Final: Blues vs Crusaders
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fuck i hope this game lives up to expectations (not that i'll get to watch it) and both teams turn up and play to their ceiling. And the ref gets out of the way and lets the boys play. Has the potential to be a showcase that Super Rugby ain't dead yet.
I wonder about the mentality this week? Crusaders are in GF week for the 50th time in a row. For these Blues boys it's all new. Leon MacDonald will have his work cut out making sure they don't play the game a couple of days early.
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
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The bigger issue for this game will be the weather.
Forecast looks slightly better than last week but still not great.
@KiwiMurph said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
The bigger issue for this game will be the weather.
Forecast looks slightly better than last week but still not great.
Weather so far this week has been wild. Extremely windy, torrential rain, very sunny! Definitely will be a factor if it doesn’t clear up.
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@KiwiMurph said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
The bigger issue for this game will be the weather.
Forecast looks slightly better than last week but still not great.
Weather so far this week has been wild. Extremely windy, torrential rain, very sunny! Definitely will be a factor if it doesn’t clear up.
@Kirwan said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@KiwiMurph said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
The bigger issue for this game will be the weather.
Forecast looks slightly better than last week but still not great.
Weather so far this week has been wild. Extremely windy, torrential rain, very sunny! Definitely will be a factor if it doesn’t clear up.
lucky both teams have such excellent field kicking 10s to call upon...
If the final is 80 minutes of high kicks again at least the highlights will be a quick watch on sunday morning
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@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
look, it's a fair point, but the Super TT seemed like a bit of an afterthought last year, where as this is the only focus. There are guys with a heap of test experience to keep everyone calm though.
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@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
look, it's a fair point, but the Super TT seemed like a bit of an afterthought last year, where as this is the only focus. There are guys with a heap of test experience to keep everyone calm though.
Yeah, I agree.
I would argue that this game is more similar to that TT final than any of the Crusaders home finals playing in front of a cows shed though
A large, hostile crowd is a bit different. They haven't had that since 2017 and half the team is gone since then.
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Yeah, I agree.
I would argue that this game is more similar to that TT final than any of the Crusaders home finals playing in front of a cows shed though
A large, hostile crowd is a bit different. They haven't had that since 2017 and half the team is gone since then.
@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
Yeah, I agree.
I would argue that this game is more similar to that TT final than any of the Crusaders home finals playing in front of a cows shed though
A large, hostile crowd is a bit different. They haven't had that since 2017 and half the team is gone since then.
that's excellent shade by the way. befitting of GF week.
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@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
Blues definitely favourites with these facts.
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@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
Blues definitely favourites with these facts.
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@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
Blues definitely favourites with these facts.
@ACT-Crusader said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
Blues definitely favourites with these facts.
The home team has won the past 22 play-off games in Super rugby. You have to go back to 2017 to find an away winner.
It's barely worth staying up for!
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@ACT-Crusader said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@Duluth said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
For these Blues boys it's all new
It's not quite the same but the Blues played a final last year in front of ~32k and the game was relatively tight. There was plenty of pressure in that moment
When was the last time the Crusaders played an away final? 2017 in SA I think?
Blues definitely favourites with these facts.
The home team has won the past 22 play-off games in Super rugby. You have to go back to 2017 to find an away winner.
It's barely worth staying up for!
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@Chris-B poking the bear. The Saders have to have confidence because of their white boy discipline.
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@ACT-Crusader The problem is that the Crusaders a very disciplined. Can the blues sustain the pressure in the forwards without panicking.
@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@ACT-Crusader The problem is that the Crusaders a very disciplined. Can the blues sustain the pressure in the forwards without panicking.
Are they disciplined though? I guess it depends on what aspects of the game you are basing it on, but judging by penalties/cards they aren't overly.
Or are you basing it on sticking to game plans, defensive patterns etc?
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@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@ACT-Crusader The problem is that the Crusaders a very disciplined. Can the blues sustain the pressure in the forwards without panicking.
Are they disciplined though? I guess it depends on what aspects of the game you are basing it on, but judging by penalties/cards they aren't overly.
Or are you basing it on sticking to game plans, defensive patterns etc?
@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@ACT-Crusader The problem is that the Crusaders a very disciplined. Can the blues sustain the pressure in the forwards without panicking.
Are they disciplined though? I guess it depends on what aspects of the game you are basing it on, but judging by penalties/cards they aren't overly.
Or are you basing it on sticking to game plans, defensive patterns etc?
Yeah like the ABs happy to give away penalties in the danger zone
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@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@ACT-Crusader The problem is that the Crusaders a very disciplined. Can the blues sustain the pressure in the forwards without panicking.
Are they disciplined though? I guess it depends on what aspects of the game you are basing it on, but judging by penalties/cards they aren't overly.
Or are you basing it on sticking to game plans, defensive patterns etc?
@Crazy-Horse I don't know how they compare to the Crusaders as far as discipline (matera copped 2 last week). I think more game plan. Can they stay in the forwards and dominate there. This is where games are pretty much won. Can they stick with it whether the progress is minimal and wear out the Crusaders. Instead of shuffling it to the backs when they don't know what else to do. Patience is the key. The Chiefs really dominated the Crusaders but at key moments coughed up the ball. Play off ball. Have to have patience. Does this make sense?
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@Crazy-Horse I don't know how they compare to the Crusaders as far as discipline (matera copped 2 last week). I think more game plan. Can they stay in the forwards and dominate there. This is where games are pretty much won. Can they stick with it whether the progress is minimal and wear out the Crusaders. Instead of shuffling it to the backs when they don't know what else to do. Patience is the key. The Chiefs really dominated the Crusaders but at key moments coughed up the ball. Play off ball. Have to have patience. Does this make sense?
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@broughie sorry, if I had read your original post properly I would have realised what you meant without you needing to elaborate.
@Crazy-Horse probably not. When I’ve had too much whiskey/scotch I can see where it would be hard to figure out what I’m saying
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@Chris-B I’m a Nelsonian and always despised Cantabrians. But a appreciate their discipline and mental fortitude. I’m hoping the blues win though.
@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@Chris-B I’m a Nelsonian and always despised Cantabrians. But a appreciate their discipline and mental fortitude. I’m hoping the blues win though.
I don't know that I knew that!
Long time between drinks for the Blues fans here - but, they've got to earn it!!!
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@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:
@Chris-B I’m a Nelsonian and always despised Cantabrians. But a appreciate their discipline and mental fortitude. I’m hoping the blues win though.
I don't know that I knew that!
Long time between drinks for the Blues fans here - but, they've got to earn it!!!
@Chris-B I totally agree. I think the crusaders are the favorites and the blues have to earn it. You are right They still might be a step away despite the influences of McDonald.
When I came back to New Zealand the blues were at the peak with Dalton, McDowell and Brown and Wheaton and the list goes on. Ta$man and the Crusaders had not been associated at that time so I supported the blues. Nelson had nothing to offer as far as rugby.
