld.
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“We’ve picked a team that allows us to find the space we’re looking for, I suppose,” MacDonald said. “The playmakers we’ve got, their skillsets – obviously we want to play a smart game at altitude so there’s going to be some kicking I’m picking. But also we need good communicators with the skills to get the ball where we need it.
“Otere has been training really well after his injury and we feel he deserves the opportunity.”
Fullback is not an unfamiliar position for Perofeta, who is also likely to play a big role there when Beauden Barrett finally steps on to the field in a Blues jersey in mid-April.
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“Stevie is probably one of our form players, especially with ball in hand,” MacDonald said.
“He’s been pretty electric. He played a bit there in pre-season last year before he picked up a season-ending injury so we know he’s really capable. He’s an allrounder.
“Harry has played a lot at No 12, especially in the age groups. More recently he’s been at No 10. He’s a big strong guy. I think he suits No 12. He’s quite physical with the way he carries and tackles. We have to manage our team well. TJ has already clocked up a lot of minutes.”
MacDonald’s playmaker strategy appears a horses for courses approach, but he added:
“This is Harry’s opportunity and if he grabs it, it could be a long-term thing.”
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MacDonald confirmed Black, the most accurate of the Blues’ goalkickers, would get the kicking duties.
For the playmakers to have any impact the forwards need to improve their set-piece performance significantly, something skipper Tuipulotu was confident they had done. Last weekend the Crusaders picked off their lineout almost at will and while the Bulls have yet to score a try in their two matches this season, they have a huge and powerful pack.
Ben Lam is just the latest in a long line of dynamic outside backs that New Zealanders never got to see on the highest stage, writes @realmikepulman. #AllBlackshttps://t.co/pCChubSka6
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 20, 2020
“We’ve come up with a new plan that’s exciting for us,” Tuipulotu said. “We’ve had a hoodoo put on us in terms of our lineouts over the last couple of weeks. It’s not good enough to win Super Rugby games. We’ve been putting in the work.
“They’ve got the height on us but we back our ability and game to get around the park.”
MacDonald added: “Our basics of the game weren’t good enough last week and we’ve talked about that. We’ve talked about our decision making and skill execution.”
Wing Rieko Ioane is yet to fully recover from his hand fracture but could be in the frame for next weekend’s game against the Stormers in Cape Town.
Blues: 15. Stephen Perofeta, 14. Emoni Narawa, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Harry Plummer, 11. Mark Telea, 10. Otere Black, 9. Jonathan Ruru, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 7. Tony Lamborn, 6. Tom Robinson, 5. Jacob Pierce, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3. Sione Mafileo, 2. James Parsons, 1. Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Reserves: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18. Ofa Tuungafasi, 19. Aaron Carroll, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Sam Nock, 22. TJ Faiane, 23. Matt Duffie.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
31 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
31 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments