NZ Rugby retains prolific winger Ioane

Generally outside backs are too distant from the action to get a proper feel for the heart of the match. Decisions like penalty, scrum or lineout are based on the feel of the pack and where they have ascendency, and the need to be made quickly. Reiko running in from the wing all the time would have to ask questions and would miss a lot. Thats why loosies generally make better captains, they get a sense of whats happening at any given time both up front and wider out. From a personality point of view he could be good but not a practical one.

Very true and fair T-man. But the Blues have been lacking a real captain for years. And now Rieko is gonna be around for a long time and it seems that he is serious about getting the Blues back to the top. Maybe make him captain and make SBW and Nonu vice captains so they can back him up and give his leadership some more weight?

Yeah young wingers are not normally captains at this level. I think they could go dual captaincy and spread the load as they are with the think tank.

Great bloke & an obvious leader but I’m not a fan of outside backs as captains.

He is young, it is a bit of a risk, but I think Rieko conducts himself well on the field and he certainly sets a high standard with his performances. Now he is on the NZR's top shelf with a long contract, top dollars, and nailed on AB's jersey.

Exactly.A classic case of thinking but not saying it regarding some "secret" plans for the last hurrah in Japan. But I don't think it will stay a "secret" a long time if Nonu still ha what it takes. Kiwi media and fans would love a campaign "Nonu to the WC" if he can prove himself in SR.

I hope not neutral. Blood someone like Blake Gibson, I think he has potential to be a good leader. One of the major issues with the Blues is the absence of a decent on field leader.

Book your final tickets at Eden park RT!

Nonu at the World cup at 36? Id say hes thinking it even if hes not saying it. He’ll be relaxed with his dollars sorted and for me he was in the best form of his entire career at the world cup in 15, his full array of skills finally reaching their peak.

"Rieko is an outstanding talent who works very hard at the game and is also willing to learn. He shows a level of maturity that belies his young age and this, as well as his passion for the club and region, makes him a leader of our young group," Umaga said. My money is one Rieko taking over the captaincy next season.

He speaks as captain. Pick him. He already was stand-in captain in the final minutes in a few games this season for the Blues. "Obviously this year didn't go great and between us we are looking forward to the challenge. Being from Auckland, it's something we hold dear to our hearts, taking our franchise places where it should be. We want to see it at the top and if we can be part of it that it would be something special."

What if Nonu and SBW have a blinder season together and just owns the midfield? From what I saw from a couple of games in the European Cup, Nonu still has a lot of edge, He takes good care of his body, and we all know he is the complete package who "masters" all core skills a 12 need.

Sure, a bit of luck to snatch the win. But I thought the deserved the win. The two words that come to mind is cohesion and starch. If that can rub off in the Blues camp next season things could get really interesting. And there was some glitter on the turd also. Me thinks Highlanders-Blues in the first round was the best game of the season. Highlanders brought their A-game and when they do that in the glass castle, even the Saders lose down there regularly. But the Blues were just inches away from the win. Rieko is the best winger in the world. If just someone could break the code to Akira's "soul" and teach him some nous to complement is enormous physical potential. Please, anybody, feel free to throw some more glitter. The secret wish is that Tana reaches out to Ted, ask him for a solid for old times sake. A long-term captain for the AB's has a lot of contact with the head coach and if things work out alright, a special bond usually takes root. Please Ted, just help us in the same way you helped Auckland. Could Ted really turn down a sincere plea from his good friend Tana? For me, Ted's involvement works like a no BS filter, he is a Maestro of rugby and he has seen and done it all. I think everyone raises their game around him hence if he says you got game or that you need to work harder, those words stick.

Yes just hung on with the missed conversion at 85’. Good game though.

Great comment T-man. You certainly have some serious knowledge about Kiwi rugby. To be clear, we were just joking around with the Auckland/AB's topic. Auckland looks pretty good against Taranaki. Only halftime, but they starting to look like a side that is improving fast.

From 87 to 90 the Auckland dominated ABs never lost and won every match in the world cup by a minimum of 20 points with greats like JK, Jones, Fox, Shelford, The Whettons etc. the 2011-2015 did neither of those feats. They were that dominant they retained the Ranfurley shield for an incredible, in fact boring eight years and 63 matches in a row. Thats how dominant they were, also winning just about every championship for sixteen years. The difference between the Auckland of then was players werent moving out of the area to clubs and the NRL, although there was a bit of that even then. Rugby strength was kept in the region because there was no money going anywhere else. Joe Stanley kept Frank Bunce out of the ABs till he was about 30 where these days Bunce would have eadily picked up a contract well before that outside the area. Professional rugby started well for Auckland and the Blues, completely dominated the tournament in the first two years. That caused a stream of players leaving the region to pick up careers outside of Auckland and as I keep saying, no single city has more professionals in rugby than those that learned their trade in the Auckland area. Professionalism has given thousands of players from Auckland careers they wouldnt have had otherwise. Even oz’s most promising player Tupou, was at school until 18 until picked up by the Reds after you tube videos surfaced. Fact that he wanted to play for oz is one thing, but he got to the standard he did by playing in Auckland. Its a complex issue, hence the think tank. But its never been about not having the players. Its about keeping them. Its true that the Blues have had players good enough and have underperformed so coaching and probably apathy is definitely an issuebut the depth and retention issues are greater. I think the statement that when Auckland is strong the ABs are strong is still the case, as it was in the 60’s and 80’s and if the Blues manage to sort those problems the ABs could be even more dominant than they have been even now. If all 5 franchises are competing equally, that is when the true depth will be realised, but with its largest catchment always bottoming out as the Blues have last few years thats not the case. Time has seen NZ rugby lift the Chiefs and the Highlanders off the bottom of the heap, now its time for that to happen for the Blues

A couple of days ago while participating on a podcast about AB's, we joked around a little with the old mantra that a strong Auckland rugby means a strong AB's side. But during arguably the AB's best period ever, from 2011 until now, the Blues has been terrible and Auckland has been pretty poor also.

A tad bit simplified from me but it can't be a bad thing to have a bunch of players entering SR next year with some confidence and maybe even some silverware.

As things stand now, I reckon the Saders would need to implode for another team to top the Kiwi conference.

Sorry, a correction, Auckland finished 6th and 5th in 2017 and 2016, not 7th and 6th. Need that edit function!!