Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1)
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Fun game. Definitely looked like a game in Feb, but great finish, and the Highlanders scored a try that will hard to beat for best of the season.
Honestly thought the Crusaders being able to bring Jordan on was going to be the difference, but in the end it was a dodgy penalty.
Really impressed with Ethan Blackadder's game, in to everything, hit a thousand rucks, lots of tackles, even if not exactly dominant ones. He's definitely a 7 if he's back to test level, but I fear he's just a shade too slow.
@mariner4life there's no doubting EB's work rate, but his effectiveness when doing anything actually legal isn't something to shout about and he wouldn't get away with his SR shenanigans in test rugby, he'd be a liability. He's half a step behind most others so ends up just doing everything too late.
Not a bad bench option in a pinch, but that would be his limit.
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@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Really impressed with Ethan Blackadder's game, in to everything, hit a thousand rucks, lots of tackles, even if not exactly dominant ones. He's definitely a 7 if he's back to test level, but I fear he's just a shade too slow.
I think he's really a six but he's just a bit small for tests.
Falls between many posts - he's really an ideal utility, but his superpower is endurance, when you probably want short run impact off the bench.
Fabulous player at this level. Not sure how you use him at the level above.
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@Chris-B. Chris there are some postives Blackadder survived a full 80, Hotham looked electric, hopefully the limited Fihaki can be replaced by Maloni Kunawave soon, Big Jim was solid for the Clan after not much rugby recently, here's hoping Taumoefolau has a big night at Eden park Tommorow
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@Grooter said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
, here's hoping Taumoefolau has a big night at Eden park Tommorow
When is Taumoefolau eligible for the All Blacks?
@Frank said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@Grooter said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
, here's hoping Taumoefolau has a big night at Eden park Tommorow
When is Taumoefolau eligible for the All Blacks?
October apparently.
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Don't disagree with either of you. He's definitely inaccurate but I love his intent. Hit rucks, with shoulders. Make sure we keep ball. Make other teams ball a mess.
I don't think he's quite athletic enough for tests but you can see why coaches are attracted.
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@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@Chris-B. Kinda snap.
Sort of.
I really rate Ethan., but he's a bit Chris Masoe - and maybe the time for that is past.
Unfortunately, there's an awful lot of NZ loose forwards fall in the same boat - a bit big for openside, a bit small for blindside, and not dynamic enough for 8.
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@mariner4life there's no doubting EB's work rate, but his effectiveness when doing anything actually legal isn't something to shout about and he wouldn't get away with his SR shenanigans in test rugby, he'd be a liability. He's half a step behind most others so ends up just doing everything too late.
Not a bad bench option in a pinch, but that would be his limit.
@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life there's no doubting EB's work rate, but his effectiveness when doing anything actually legal isn't something to shout about and he wouldn't get away with his SR shenanigans in test rugby, he'd be a liability. He's half a step behind most others so ends up just doing everything too late.
Not a bad bench option in a pinch, but that would be his limit.
World champion of hitting rucks after the contest is over
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Don't disagree with either of you. He's definitely inaccurate but I love his intent. Hit rucks, with shoulders. Make sure we keep ball. Make other teams ball a mess.
I don't think he's quite athletic enough for tests but you can see why coaches are attracted.
@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Don't disagree with either of you. He's definitely inaccurate but I love his intent. Hit rucks, with shoulders. Make sure we keep ball. Make other teams ball a mess.
I don't think he's quite athletic enough for tests but you can see why coaches are attracted.
Can't help but think he's a bit "busy idiot". Maybe if he just got a bit less busy he'd be a lot less idiot.
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@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life there's no doubting EB's work rate, but his effectiveness when doing anything actually legal isn't something to shout about and he wouldn't get away with his SR shenanigans in test rugby, he'd be a liability. He's half a step behind most others so ends up just doing everything too late.
Not a bad bench option in a pinch, but that would be his limit.
World champion of hitting rucks after the contest is over
@Duluth said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life there's no doubting EB's work rate, but his effectiveness when doing anything actually legal isn't something to shout about and he wouldn't get away with his SR shenanigans in test rugby, he'd be a liability. He's half a step behind most others so ends up just doing everything too late.
Not a bad bench option in a pinch, but that would be his limit.
World champion of hitting rucks after the contest is over
Nah that's bullshit especially tonight. He was first on the scene very often.
Lost his footing and position a couple of times which allowed turnover. -
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@Duluth said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life there's no doubting EB's work rate, but his effectiveness when doing anything actually legal isn't something to shout about and he wouldn't get away with his SR shenanigans in test rugby, he'd be a liability. He's half a step behind most others so ends up just doing everything too late.
Not a bad bench option in a pinch, but that would be his limit.
World champion of hitting rucks after the contest is over
Nah that's bullshit especially tonight. He was first on the scene very often.
Lost his footing and position a couple of times which allowed turnover. -
@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Don't disagree with either of you. He's definitely inaccurate but I love his intent. Hit rucks, with shoulders. Make sure we keep ball. Make other teams ball a mess.
I don't think he's quite athletic enough for tests but you can see why coaches are attracted.
Can't help but think he's a bit "busy idiot". Maybe if he just got a bit less busy he'd be a lot less idiot.
@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Don't disagree with either of you. He's definitely inaccurate but I love his intent. Hit rucks, with shoulders. Make sure we keep ball. Make other teams ball a mess.
I don't think he's quite athletic enough for tests but you can see why coaches are attracted.
Can't help but think he's a bit "busy idiot". Maybe if he just got a bit less busy he'd be a lot less idiot.
That's his whole gig though, repeat involvements. No chance EB stands at first receiver while his team gets turned over.
As I said, love his intent, and I thought he was the best forward on the field tonight. I just fear he lacks the foot speed and that little bit of dynamism at the next level.
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Nah its not bullshit and its based on his entire career. Good loosies pick and choose their battles. He plays like a spastic
@Duluth said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Nah its not bullshit and its based on his entire career. Good loosies pick and choose their battles. He plays like a spastic
We have too many loosies who pick and choose their moments, to their teams detriment
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@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Don't disagree with either of you. He's definitely inaccurate but I love his intent. Hit rucks, with shoulders. Make sure we keep ball. Make other teams ball a mess.
I don't think he's quite athletic enough for tests but you can see why coaches are attracted.
Can't help but think he's a bit "busy idiot". Maybe if he just got a bit less busy he'd be a lot less idiot.
That's his whole gig though, repeat involvements. No chance EB stands at first receiver while his team gets turned over.
As I said, love his intent, and I thought he was the best forward on the field tonight. I just fear he lacks the foot speed and that little bit of dynamism at the next level.
@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Don't disagree with either of you. He's definitely inaccurate but I love his intent. Hit rucks, with shoulders. Make sure we keep ball. Make other teams ball a mess.
I don't think he's quite athletic enough for tests but you can see why coaches are attracted.
Can't help but think he's a bit "busy idiot". Maybe if he just got a bit less busy he'd be a lot less idiot.
That's his whole gig though, repeat involvements. No chance EB stands at first receiver while his team gets turned over.
As I said, love his intent, and I thought he was the best forward on the field tonight. I just fear he lacks the foot speed and that little bit of dynamism at the next level.
Maybe, but take one of the rucks early in the game, he ends up on the wrong side as he's not dynamic enough, so tries to fuck about with highlanders a metre on their side of the ruck and still gets shrugged off. Work smarter not harder and you might add more.
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@Duluth said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Nah its not bullshit and its based on his entire career. Good loosies pick and choose their battles. He plays like a spastic
We have too many loosies who pick and choose their moments, to their teams detriment
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@mariner4life You're talking about something else. Recognising a ruck is already won or lost means you can get to the next winnable contest quicker.
@Duluth said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@mariner4life You're talking about something else. Recognising a ruck is already won or lost means you can get to the next winnable contest quicker.
Look its a valid criticism. And good players pick their moments.
And I want to make it clear I am not calling for EB to get the 7 jersey.
I am just jaded with a procession of test level forwards who aren't committed to folding rucks.But to keep thread on target, EB was excellent tonight. At this level those criticisms don't mean quite so much. Like the final last year, that golden retriever-like ball chasing is invaluable
