Direct Route is Most Effective
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu delivered last year and it seems the captaincy agrees with him. He’s always been big and powerful but hasn’t always used his attributes as well as he might have.
He is quick and agile for his size, but rather than try to run around players or offload, sometimes it’s just best to run into or over the opposition, particularly when close to the line, and Tuipulotu, the size of a small utility vehicle, did that.
It boosted his side, not to mention the Blues supporters watching in the stands and it all added up to far happier post-match interviews for the Blues’ skipper.
“Most of this group have now been through the lows of what past Blues teams have been through and are now real keen on getting this team going forward,” Tuipulotu said in December.
“The Blues love to play with flair. We look forward to doing the same in ’21 but being more innovative in the way we play.”
In former captain James Parsons and Auckland captain Faiane, an influential midfielder, Tuipulotu has able lieutenants, although, as mentioned, MacDonald may have preferred a little more experience in his backline.