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Watch: 'Deadly' Mark Telea sends reminder to New Zealand that the Blues have two superstar wings
Since Super Rugby Aotearoa kicked off last month, Caleb Clarke on the Blues’ left wing has received plenty of plaudits for his impressive performances – especially in the Blues’ narrow win over the Highlanders two weeks ago.
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Mark Telea, who was a permanent fixture on the same wing prior to the Super Rugby suspension in March but shifted to the right-hand side of the park to accommodate for Clarke post-lockdown has sent a healthy reminder to the wider New Zealand public that opposition teams have to key their eyes peeled for both Blues wingers.
In tonight’s top-of-the-table clash, the Blues dominated possession and territory in the opening minutes and found themselves camped inside the Crusaders’ 22 early in the first quarter.
A heads-up play saw new halfback Finlay Christie spin the ball wide to Otere Black, who floated a beautiful skip pass out to the right wing where Telea was eagerly waiting.
With the cover defence rushing to greet Telea, the cool-as-ice speedster dove for the corner and pumped the ball onto the turf with one hand, avoiding the attention of Crusaders fullback David Havili.
? How about that for a finish? Big Mark Telea dives gracefully into the corner to give @BluesRugbyTeam the lead over the @crusadersrugby with the first try of this blockbuster @superrugbynz showdown ? #CRUvBLU pic.twitter.com/hlCCkoB00f
— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) July 11, 2020
It was an audacious finish from the man who’s been relatively quiet since Super Rugby Aotearoa kicked off – bar a highlights reel-worthy fend in the opening weekend of the competition.
Moments after Telea’s score, which took the Blues out to a 7-0 lead with Black’s conversion, the New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa qualified wing was causing havoc for the Crusaders again, returning a kick in earnest. After a high Crusaders ball hit the turf, Telea pounced and skirted down the field, swerving around Havili in the process.
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The impressive run was almost too effective, with none of Telea’s supporting players available for a pass in open space that could well have seen the Blues go two tries ahead.
Telea’s general play and defence throughout the first half of the match was also of high quality at all times and fans took to social media to praise the blockbusting wing.
What a finish from Telea after a fantastic pass from Black.
This game has been very fun to watch.
Barrett and Sotutu are on one, too.#CRUvBLU
— The Loose Head (@TheLooseH) July 11, 2020
Mark Telea??? #CRUvBLU
— MBATHANE (@Lamla_Roji95) July 11, 2020
Telea finishing in 2020 has been
?? #CRUvBLU ?— Lou ? (@loumnandi) July 11, 2020
Pencil in Mark Telea for an @AllBlacks jersey
Sorry @manusamoa, you just have no money and your admin's messed up.#CRUvBLU— Brian Fiu K?lia (@BKolia) July 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/darrencarlson_/status/1281852946653814786
Mark Telea’s handoff – the most deadly left hand since Wasim Akram #tongueincheek #CRUvBLU #RugbyAotearoa
— Graeme Peacock (@graemepeacock05) July 11, 2020
Mark Telea is only 23 too, the Blues could be very good for a very long time #CRUvBLU #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Rhys Knott (@wrhys_writes) July 11, 2020
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When you do a clearance kick then see Teleà coming. #CRUvBLU #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/2I7g31tnM3
— Such Is Life…. (@EnslinMavunga) July 11, 2020
Hell yeaa. That's the way to show them. Nice one Telea. #CRUvBLU
— Such Is Life…. (@EnslinMavunga) July 11, 2020
Telea is really up for this one!!! #CRUvBLU
— Paul from New Zealand Sport Radio (@DrivingMaul) July 11, 2020
Couple of penalties creeping in for the Blues as the Crusaders knock on the door, but they've stayed solid at the tryline.
Great work here as Telea reads the play, tackles Havili back into the heart of the Blues defence and Papali'i comes in with the textbook turnover#CRUvBLU pic.twitter.com/qY07F9O9xJ
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) July 11, 2020
I know it’s totally wishful thinking, and probably quite greedy given the amount of depth SA have at wing… but a part of me would love to see Telea play for South Africa. What an outstanding player #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CRUvBLU
— A-P (@rugby_ap) July 11, 2020
The Blues led the Crusaders 7-6 at halftime after conceding two penalty kicks late in the first stanza.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar 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.
10 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.
39 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.
3 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
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
39 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.
39 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.
39 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.
39 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 comments