@pakman Good to see some winter rugby again.

@Chester-Draws said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

@SammyC said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

Can you guys stop talking riccitali up as an option for the abs? Looked like a shrimp out there against a real forward pack.

This is a point I was going to make. Riccitelli looked lightweight in this game, he was falling off tackles and didn't make much ground as a ball carrier. A good learning curve for him.

Which is what people said about Coles when he first came on. And Coles, for all his brilliance, is still no ball carrier against a pack like that. He needs space to use his pace.

I thought Ardie was the pick of the Canes forwards, the stupidity on Hall aside. He plays a different game to Todd and still appeals as the ideal impact sub for the ABs.

Agree with that.

I thought the Hurricanes looked hesitant, as if they didn't know how to deal with continued pressure. Lots of balls were shovelled along the backline, and plenty were dropped cold. The forwards were awful in the tight.

Some of the tactics baffled me. Why have Julian Savea in your side and not use him on attack? Laumape showed that aggressive running at the line could pay off, but once the Crusaders worked out that all they had to do was mark him up they were sweet.

That said, they kept the score low. I'd be just a touch worried if I was a Crusaders fan about that. The lack of penetration against tight defences even when utterly dominant in most phases of the game has been their Achilles heel for a while now.

Absolutely. Jules had to inject himself in the game. he made a good run with only a few minutes to go but barely got the ball before that.

The refs are slowly starting to penalise the attacking side for players joining the maul in front of the ball carrier. That has always been my biggest criticism because in the past refs only focused on what the defending team was doing.

Teams are finding new ways of defending the lineout drive, e.g. the Chiefs starting the tactic of deliberately not engaging which allows a player to tackle the ball carrier at the back of the maul. The Blues tried that tactic on Friday night. I just want the refs to be consistent with how they police the maul.

3 wins. 7 losses. Home quarter finalist.

Any replay on the net ?
Thanks for the link.

I could not see the game live. Is there a replay on the net ? Thanks for the link.

@Unco Rennie was happy enough. Solid would be my assessment. Harris will get better with time on the park, and will provide a good combo with Elliot.

I was watching a recording with a deadline (had to race out the door) so had to fast forward bits of the second half ... had pretty much given it away aside from the blind hope (although sometimes it's reversed as hopeless pessimism) that seems endemic to NZ rugby supporter's where if there is a glimmer of hope you keep watching and hoping. For me it's about 2min per try ... need three tries x 2min each ... 6 min left = plenty of time 🙂 (hopefully)

@Billy-Tell Other? Oh ...

@taniwharugby said in Hurricanes vs Stormers:

Think that rule of everyone being able to be put on side by a player moving forward changed last millenium??

Sounds like MN5 is our man here then.

What was the story with Toeava? The rules allow overseas players so does he fall into the odd category of NZ players not playing in NZ? They seem to get a harder deal.

That was a dead cert penalty try. The only questions would be if Beaver didn't catch the pass or fumbled the grounding. Any thought that he would have been tackled short is ridiculous.
The offending player gets removed from the situation. You can't imagine that he didn't offend but did something else instead.

@Rapido said in Cheetahs v Crusaders:

The cheetahs no try for forward pass was stupid. Clearly went back out of hand watching a slo mo replay at about a 30 degree camera angle ....... like the TMO. Ruling on forward passes by a TMO using a 30 degree camera angle is clearly a waste of everyone's time.

Although, I actually don't like the modem forward pass rules/interpretations as it's counter intuitive to see a pass not go behind the passer in a sport which a fundamental rule is you must pass backwards. But them the rules.

I agree with your verdict, but not your reasoning. It was stupid, and a pity for the cheetahs and home fans, who lost a 14 point swing.

It was never about the pass direction, which was fine. The TMO was looking at how the ball bobbled forward at the last second after being released, before being gathered by the try scorer. He guessed, based on an unsighted viewing angle, that the passing player had somehow knocked it forward with his last touch
....when in actual fact, he passed it backwards into the shoulder of the try scorer, who then caught it in front of the passing place.
I t was clear with a slow mo view. Although, it would have been better with another angle.
poor officiating

@Frye Yeah, Sumo seems to have doubled down on it again, after I'd come round to quite liking him since he swore at me on here.

Only just watching recording now.

Fucking evil South African mad scientists have cloned Bryan Habana!

@Crucial Dumb in as much as he seemed quite near to the Chiefs player's head also

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Sunwolves:

@Damo and Naholo didnt injure himself!!

Are you sure? He might have injured himself getting on the bus, or into the ice bath afterwards. I'm skeptical that he could have got through totally unscathed.

@booboo said in Hurricanes v Brumbies:

@mimic said in Hurricanes v Brumbies:

How good is it having a halfback who passes from the carpet..
Nice try to Ah So

@Stockcar86 said in Hurricanes v Brumbies:

Not impressed with TripleT so far - gets to the ruck, and looks both ways before picking up the ball - seems to take far too long

Differing opinions on 3T within a couple of posts of each other.

Personally was not unimpressed. Looked the part.

I liked the look of that Jonathon Ruru fella I saw for Otago in the Mitre 10 ....

There's something about Cheetahs-Chiefs games in SA and this went to script. I'm not sure I would have been impressed after 20 mins if I watched this match live. But anyway, 5 pts and on to Perth.

ALB's knee injury is a concern as midfield options are already depleted.

If Luatua plays like that for them they won't be staying down for long. Gutted he's leaving .