Crusaders v Hurricanes

[Mattasaurus]

Canes look like they've run out of ideas.

Typical pyper game... very "flat" defensive lines

[taniwharugby]

@MN5 NIsbo

[Gunner]

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

Nisbo mixing up Tamanivalu with Samu - nice to see he's in mid season form
...

Understandable, they look the same don't they.... 🐟

[Hooroo]

Gotta ask. Is this essentially the same Crusaders team of last year but with heaps of injuries playing last years champs?

Is Scott Robertson a coaching messiah?

[Tordah]

Crusaders deserved winners.

[Siam]

It's a complete fuckwit of a ref who penalises an obviously weaker scrum when that team finally manages a quick heel

Good game though, like a test match for a while

Set piece and a relentless rush defense the difference between the comps two top teams

[Mattasaurus]

Bloody impressive saders.... Sam and reado not even playing...

[KiwiMurph]

Yep Crusaders the much better team. Defensively outstanding. Really dominated the collisions.

[hydro11]

We were completely reamed in the forwards, our backs were shut down by the rush defence and we only lost by eight points. That is the upside. If we had the forward dominance then we probably would have won by thirty. How to get the forward dominance against that pack is the big question. We have done it before though.

[hydro11]

@Hooroo said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

Gotta ask. Is this essentially the same Crusaders team of last year but with heaps of injuries playing last years champs?

Is Scott Robertson a coaching messiah?

Heaps of injuries for us too.

[Crucial]

@hydro11 said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

@Hooroo said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

Gotta ask. Is this essentially the same Crusaders team of last year but with heaps of injuries playing last years champs?

Is Scott Robertson a coaching messiah?

Heaps of injuries for us too.

Heaps? Coles yes, but the Chiefs also showed how the Canes can be smashed in the forwards to nullify the backs.

[Billy Tell]

Canes are missing Fatialofa. Faefita strikes me as a 6/lock hybrid.

[KiwiMurph]

If you are going to talk about the best teams in the comp you can't discount the Chiefs. Crusaders v Chiefs next week in Fiji will be tasty.

[Hooroo]

@hydro11 said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

@Hooroo said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

Gotta ask. Is this essentially the same Crusaders team of last year but with heaps of injuries playing last years champs?

Is Scott Robertson a coaching messiah?

Heaps of injuries for us too.

What key guys are out for you? In terms of read and whitelock?

Best game of the season so far. Two tough teams banging each other for 60 odd mins but Canes came too soon and Crusaders kept banging away.

[kev]

@hydro11 I think you underestimate the Crusaders backs. Win by 30 🤣

[Canerbry]

You'd call it a points victory for Richie Mo'unga over Beauden wouldn't you?

[kev]

@Canerbry No you wouldn't - he can't kick of his left foot....

[KiwiMurph]

@Canerbry Yeah that's fair but its a bit hard to judge with one pack completely dominating the other. Mounga also defended like Mehrts a few times. Crusaders certainly did a great job shutting down Beaudie.

[Rapido]

I was pretty underwhelmed. The canes passing along any backline was abysmal.

Too flat for the kick pass? That the saders had nullified? Maybe? Who know, didn't get any wide shots or analysis.

[hydro11]

@Crucial said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

@hydro11 said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

@Hooroo said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

Gotta ask. Is this essentially the same Crusaders team of last year but with heaps of injuries playing last years champs?

Is Scott Robertson a coaching messiah?

Heaps of injuries for us too.

Heaps? Coles yes, but the Chiefs also showed how the Canes can be smashed in the forwards to nullify the backs.

It's not like teams just clued on in 2017. The Chiefs came down here with the same tactics last year in the semi and Barrett went boom-boom. The Chiefs lost despite dominating the chances. It's possible to shut us down but even the best laid plans can be thrawted.

I can't remember what the Chiefs did earlier this season but the real catch on from the Crusaders tonight was the well executed rush defence. I don't think teams tried that last season against us. Obviously if you are going to do a rush defence then you have to be hugely disciplined which the Crusaders were. We never really kicked in behind the Crusaders to exploit this.