Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva)
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Well thank god the abs have cruden to come on if Barrett ain't kicking well. 😂
Massive game from us, Pretty obvious that Todd was never gonna play. Excellent bluff from Robertson. Bedwell Curtis and samu were superb (didn't even notice Sam Cane)
fern favourite moaga is now Sammy favourite moaga. Player of the day for me.
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@SammyC said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
Well thank god the abs have cruden to come on if Barrett ain't kicking well. 😂
Massive game from us, Pretty obvious that Todd was never gonna play. Excellent bluff from Robertson. Bedwell Curtis and samu were superb (didn't even notice Sam Cane)
fern favourite moaga is now Sammy favourite moaga. Player of the day for me.
I thought Cane was huge in contact. Drove players back in the tackle quite a lot. Just what we will need against the Lions
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Agree about Mo'unga he has grown hugely. Has made that similar leap that Sopoanga did a few years back.
Obviously Crudens kicking cost a lot. bad decision not to hand the tee over to DMac.
I'm not trying to tit for tat on the injury front but it was also noticable that the Chiefs game lost a lot of coherence after losing two midfielders. Beaver came in fine as he and ALB have worked together enough but once things were shuffled again it was like they were playing off the cuff and not in tune.
I'd like to single out the class of ALB though. He gets moved 12/13 all the time, either planned or unplanned and it doesn't affect his game.
I think if Crotty is out for the ABs he could certainly shift in one position and take Crotty's role. ALB/Fekitoa could be a pretty good defensive unit. -
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@Tim said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
Crotty/ALB has a critical lack of go-forward though.
Really? Last year it was our best combination after they tried a fair few different ones. Got past the gain line consistently, linked well the both of them with Barrett and defensively were rock solid.
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@Tim said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
I won't be shocked if we see a SBW/ALB midfield. Crotty will have preference though.
Crotty/ALB has a critical lack of go-forward though.
I would think the SBW/ALB midfield is hoped for in the last 20. SBW offers impact off the bench. I think part of it is mental too. I can imagine being in the opposition and hanging in there, getting tired and trying not to slip up and on comes a whole new kettle of fish to defend against.
EDIT: he still has to show some form yet though.
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@ACT-Crusader Last year we were not particularly good, and were downright poor in the last Bledisloe test and the EOYT. We were shown up in those games. We were very much flattered by poor Australian and South African teams.
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@Crucial I picked up the same point. Chiefs coped well with Beaver for McNicol, but lost cohesion once second replacement.
Notice how Crudes makes space for his 12. ALB looked very good outside him, and SBW always played his best rugby ditto.
Combo's a big factor in midfield conundrum. Crotty/Fekitoa doesn't work, but ALB/MF might. Crotty/ALB lacks straightening power. Crotty/Moala OK. SBW inside Crotty or ALB would be interesting. -
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@fcc said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
Mo'unga outplaying cruden, one week after outplaying barrett
Wishful thinking. Cruds was awesome. Shame about the goal kicking.
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@booboo said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
@fcc said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
Mo'unga outplaying cruden, one week after outplaying barrett
Wishful thinking. Cruds was awesome. Shame about the goal kicking.
@fcc but I will just say I've been impressed. Must be pushing for a squad spot. But "outplayed "? No
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Enjoyed that.
Both Cruden and Mo'unga had good games.
That should be the end of the "Bird for the ABs talk". Just too anonymous for a big match like this.
Scott Robertson is having a great first season, kudos.
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@akan004 if both players keep up the form that is a combo for the future for sure. Colour me impressed with Goodhue. Never took much notice of him until this season but that lad has quality written all over him. He seems to have the brain and the physical qualities to go a long way. Along with ALB he is the best of the young midfielders in my opinion.
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@Crucial said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
@SammyC said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
Well thank god the abs have cruden to come on if Barrett ain't kicking well. 😂
Massive game from us, Pretty obvious that Todd was never gonna play. Excellent bluff from Robertson. Bedwell Curtis and samu were superb (didn't even notice Sam Cane)
fern favourite moaga is now Sammy favourite moaga. Player of the day for me.
I thought Cane was huge in contact. Drove players back in the tackle quite a lot. Just what we will need against the Lions
Couldn't agree more. Cane was very busy and effective
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SBW needs a couple of strong games, but I'm sticking with my Crotty at 2nd five, SBW at centre call - ALB on the bench. But, I would be equally happy with Crotty-ALB and SBW on the bench.
Those are the three for me - SBW's form a slight question-mark. Fekitoa still the 4th squad member.
My tip of Goodhue as the breakout player of the season isn't looking a bad one, though there's quite a raft of young Crusaders stepping up to the plate - Mo'unga, Drummond, Funnell, Samu, Havili all looking much better players than last year and newbies like Bridge and Goodhue also doing the business. Got to think the other newbies - Razor and Rangi - have a lot to do with this.
A Crusaders-Chiefs match under Toddy - with the Crusaders missing Read, Todd, Crotty and Dagg - among others - would have been unwatchable, like tuning in for an episode of "World's Worst Car Crashes".
Cruden's goal kicking shows a need for Beauden to pick up the tee and presumably with Jordie not playing he will.
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