@nostrildamus said in Crusaders v Blues:

@reprobate said in Crusaders v Blues:

So, the Blues have more AB backs than can fit on the park in Christie, Barrett, Ioane, Telea, Clarke, Perofeta, Plummer. And yet AJ Lam is their best back?

Half of the ones you mentioned may have already mentally packed for overseas.

Which would be a sad indictment for any pro player who is still contracted to play at the level they have been selected for.

I hope this isn’t the case for these Blues players or any other player in this situation.

@Nepia said in Force v Hurricanes:

TBH when watching live I thought White was closing down the space so thought the pass was the right idea, the execution not so much.

Harkin could have definitely made that, White may have got to him but he wouldn't have prevented the try. A shame, as Harkin was probably the form back of the night for me until that blunder.

I still think Chiefs are vulnerable up the guts - especially as the weather will get worse from now til the end of the Super season

Both Reds and Tahs really made in roads with direct forward play.

Blues did the same thing in the final last year

The question is can Chiefs shore things up in the business end of the comp.

Motikai Murray is a good player abit similar to ardie savea

@African-Monkey said in Blues v Moana Pasifika:

Surpised Moana are going with Garden-Bachop and Matavao as their 9-10 this week. I would have backed them to win this, but with those 2 there, it's cause for concern imo. Matavao is a good 20 minute player, but doesn't have a great kick or a great pass. I refer to him as the Samoan Fin Christie for a reason as he's virtually a clone of his (doesn't defend as well as Christie though). Garden Bachop, although he made a positive impact last week coming on, makes me nervous coming on and isn't in the same class as Pellegrini.

Totally agree. Ridiculous that Pellegrini was dropped to the bench. Matavao was there by default due to the injury to Taumateine but yeah he's bang average in 15s.

Thank you

Teamwork

Got around to watching this finally. Holland is very, very bloody fit, isn't he. Good to see JRK back, a few nice touches and a few errors, to be expected. Fakatava looks like he's been working on his kicking this year - he made a couple of errors with kicks just going out on the full, but I like the ambition - there's a big difference between a box kick which drifts too far infield and one which is very close to the sideline. Important if Miller is going to play, as he stands way too deep.
With everyone fit, there's a pretty dangerous side in there: Nareki, Tavatavanawai, JRK, Tangitau, Fakatava is a decent list of attacking threats, and they all look for space.

Why provide evidence for that which is self evidently true?

@Crazy-Horse said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@KiwiMurph yeah I really like him, like @Duluth pointed out, his post contact is great, seems to be one of the best in that regard for me.

You know they'll opt for Shalfoon don't you?

Shalfoon sounds like a gentlemans insult from the 1700s

@Tim said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

Young tighthead prop Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou: how is his scrummaging?

Went quite well in the last 2 games, especially against international class opposition.

Probably no need for Mafileo now unless injury strikes.

@Duluth thanks

@KiwiInLondon said in Force v Highlanders:

@Bones said in Force v Highlanders:

@KiwiInLondon like I said earlier, he's not even noticeable apart from the odd lineout, definitely haven't noticed any niggle.

I notice it a lot around the ruck. He has resorted to pushing and pulling players in trying to disrupt but completely ineffective. He’s young but he’s had u20 and AB XV caps now and was touted as an all black. You expect those players to stand up in adversity, not shrink

Players get dragged down by those around them... he's running on fumes because we have no other locks, Dunshea is struggling, the loosies suck and the props have been ailing.

If he was looking good in this rabble, he'd be the best lock of all time.

@Jet said in Crusaders v Moana Pasifika:

Scott Barrett Allblacks captain.

Deary me.

Useless.

He was in our top 3 most important players prior to getting the "Armband".

Non existent since.

I wonder if his back still isn’t right?

I agree but I fear he will wear the 15 jersey. IMO, the best back three could be Love - Jordan - Tangitau.

Imagine it'll be Lolesio starting with Donaldson on the bench.

@Dan54
The no-arm tackle on Hastie was a game decider. 40 meters in front of the Brumbies posts. This could have led to 3 points for the Highlanders. But the Ponies scored a few phases later from their scrum.
And the Lasaqa's turnover which was penalized just a few meters from the Highlanders try line. It also led to a Brumbies score.
And the three turnovers which seemed perfectly valid and which did not lead to Highlanders penalties : they allowed the Brumbies to keep on playing and to score the winning try.
However, I agree with you that the Highlanders made stupid mistakes (two out on the full restarts and one penalty kick which failed to find touch are the ones which come to my mind plus the ball they kept in their going forward scrum which they should have cleared out). BTW, the ensuing penalty was very harsh as it did seem that Bartlett was pushing straight.

@Bones I can see Beehre getting a shot but not McWhannell. With four or five 'experienced' options in the mix I imagine the selectors will go for a young gun, even if they aren't in especially impressive form, knowing they can mould them into a long-term All Black.