The Silver Fern

@Crazy-Horse I think he still has the class, but his lack of pace is now a hindrance and wonder if he is at that point where he is making decisions based on what he used to be able to do, but his mind hasnt quite adjusted to what his body isn't able to do it now...

I said last year I'd be surprised if his window in the ABs hadn't passed him by.

@Crucial Any idea if Alex Harford will feature this year for the Saders?

@Dan54 said in Preseason: Hurricanes v Crusaders:

@Canes4life wouldn't argue with that team at all. I see you were at Levin for the game, did you enjoy it as much as me?

Yeah, I really enjoyed it, beautiful Friday afternoon in the sun watching two good sides go at it, not a bad way to finish a working week.

@kiwi_expat said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:

@SouthernMann said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2023:

@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2023:

Jack Taylor

He was in the NZU19 squad, but I can't remember him. He didn't play for Southland in the NPC, did he? A bit young, I guess. Good for the future.

He would be 19 I'd reckon still. Or may be just 20. In 2021 he penned a three year deal with the Highlanders. He started in the Southland trial, de Groot played in prior to his return to the All Blacks.

Crazy thing is that this guy isn't even slated for a professional contract until 2024/25.

Highlanders have such a small catchment that they rarely if ever produce homegrown talent. By way of comparison NZ has 5 million people, and 250,000 of them live in the Highlanders region. The Blues have close to 2 Million.

The last few years have been a major turnaround for them, with seven of the NZ U20 squad coming from the Otago Southland Region. Of those seven, five were offered professional Highlanders contracts, and they're the year ahead of Jack Taylor.

He hasn't even cracked the NZ U20 team (though he has represented the NZ U19 size). Based off what we're seeing he's absolutely got the goods to be playing Super Rugby next season, as does Finn Hurley and Will Stodart the other two U19 representatives.

Also loved seeing James Arscott have a ripper of a game today. From memory he missed out on the NZ U20 side a few years ago, and I'm stoked he's making waves. Rohan Wingman is another I've felt slipped under the national radar. Our talent identification down South is really turning this team around.

Yeah I hope Wingham gets a good run with Otago this year. Could have a decent 1-2 punch with Abraham Pole. Then eventually the same with the Highlanders and de Groot. Going to be interesting to see how these young loose forwards are managed and given gametime. Stodart, Withy, Haig and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa all at Otago. While Hayden Michaels who has a fulltime for the Highlanders in 2024 is with Southland. It is quite a group of loosies. Otago also has a bit of a conundrum over its 10/15s with Miller, Hurley, Faleafaga, Ioane, Koroi and Gilbert competing for spots. Does Otago loan say Hurley and Stodart down to Southland to ensure they get gametime? A lot of the young players are focused in those positions, it is important they get a decent run to showcase their skills.

@Bones said in Why do the Crusaders win?:

I'll be pretty surprised if Foster stays on after the rwc regardless of the outcome.

I’d tend to say I’d we win the RWC it will be in spite of Foster rather than because of him, but maybe I’m callous.

@Nevorian said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

At least one thing we learned about BB and RM in the last couple of weeks is they can both slot drop goals in pressure situations. May come in handy in coming weeks.

Not if Beauden is shitting the bed getting out of his own half 😉

@pakman said in SF Crusaders v Chiefs:

@kiwi_expat said in SF Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Canes4life said in SF Crusaders v Chiefs:

Can Robertson just take Foster’s place already.

Yep, Incredible defense. Every Crusaders player knew what to do in every situation. Their line speed in defence, the outside defender coming up quicker to shut wide play down, only three max in the tackle, another defensive line quickly forming behind the ruck, and great communication. Then rinse and repeat. Brilliant coaching, Robertson surely has the best defensive set-up in the Southern Hemisphere.

A big part of this is ruck judgement. If ball not obvious to be won, Chch is excellent at clearing their players out so arguably the ruck has ended. I'm not sure where the offside line is in such instances but they appear to line up parallel with the foremost opposition player. So in practice, perhaps 2m downfield from where the halfback picks up the ball.

By the time the ball gets to the oppo first five Chch defense is over the advantage line.

Really makes it difficult to impossible to get go forward from slow ball.

My gut tells me the offside line needs to be moved further back, but not sure exactly how to achieve that.

Maybe make it 5m back from front of first oppo player at the ruck which was?

5m gaps are very hard to police and would end up with lots of debatable calls. I thought that interpretation they tried of being 'clearly onside' rather than 'clearly offside' worked well. It wouldn't stop good ruck management defence like that you describe but it made a very clear method for the AR to identify those small half steps that make a big difference in these situations.

(I'm not complaint about anything in this game here just discussing the offside line topic)

@Bones LOL

@cgrant said in Blues U20 v Crusaders U20:

@Bovidae
Palmer (Chiefs) is a big munter. Not very tall (around 1.95) but bigger than most NZ locks.

He gives away stupid penalties so will need to sort that out. Palmer often alternated between lock and prop for TBC, but wasn't very good at the latter due to his height.

It would be good to have another lock like Lord in the U20s this year.

@Dan54 said in Crusaders. v Reds:

@Derpus said in Crusaders. v Reds:

@taniwharugby the inconsistent application of the laws by the SR refs and the general thuggery of the SR players (how many tip tackles have we seen now? all in the space of about three weeks) have killed off any chance of the 20 minute card getting up.

And we now see the ref is absolutely correct according to WR laws which is what the game is played under. Matera has not been cited because the tackle did not meet the red card threshold. It's probably not the inconsistency of the refs the probelm, but perhaps we see things differently on perhaps who we support etc.
And shows what I know I thought it was red, but after seeing replayes he lands on arm, then shoulder etc so not a red card. I not arguing whether it should be or not, but it was correct decision re the laws of game.

Yes perfectly summed up @Dan54

As I understand it Brial is available for NZ U/20 selection that is why he is playing in this tournament for the Crusaders.

Just an add on the Family Michael Brial etc have been living in Queenstown since Joe was 9.So as I understand it the whole family has moved permanently to NZ.Even though Joe went back to Australia for secondary school.

@Nevorian said in Crusaders v Fijian Drua:

Did anyone notice there was some guy called Blacklock playing for the Crusaders at about the 50 min mark?

Easily done, we had two main formation callsigns at 43(F), blacksmith & gamecock. Always embarrassing when you called yourself blackcock on the radio!

@taniwharugby said in Brumbies v Crusaders:

@Machpants and different people watch for different things...some people will watch for every error a player makes, or every good thing another player does...

It's Hunt's fault

Some of that Crusaders defence in the second half was very impressive.

Series of dominant tackles driving the Force ballcarriers backwards.

A great deal more enthusiasm and intent than the previous week.

@kiwi_expat said in Waratahs v Crusaders:

@Billy-Tell said in Waratahs v Crusaders:

Terrible display. The forward pack is a mixture of journeymen and once-great players past their peak. Best forward was newell, that guy has a big future. Best back imho was Jordan. Thought goodhue did ok but Havili was poor. I think he’s a busted flush as a midfielder. This is the weakest crusaders side in along while. No way they win the comp.

I highlighted this at the end of last year in the 2022 squad naming's thread and was promptly labelled a nut-case.

Hilarious that you all have suddenly changed the narrative, in the SR squads thread it was deluded misinformed surface level comments along the lines of: 'Crusaders have all the best talent, look how stacked they are!' while I calmly pointed out that the Blues & Chiefs squads were at least on par & if you studied them closely actually significantly better in multiple areas.

My recollection was more that the Saders had a potential 13 AB starting XV with another on the bench.
Point was correct that the next layer of Saders didn’t look so flash and the next level of players in the country were sitting in other teams.
Depth has been the key to NZ teams this year. Previously the Saders had some but maybe the cycle has finally changed a little. This happens usually when positions 1 and 2 are filled and up and comers opt to be number 2 elsewhere rather than 3 with a blocker.
Remarkably the Saders management have dealt with that for a long time but it can’t sustain forever.

@TheMojoman said in Rebels v Crusaders:

@ACT-Crusader said in Rebels v Crusaders:

@Bones said in Rebels v Crusaders:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Rebels v Crusaders:

Havili and Goodhue as the midfield FFS!

I will be mildly surprised if Razor selects that midfield after steadfastly sticking to today's one the last couple of years. Best coach can't be wrong!

Razor has played Havili and Goodhue together a couple of times. I think it will be an easier decision now that Jordan has cemented the fullback position.

I wonder if he will have a dabble and try
12-Goodhue
13-Fainga'anuku

Fainga'anuku played more like a centre on the weekend anyway.

I don't think he'll leave out either Goodhue or Havili. Probs Goodhue to 13? Not sure if Havili has ever played 13.

I expect 12. Havili, 13. Goodhue, too.
Havili has played at 13 before, next to Crotty, but I doubt he'll be moved again (other than to fullback, if needed).
No way Razor will leave him out of the starting XV.

I've concluded that we need to start Vaa'i as he's undefeated. 😉