The Silver Fern

@number9 said in Blues v Crusaders:

Not impressed with my Blues, we should of killed thr Crusaders with all the possession we had.

Blues forwards were impressive

Blues backs are where the issue lies

Christie is a poor 9 whose spot should be under pressure - Perofeta played better than vs Tahs but still blew a number of good opportunities - they pick a midfield that isn't built to ball play but just big and run straight (whoever they pick it's the same M.O.) Forbes actually offered a bit of difference

Reminds me a bit of pre-injuries Scrafton, but faster. Gonna be pretty good with a couple of years more of pro conditioning.

@antipodean said in Waratahs v Blues:

@Canes4life said in Waratahs v Blues:

@KiwiMurph yeah I find it baffling and a bit poor from the Blues doctor/s if he's deemed fit to play. We've just had an article come out about Billy Guyton and the damage his brain took playing rugby so it doesn't set a good precedent if Reiko gets knocked out cold, clearly out of it leaving the field and then is all of a sudden perfectly fine. There's surely underlining damage there that would suggest he should take a week off.

I'm no expert however so if he's cleared then so be it, I just don't think it's a good look.

IIRC the situation in club rugby is a mandatory stand down, even if cleared by a doctor. I don't see why that wouldn't apply for professionals.

Twelve days before training or playing.

I get that the professionals have a higher degree of scrutiny but caution should be taken IMHO

The Blues picked Funaki as their best

@Bones said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

Would've liked to see Rieko step up and be a lot more involved, a la Telea. Disappointing

In fact, my hunch is that Telea at 13 and RIoane at 14 would be an improvement!

Sotutu, Telea and Papalii.

Darry "looks like medial ligament, didn't look good"

I see on instagram the Blues gave MOTM to Sotutu

I guess NZR is trying to be "different" but what I will generously call the "jocular" commentary combined with the sub standard production made the entire thing look like an amateur shambles.

"Cringe" is what I think the hip young youth of today call it...

@Windows97 Corey Evans

Best match of year for Akira but with little support. Thought Tucker was very effective first half. Plummer added a bit when he came on.
Papalii did some good things but the onfield leadership seemed to be the biggest problem. Lost composure everywhere...

@His-Bobness said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

Now that I think about the Blues’ shellacking this morning, I was struck by the Sky interview with Beauden Barrett ahead of the game. Asked about the game day ritual he sounded exceedingly chilled - talking about a nice lie-in and the extra space granted by being away from home and the kids. There was time for a leisurely breakfast and catchup with the US Open on TV before a team chat around lunch. Maybe this was their way of not being overawed by the occasion. But from what we saw on the field the result was they came on so ‘underawed’ and mentally unprepared they had no answer for the Crusaders’ intensity.

That sounds like BB's intensity for the last 3 years regardless of who he's playing for tbh.

"Clown's in a minefield" was headline put out by one journo which gave me a good laugh.

The Blues were just beaten soundly at every contact area in the game, lacked physical intensity to match or mental fortitude to dig in and fight in the trench's and instead went for the miracle off-loads just gifting the ball back to the Crusaders.

@voodoo

Top class. Always has been though

@Tim said in QF: Blues v Tahs:

@Nepia Just sign up, you lazy fuck.

You're 100% correct here.

@JK Yep. I thought he was great with the limited opportunity he had. Some quality moments. Huge future ahead.