Crusaders vs B&I Lions
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I find the bemusement at the scrum officiating understandable, but I find the bemusement at the reffing of the offside line bemusing.
I took a few years off watching rugby totally in 2013, 14. I started watching again early 2015 to get up to speed fro the RWC. While I had been away the offside line had crept forward 1 to 1 1/2 metres.
Because what happens now is teams are about a metre offside, the ref warns one of them to get back so they move back half a metre. But they're actually still half a metre offside, but it gets let go.
The offside line is pushed especially outrageously in the early minutes of the game as the players work out the marker.
Last night; French ref without warning or any communication would penalise Crusaders when they were a metre offside. Then again when they repeated. The result was the Crusaders then spent the rest of the match very safely onside by about a foot behind the last foot.
It was beautiful. Brilliantly effective and how the game should be reffed.
The Lions never outrageously tested the offside line early like the saders, never got spooked and tangled in their own mess like the saders did, and spent the match roughly level with the back foot.
No complaints from me, but I'm not a fan. I guess I should add the modern offside line to the grind my gears thread.
But as an nz fan, who watches mostly 90% nz rugby, I recognise by god we usually 'game' the
modem communicating ref's offside line to perfection. -
@Chester-Draws said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@antipodean said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
I don't think Julian Savea will enjoy the Lions, unless they are stupid and mark him with a little player -- he'll get turned by the kicks and will be unable to steamroll his way out of trouble. I'd favour Naholo.
I'd probably favor Ioane and Dagg right now, but Ioane and Naholo would be OK as long as they assemble the bomb squad at training all week. Naholo and Dagg with Ioane off the bench also works, and Ioane could be lethal fresh at the 60 minute mark. My guess is that right now, he has the 23 jersey - especially with Crotty injured.
If they play Savea, which I expect them too, his role has to be to get involved off Barrett's shoulder, and create some doubt in the defense.If he can work hard coming off his wing (same for Naholo btw) by applying pressure in midfield, then the opportunities to stretch them might happen. The Saders just never really broke them down going forward around the ruck (Mo'unga, Havili) and when they did break them down didn't have the pace to make them pay (really Mo'unga, can't outrun a 6??).
As you correctly put it, the way is through them - but also over them, either with long skip passes (i.e., Blues) or chip kicks/kick passes (come on Barrett). They defended the kick pass well though, so - I an't believe I'm saying this - I think a significant effort on short chip kicks, and looking for inside passes (also) is required. Contestable kicks are crucial, and right now they might have the best exponent of that with Murray.
My feeling is that our packs will cancel each other out, enough at least for the ABs to have opportunities. Goal kicking concerns me, because I feel like the Lions will score about 15 - 20 points off penalties and will get at least one maul try or similar. We usually have poor discipline at the start of the year, so I'm sure they'll get enough chances for that many points - and more, of course if they can break us down. Usually anything less than 20 points is not enough to beat the ABs - but three missed kicks can turn 21 points into 15. In which case, well, I hope someone is kicking well, because I don't see how to put Jordie on the bench - he doesn't command either a starting or 23 spot yet to me.
It's pretty clear that the Lions have a strong defense, but if the ABs can break them down and get to 25 -30 points, I'm confident that we'll win 95% of the time.
I'm interested in how we best do that. . If they kick away possession poorly (i.e., Blues) rather than well (i.e., Crusaders) then our back three will have opportunities, but if not - we'll need SBW to play a similar game as he put in for the Blues - work hard and straighten the attack, be the bail out option, and take the one or two opportunities that present themselves. Much will depend on whether Barrett runs or has enough ball runners in the midfield. Watching that game last night, I though it looked like a perfect opportunity for a Cruden/SBW show - so I hope he is ready to come off the bench and vary things up late in the match.
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Ruck.co.uk says 58% of the ball and 62% territory. I thoughts stats on the day had about those numbers but the other way around.
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Cheers. Probably first half stats.
Anyway, hard to against the Lions being the better team when you see those numbers.
Key area I should have added above - don't play the game in your own half. Saders have Murray (and themselves) to thank for that.
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@Donsteppa said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Bones said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
I'm surprised that for 2% of the game, no team was considered in possession.
The ball spent a lot of time being hoofed in the air...
aimlessly
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Bones said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
I'm surprised that for 2% of the game, no team was considered in possession.
I'm not allowed to state the obvious on the Fern, so here are the numbers from the Lions website:
They should have given the sky more credit!
Hmmm.. smiley face keeps vanishing.
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Garces is an excellent ref. One of the worlds best.
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From the Book of Wise after the Event: Had Chch taken 3 points instead of trying to macho a try, they would have gone in 9-6 down. Even as late as the last five the dynamic of the Lions having to defend a match losing try versus the immeasurably simpler matter of preventing two scores would have put the Lions under real pressure, at which point mistakes happen. Here endeth the lesson.
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Random thoughts:
Don't know why people are saying the Lions tight 5 were superior. The Lions loosies were more physical, accurate, and influencial and their 9-10-12 were (and are) so much better. Best team won.
The tight 5 mmmm.... , the Lions scrum was protected by the ref, they pulled the lineouts down illegally a few times (Jones). The Crusaders tight 5 esp. Romano, were fairly brutal on defense I thought.
The Lions were smart however, knew a few tricks, and showed what happens when you bring together an experienced pack of internationals. No way were they going to let the Crusaders score and shut down attacks both with good defense and a bit of shennagins at times.
Tour is back on! -
@Samurai-Jack Couldn't agree more. Reminded me that Todd is an exceptional Super player but AB journeyman.
No one seems to have cottoned on to what Lions have learned, viz Mako/George/Furlong are a bench impact combo and Coles/Owens/McGrath need to start or ABs will have Lions scrum under pressure. POM needs to start as Lions need three jumpers with Read playing. Suspect AWJ/Kruis with Itoje becnh wll be test lock combo. They will be looking to get Warburton up to speed, but if it were me I'd be very tempted to stick with SOB.
