Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season

[Chris B.]

Sustained pressure by the Crusaders and sustained infringing by the Highlanders - Tavatavanawai get the Crusaders on the board.

[Chris B.]

Crusaders with a series of infringements giving the Highlanders field position.

[Kiwiwomble]

"Both sides are struggling with the fatigue of the game as the scrum takes a while to set"

...shouldn't be with pretty much a new tea at half time

[Chris B.]

Ollie Jager with the first significant looking injury. Archilles-looking...

[Chris B.]

Tavatavanawai gets a second try - comes into the line from the blindside and runs straight through the Highlanders.

For someone who was only a late call-up for the Mako, he looks pretty useful. Big and fast.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Chris-B said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

Ollie Jager

he cant have been that injured....

[Chris B.]

Great run by Tamati Williams - shows real pace - really impressive - and then another excellent charge by Fletcher Newell to score.

One of the better moves I've seen concocted by props!

26-21 - 10 minutes to go.

[Chris B.]

@Kiwiwomble said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

@Chris-B said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

Ollie Jager

he cant have been that injured....

He's off - it was Newell scored the try.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Chris-B oh, the commentary lists him

[Kiwiwomble]

damn, talk about a game of two halfs

[Chris B.]

@Kiwiwomble Definitely off.

He went down like he'd been hit by a sniper.

Crusaders score from a 12 man lineout drive.

Highlanders use their challenge and find a fault - surprise, surprise.

No try.

This is going to be a dubious rule!

[Kiwiwomble]

that Cameron bloke seems ok....

edit: really, the commentary said they found nothing wrong...

[Chris B.]

Sorry - I've got that wrong - seems the try stands.

28-26 Crusaders.

[Chris B.]

...and Makene has a chance to win it on fulltime, but his penalty fails and the Crusaders retain the Farmlands Cup.

Woo Hoo!!!

[Kiwiwomble]

I know its only pre season but they need a rev up after that, all but two were fresh legs in the second half, its not like the saders brought on DC or something

[Chris B.]

@Kiwiwomble Game of two halves - and four teams?

I think Romano looked quite instrumental in the second half performance - Crusaders came out with a lot more second half urgency.

Highlanders II didn't really look at the races, much like Crusaders I.

Cameron was pretty good!

Segner a couple of good lineout takes and appeared to pack at 8, despite wearing 6 (didn't look natural there).

That really was an impressive run by Williams and nearly as good from Newell.

[Stargazer]

@Chris-B said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

On right now. How come @Stargazer doesn't have 10 posts on a thread already!!!

Too much in awe of Fabulous Fakatava!

[Stargazer]

Scorers:

[Chris B.]

@Stargazer I am appalled that it is me who has effectively had to kick off the new season!

[Stargazer]

Can someone tell me what put the Crusaders offside several times in the first half. I think at least 3-4 of the penalties against them came from offside calls, but I couldn't see what happened. It had to do with the Highlanders kicking?