Crusaders v Blues
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@kev Yeah Nonu looks a bit tired now. Been a warrior for the Blues this year though, given his all for every match but just isn't as deadly as he used to be.
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@Canes4life said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kev Yeah Nonu looks a bit tired now. Been a warrior for the Blues this year though, given his all for every match but just isn't as deadly as he used to be.
I think his lack of pace has been there all season. But yeah - he did look a bit tired tonight.
Tana's best signing?
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By the way, that catch from Mo'unga, just before that "almost try" was a pure piece of brilliance!
David Havili had a good game as well, just like his counterpart Melani Nanai. Probably the best of the backs with Mo'unga, although Hall had a good game, too. Generally, it wasn't a game for running rugby; so not too much impact from the backs apart from the kicking. It was funny hearing the commentators say that Levi Aumua should move into the front row because of his size.
Crusaders scrum went well, most line-outs, too.
Some great turnovers from the Blues. Pat T probably their best forward.
In this game, Douglas > Akira, who was completely invisible again. It was interesting to hear what the radio commentators, particularly Flynn had to say about his excessive playing minutes. He said - among other things - that guys like Akira and Pat T are getting so many minutes because they are fighting for a spot in the finals; but it will come back to bite them if they actually make the finals, because these guys look tired. And that's exactly it.
Anyway, can the Blues still make the play-offs?
The Crusaders only need 2 points out of their next two games - I think - to seal that top spot on the table.
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@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@KiwiMurph that was a real plus and a step forward,not often do you see the Saders not score from a lineout drive.
Missing Taylor and Franks, although Alaalatoa hasn't been too bad.
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@Canes4life said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kev Yeah Nonu looks a bit tired now. Been a warrior for the Blues this year though, given his all for every match but just isn't as deadly as he used to be.
And I think that will be the reason why he won't make the ABs squad.
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@Stargazer normally we let in lineout drive tries against anybody, does not seem to matter whom the opposition is..I guess against the caliber of the Crusaders who are the number 1 rated team..I will take that.
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Great effort from the Blues don't care what anyone says. Yes it was a loss but they put everything into it. Speaking to some of them after the game they were shattered but they can hold their heads up. Well done Crusaders.
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@Duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:
@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
Well that was a big improvement on 54-17 last year
Blues have done better against the Crusaders than the other NZ sides this year
The Rangi factor. Yes everyone sees the same film, and he knows Robbo, he knows many of the players a little more than others.
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Most boring match in a good while. Dreary and dull.
The crusaders should start Ennor ahead of Crotty.
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@Kirwan I thought the conditions favoured the Blues and their forward dominant style. When it’s been dry and less slippery, that is when we have excelled with our midfield making metres and our quicks our wide being dominant.
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@SammyC said in Crusaders v Blues:
Best call of the night
“Hey Reiko, your as useless as your brother”
Conditions kept the blues in it, not a night for high scoring rugby
Crusaders fans can't spell or correctly use grammar? That makes sense.
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Wasn't a great advert at all for Super Rugby. Perhaps it is now true that HEC is the superior competition. Not that Crusaders or their fans will care. They had the defensive skills to close out this dreary contest.
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@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
@SammyC said in Crusaders v Blues:
Best call of the night
“Hey Reiko, your as useless as your brother”
Conditions kept the blues in it, not a night for high scoring rugby
Crusaders fans can't spell or correctly use grammar? That makes sense.
Ouch...
spelling and grammar are so important when posting on an Internet forum from the pub after an afternoon and evening on the beers.
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@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders v Blues:
Most boring match in a good while. Dreary and dull.
The crusaders should start Ennor ahead of Crotty.
It was cold and wet, I think both teams adjusted their games to the conditions
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@MajorRage Yeah there were.
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All jokes aside (there are certain players we must not joke about on here) I was pretty happy with the result.
Best crowd of the season, vocal and involved.
Whacked $100 on under 47.5 total points at the TAB (paid $2.20) as it was pretty obvious to me that conditions weren't right for a high scoring game.
I think this is the first time in quite a while that we came with real line speed and aggression on defense. It's how we've won our last 2 titles and it was good to see it back. Plummer and Nonu had real trouble dealing with it behind a pack that was on the back foot, rurus service didn't help either.
Interesting to compare the way the number eights played.
Whetu Douglas seems to lead us in defense and at breakdown,and is super involved.
Akira seems to run away from the ball a lot, he'll pack down in a scrum or stand in the lineout then when the ball is cleared, jog out into the backline and stand around waiting for the ball to find him. I know it's the team patterns that dictate this, but he's such a big strong bully type player I'd love to see him closer to the ruck hurting people, particularly on a cold wet night like this one.
Moody made a huge difference to our scrum.
Tom Robinson the best blues forward for me, he's a niggly prick. Refs missed a clear swinging arm to the head from him on a crusaders player at the bottom of a ruck, I like watching him play
Both fullbacks were good.... as was George Bridge, a Ben Smith like game from him.
Edit: @KiwiMurph feel free to put your grammar nazi cap on and criticise my post
