SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues

[Steven Harris]

@sparky and the scary thing is , most of those victories probably came in the first several years of super rugby ..

[Canes4life]

@act-crusader I suppose it’s because your not the only team with issues. Mind you, Blues shouldn’t be this bad considering they have the least problems atm.

[kev]

@gt12 said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kev said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@gt12 said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kev said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@chris said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

I still think the blues selection have helped the Saders
Should have started Akita for one.

Akira’s work rate has been very low.

What?

He has the second highest number of runs and second highest run metres for the forwards, and he’s only played 25 odd minutes?

Edit: 7 defenders beaten (easily no. 1) plus two offloads and one clean break

And no missed tackles.

@gt12 said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kev said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@chris said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

I still think the blues selection have helped the Saders
Should have started Akita for one.

Akira’s work rate has been very low.

What?

He has the second highest number of runs and second highest run metres for the forwards, and he’s only played 25 odd minutes?

Edit: 7 defenders beaten (easily no. 1) plus two offloads and one clean break

And no missed tackles.

He is always great with ball in hand. One big run up the middle. He often stops and starts, then shrugs off players one on one and then creates broken play. Those are not his issues. He hasn’t been starting because of the other things - so work rate is his issue.

Oh, you're not joking. OK .

34 minutes of play:

11 runs (2nd in the team)
73 metres (3rd)
7 defenders beaten (1st)
2 offloads (1st equal)
I clean break (1st equal)
2 tackles made, none missed, no penalties conceded, no turnovers

He’s not the problem.

@gt12 said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kev said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@gt12 said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kev said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@chris said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

I still think the blues selection have helped the Saders
Should have started Akita for one.

Akira’s work rate has been very low.

What?

He has the second highest number of runs and second highest run metres for the forwards, and he’s only played 25 odd minutes?

Edit: 7 defenders beaten (easily no. 1) plus two offloads and one clean break

And no missed tackles.

@gt12 said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kev said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@chris said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

I still think the blues selection have helped the Saders
Should have started Akita for one.

Akira’s work rate has been very low.

What?

He has the second highest number of runs and second highest run metres for the forwards, and he’s only played 25 odd minutes?

Edit: 7 defenders beaten (easily no. 1) plus two offloads and one clean break

And no missed tackles.

He is always great with ball in hand. One big run up the middle. He often stops and starts, then shrugs off players one on one and then creates broken play. Those are not his issues. He hasn’t been starting because of the other things - so work rate is his issue.

Oh, you're not joking. OK .

34 minutes of play:

11 runs (2nd in the team)
73 metres (3rd)
7 defenders beaten (1st)
2 offloads (1st equal)
I clean break (1st equal)
2 tackles made, none missed, no penalties conceded, no turnovers

He’s not the problem.

Didn’t say he is the Blues problem. That’s way too big of an issue for one player. And running with the ball is not his issue - the stats show that. He is not starting for a reason, whereas he was at the start of the season and playing well. The stats don’t tell us what he is not doing...and it will be the same things that stopped him holding down an AB position earlier in his career. He fixes that and he will be back.

[ACT Crusader]

@sparky said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

This was the Crusaders 14th straight win over the Blues. In 39 games ever between the franchises, the Crusaders have won 28.

Fake news. Those other 11 games never happened...

[ACT Crusader]

@chris said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@act-crusader said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

Without Moody, a wobbly scrum, no AB centre, halfbacks that still make silly errors, poor discipline that cost us 3 points too often. Very surprised we are leading the comp.

have faith Bro one game away from glory again.

Did I mention we are missing McCaw, Carter, Franks and Read

[Cantab79]

Very happy with the result. Whilst I don't think that the Crusaders played particularly well, the Blues were worse. Their attack in particular looked laboured, I wonder if losing their no.12 so early in the match played a role in this? The Crusaders defense was the difference in the end, and I am hopeful of a good result in the final in a fortnight against the Chiefs. I wonder if the Chiefs will be tempted to rest players?

[Hooroo]

@ploughboy said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

TIE BREAKER RULES

In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position on

either the Competition table, either during or at the end of the season, such position will be

decided upon using the following steps until the tie is broken:

a) Most wins from all matches;

b) Highest aggregate points difference from all matches;

c) Most tries from all matches;

d) Highest aggregate difference of total tries for versus tries scored against

from all matches;

e) Coin toss

Oh sweet

Is this fair dinkum?? That means we are definitely in the final?

[Crucial]

@hooroo said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@ploughboy said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

TIE BREAKER RULES

In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position on

either the Competition table, either during or at the end of the season, such position will be

decided upon using the following steps until the tie is broken:

a) Most wins from all matches;

b) Highest aggregate points difference from all matches;

c) Most tries from all matches;

d) Highest aggregate difference of total tries for versus tries scored against

from all matches;

e) Coin toss

Oh sweet

Is this fair dinkum?? That means we are definitely in the final?

Yes. Pay attention.

[Hooroo]

@crucial said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@hooroo said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@ploughboy said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

TIE BREAKER RULES

In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position on

either the Competition table, either during or at the end of the season, such position will be

decided upon using the following steps until the tie is broken:

a) Most wins from all matches;

b) Highest aggregate points difference from all matches;

c) Most tries from all matches;

d) Highest aggregate difference of total tries for versus tries scored against

from all matches;

e) Coin toss

Oh sweet

Is this fair dinkum?? That means we are definitely in the final?

Yes. Pay attention.

That’s great news. Shitty ole Chiefs in the final. That’s gold. I thought the Blues were supposed to be all that this year?

What happened??

[trodthesod]

Just like the Chiefs last year they are not good enough.

[Chris]

@act-crusader said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@chris said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@act-crusader said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

Without Moody, a wobbly scrum, no AB centre, halfbacks that still make silly errors, poor discipline that cost us 3 points too often. Very surprised we are leading the comp.

have faith Bro one game away from glory again.

Did I mention we are missing McCaw, Carter, Franks and Read

We will be right

[trodthesod]

Saddest part of that loss was Dalton Papallii’s knee injury.He Is having a fabulous year.A couple of weeks off now I suppose.

[Crucial]

@hooroo said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@crucial said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@hooroo said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@ploughboy said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

TIE BREAKER RULES

In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position on

either the Competition table, either during or at the end of the season, such position will be

decided upon using the following steps until the tie is broken:

a) Most wins from all matches;

b) Highest aggregate points difference from all matches;

c) Most tries from all matches;

d) Highest aggregate difference of total tries for versus tries scored against

from all matches;

e) Coin toss

Oh sweet

Is this fair dinkum?? That means we are definitely in the final?

Yes. Pay attention.

That’s great news. Shitty ole Chiefs in the final. That’s gold. I thought the Blues were supposed to be all that this year?

What happened??

They are shittier.
They will probably win next week just though.

[Crucial]

@trodthesod said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

Saddest part of that loss was Dalton Papallii’s knee injury.He Is having a fabulous year.A couple of weeks off now I suppose.

Hope that’s all it is. Definitely my AB 7.

[Chris B.]

@kiwimurph said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

Form wise are the Blues the worst team in the country?

Started very strongly, but seem to have gone completely off the boil.

I thought they were pretty disappointing tonight - in a must win game. Aside from Papali'i, there didn't seem to be the confidence, desperation and desire required in a must win game.

A massive weapon like Caleb Clarke, but he was invisible and pretty comprehensively outplayed by Sevu Reece.

I suspect the Crusaders just have enough old hands sprinkled through the team who know what is required to win.

Don't know what the solution is, but I'm not convinced it's the selections. I wonder whether the shenanigans around Auckland's NPC team have been disruptive?

I'm a massive fan of David Havili and he's well worth a squad spot in the ABs, but he doesn't provide the big bruiser that I'd like to see in our midfield. I'd actually prefer to see Jordie at 2nd five and Havili at fullback - rather than the converse - but, Jordie in 12 seems pretty unlikely - and Havili at fullback even more unlikely.

[antipodean]

Watchiung this delayed and affter a few beers. Who is worse, the ref, Perofeta or Ruru?

Red 7 should've been shown a card - it's not t ackle attempt when you stick your arm out to smash someone with a shoulder.

No try decision against Sotutu: Ref says I've seen it on the chalk, TMO tells him he hasn't. The same TMO that thought it hit red at the previous ruck...

Look at Rurur's vision and awareness here:

Massive gap to his right, passes left.

[Billy Tell]

Papilii was excellent for the Blues and would be my choice for the AB 7 jersey. Hope he is not badly injured. The rest of the blues were pretty meh - the defence was rubbish at times, and the missed penalties from pretty much in front of the sticks is not really excusable at this level. Not sure what Christie has to do to start ahead of Ruru he looks NPC level to me. Clarke and Sotutu not a patch on last season.

I'll be very disappointed if Havili is not selected for the ABs. Most consistent 12 in NZ rugby at present, can pass off both hands, has a great kicking game, kicked a clutch DG a couple of games back and so on. Jordan surely must be in the ABs starting XV. Crusaders have a problem at 7 and Grace has had a very underwhelming season. Whitelock just massive in the this game.

My ABs backline from 9 to 15: Smith, Mounga, Ioane, Havili, ALB, Jordan, Barrett the giraffe

[sparky]

@billy-tell said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

Papilii was excellent for the Blues and would be my choice for the AB 7 jersey.

My ABs backline from 9 to 15: Smith, Mounga, Ioane, Havili, ALB, Jordan, Barrett the giraffe

Papilii has been the Blues Player of the Season by some distance. Ready IMHO to be given the AB 7 Jersey until Sam Cane if fit.

More or less agree on that backline. The AB coaches might back themselves to fix Caleb Clarke's workrate and finishing issue. Such a talent, but he hasn't delivered for the Blues this year for some reason.

I'd go with DMac at 10 ahead of Mo'unga. Loving his distribution and game management at First Five this year.

[Nepia]

So just watched a replay of this match. Haven't read the match thread so this may have been covered.

WTF was the ref thinking for the the 57 minute ruck penalty he gave to the Crusaders?

Three seperate Crusaders came in from the side and Richie Mo'unga lifted Christie in the air and pushed him over the ruck (I mean he is a ginga but still). Then he awards the penalty to the Crusaders?

Also Mo'unga when arriving had just flopped on the ruck and then Reece went round behind him and flopped on him, then Reece did a fake Hollywood falling backwards while one of the other players came in the side.

[taniwharugby]

@kiwimurph i think 9 (ruru) is just 1 of a number of issues.