Final: Blues vs Crusaders

[Kirwan]

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@Bovidae This is the guy that gifted the Blues a final last week, isn't it?

No, the one trying to gift the crusaders a home final by letting in truck and trailer trys.

[ACT Crusader]

@Bovidae said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

And those 3 were absolute stitch ups.

[Dan54]

@Bovidae said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

What has that stat got to do with anything, I remember in Aus a rugby pundit giving the percetages of game ABs won with Nigel Owens as ref, and when you looked it was no different to any other ref, just the ABs won a lot, maybe a bit like Crusaders?
Hell the ref won't decide game, the players will as always!

[Crucial]

@Dan54 said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@Bovidae said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

What has that stat got to do with anything, I remember in Aus a rugby pundit giving the percetages of game ABs won with Nigel Owens as ref, and when you looked it was no different to any other ref, just the ABs won a lot, maybe a bit like Crusaders?
Hell the ref won't decide game, the players will as always!

Well haven't you just excluded yourself from post match discussions

[Dan54]

@Crucial said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@Dan54 said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@Bovidae said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

What has that stat got to do with anything, I remember in Aus a rugby pundit giving the percetages of game ABs won with Nigel Owens as ref, and when you looked it was no different to any other ref, just the ABs won a lot, maybe a bit like Crusaders?
Hell the ref won't decide game, the players will as always!

Well haven't you just excluded yourself from post match discussions

Mate I always excluded for blaming the ref posts, and bloody happy to be!!:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:

[chimoaus]

I'm assuming teams named today?

[KiwiMurph]

@chimoaus Yep. Typically Blues are named around midday nz time and Crusaders named late afternoon.

[Crucial]

@chimoaus said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

I'm assuming teams named today?

It is Thursday after all.

[Tim]

Papalii bracketed on the bench.

https://i.imgur.com/49scUj3.jpg

[Tim]

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/grand-final-team-naming

The Blues team to play the Crusaders at Eden Park is (Blues caps in brackets):

1. Alex Hodgman (54)
2. Kurt Eklund (37)
3. Nepo Laulala (25)
4. Josh Goodhue (46)
5. Tom Robinson (44)
6. Akira Ioane (94)
7. Adrian Choat (19)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (36)
9. Finlay Christie (30)
10. Beauden Barrett (17)
11. AJ Lam (20)
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (11)
13. Rieko Ioane (85)
14. Mark Telea (38)
15. Stephen Perofeta (44)
16. Soane Vikena (14)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (42)
18. Ofa Tuungafasi (120)
19. Luke Romano (14)
20. Dalton Papalii (55) or James Tucker (11)
21. Sam Nock (50)
22. Bryce Heem (19)
23. Zarn Sullivan (18)

Players not considered: Harry Plummer, Anton Segner, Jordan Lay, Tanielu Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, Corey Evans.

[Tim]

Wonder if we will see a late switch with Papalii starting?

[Bovidae]

Mind games eh.

Clarke would need to play a game to be considered for the 1st test.

[Tim]

Blues captain and All Blacks flanker Dalton Papalii faces a fitness test today after being named on the bench for Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final at Eden Park.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/blues-v-crusaders-super-rugby-pacific-final-teams-revealed-for-eden-park-showdown/2QDZG4Y6DZUQDXTFWJZYK3RK6A/

[Tim]

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, George Bower.
Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Mitch Drummond, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300614579/all-blacks-lock-sam-whitelock-declared-fit-for-super-rugby-decider-against-blues

[Mackerzzzz]

@Tim said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, George Bower.
Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Mitch Drummond, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300614579/all-blacks-lock-sam-whitelock-declared-fit-for-super-rugby-decider-against-blues

Corey Kellow on the bench? Who did they have there last week?

[Mackerzzzz]

@Tim said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/grand-final-team-naming

The Blues team to play the Crusaders at Eden Park is (Blues caps in brackets):

1. Alex Hodgman (54)
2. Kurt Eklund (37)
3. Nepo Laulala (25)
4. Josh Goodhue (46)
5. Tom Robinson (44)
6. Akira Ioane (94)
7. Adrian Choat (19)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (36)
9. Finlay Christie (30)
10. Beauden Barrett (17)
11. AJ Lam (20)
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (11)
13. Rieko Ioane (85)
14. Mark Telea (38)
15. Stephen Perofeta (44)
16. Soane Vikena (14)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (42)
18. Ofa Tuungafasi (120)
19. Luke Romano (14)
20. Dalton Papalii (55) or James Tucker (11)
21. Sam Nock (50)
22. Bryce Heem (19)
23. Zarn Sullivan (18)

Players not considered: Harry Plummer, Anton Segner, Jordan Lay, Tanielu Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, Corey Evans.

I papalii plays I would be very surprised if he doesn't start

[mariner4life]

considering the vast majority of the nation's starting All Blacks are playing, if this game lacks quality then we are fucked.

[Tim]

Blues coach Leon MacDonald said Papalii was “confident” of proving his fitness, and was hopeful a final decision would come in the aftermath of Thursday’s main training run.

“Dalts has got a few boxes to tick,” said MacDonald. “He’s got to get through a big part of today’s training and feel really confident, it’s a big game for him to have any doubts, so we want him to come off the grass feeling like he’s ready to go.”

Asked the likelihood of the inspirational skipper playing his part off the bench, MacDonald smiled and said: “Speaking to him, he’s pretty confident, but that’s Dalts, he’s always like that and full of energy. Fingers crossed he gets through today well.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300614872/dalton-papalii-bracketed-on-blues-bench-for-super-rugby-pacific-final-against-crusaders

[Frank]

I see Caleb Clarke is still injured. Hope he's okay for Ireland.

[antipodean]