Blues squad dissection.

If you look at the players the Blues have lost this season like Sonny Bill Williams, Ma’a Nonu and Melani Nanai you would not expect much from them but then you see the single biggest signing by any team this season. That is 2 time world player of the year Beauden Barrett. He will definitely bring a spark into the team but in the past that was not enough for them. Hopefully his experience will help lead them in the right direction and help them take control of the game a bit more not just be great on the counter attack. The Blues is usually a great looking team on paper and will be favorites against most teams, but that never seams to work out for them. This year they have an almost entirely new backline with 8 of the 18 backs in the squad being new signings. I think that was what was necessary to get some calm new faces in the team and try to reshape the team and their playing style. Only time will tel if they did a good job with their signings or if they just tried to put a superstar in an average team in hope that he will carry the team.

Players to look out for:

Beauden Barret: Well I don’t have to say a word about this guy his reputation talks for itself. For the people that is new to rugby he is the best backline player in the world and if he gets the ball it seems as if he is playing sevens with all the gaps he sees and takes. The only thing he needs to work on is his scrumming I guess?

Tom Ribinson: There is not much to say about this bloke. For me he was the most unlucky player in all of New Zealand last year not to go to the world cup. I know that it was his breakthrough season but I truly think he would have been a huge asset to the All Blacks team. He will look to become and All Black this year and I think that he has a vital role to play for the Blues this season.

Akira Ioane: He will try and make that All Black number eight jersey his own with the captain leaving and putting the jersey up for grabs. I personally thought that he was a better player the past season than Kieran and that it was only Kieran’s captaincy that kept him in the team. This year there is no one standing in his way and I think he will work hard for his opportunity. H will be a free running hard hitting loose forward and he is one guy you do not want to build up speed when he is charging at you.

Joe Marchant: He is a new center on loan from Harlequins who will be looking to partner up with Beauden and try to give attacking direction to the Blues. The only problem I see is that people will compare him to his predecessor Sonny Bill. He is a great center in his own right and it will be interesting to see what he can bring to the team.

New signings for the franchise:

Kurt Eklund (Hooker), Tony Lamborn (Loose forward), Ray Niuia (Hooker), Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Loose forward), James Tucker (Utility forward), Baden Wardlaw (Loose forward), Beauden Barrett (Flyhalf), Finlay Christie (Scrumhalf), Jack Heighton (Utility back), Jordan Hyland (Wing), Joe Marchant (Center), Emoni Narawa (Wing), Jared Page (Fullback), Mark Telea (Wing).

Players that left:

Leni Apisai, Matt Moulds, Scott Scrafton, Jed Brown, Jimmy Tupou, Augustine Pulu, Levi Aumua,  Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Michael Collins, Melani Nanai, Jordan Trainor.