Hurricanes v Crusaders
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@SammyC ...and the Highlanders at full strength - that's pretty much a 50-50 proposition. Despite the Canes much vaunted backline, the Highlanders worry me more.
If those bastards get lucky they could still win the title from here - put us away and then potentially get the Chiefs and then the Canes on the back of trips to SA. Never have to leave NZ.
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I'm interested to see the referee appointments for the 4 playoff games. It makes sense to choose a SA ref (Peyper) for the Brumbies-Canes game and an Aussie (Gardner) for the Stormers-Chiefs games.
Then another Saffer can do the Lions-Sharks game, but does Hometown get the Crusaders-Highlanders game? The Crusaders probably think they are owed a few penalties.
Or does he get shipped off to Jo'burg or somewhere else?
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I watched the game a second time and I have to admit that I was really stunned by Sam Lousi. He has improved hugely since his signing. He had never set the world on fire when he was playing off the bench for the Waratahs. But he is now passing well beyond all expectations. He was the best lock on the field and outplayed the All Blacks he faced (Barrett and Romano). A bolter for the EOYT ?
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@cgrant was impresdive against the BIL too
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@cgrant yeah he has been an animal this year. I think coaching from Watt and Plumtree in particular has accelerated his progress. Plus he must be way fitter as his workrate is huge - he's still getting maul turnovers late into the game, and putting in big hits. Agree 100% @booboo, he was very impressive against the BIL.
Really stoked he's come good, especially with the injuries we've had to Fatialofa. That's two league talents the Canes have firing on all cylinders. Hmm maybe Kearney should send the whole squad to Wellington for the off season
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@Paekakboyz said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
That's two league talents the Canes have firing on all cylinders. Hmm maybe Kearney should send the whole squad to Wellington for the off seasonFunny how they look so much fitter than when they were playing league.
Especially considering how after every preseason the warriors are "fitter than ever"
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Ha!! pretty easy to be fitter than ever when you were pretty average to begin with!! But I don't think that's quite what they meant aye
It does make me wonder how different rugby and league training differs around cardio and weights. Sure league revolves around the tackle count cycle, but players still have to manage multiple repeat sets quite often. So they definitely have that multi-phase challenge like we see in rugby.
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@Paekakboyz said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
Ha!! pretty easy to be fitter than ever when you were pretty average to begin with!! But I don't think that's quite what they meant aye
It does make me wonder how different rugby and league training differs around cardio and weights. Sure league revolves around the tackle count cycle, but players still have to manage multiple repeat sets quite often. So they definitely have that multi-phase challenge like we see in rugby.
2 words, Bro culture
Laumape in particular is a different athlete to when he was playing league,. Much leaner and far more dynamic as a result.
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@SammyC said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
@Paekakboyz said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
Ha!! pretty easy to be fitter than ever when you were pretty average to begin with!! But I don't think that's quite what they meant aye
It does make me wonder how different rugby and league training differs around cardio and weights. Sure league revolves around the tackle count cycle, but players still have to manage multiple repeat sets quite often. So they definitely have that multi-phase challenge like we see in rugby.
2 words, Bro culture
Laumape in particular is a different athlete to when he was playing league,. Much leaner and far more dynamic as a result.
That's not true, Laumape was a machine for the Warriors but he was just injured all the time.
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@Nepia said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
@SammyC said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
@Paekakboyz said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
Ha!! pretty easy to be fitter than ever when you were pretty average to begin with!! But I don't think that's quite what they meant aye
It does make me wonder how different rugby and league training differs around cardio and weights. Sure league revolves around the tackle count cycle, but players still have to manage multiple repeat sets quite often. So they definitely have that multi-phase challenge like we see in rugby.
2 words, Bro culture
Laumape in particular is a different athlete to when he was playing league,. Much leaner and far more dynamic as a result.
That's not true, Laumape was a machine for the Warriors but he was just injured all the time.
It is true
Chris Boyd was on Radio Sport a couple of weeks ago before the 3rd test.... said that he was so unfit when he came to them it's taken a couple of years to get him up to a good standard.
Also, the warriors decided to let him go and sign Konrad Hurrell, jeez he must have been a machine.
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@Paekakboyz said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
Ha!! pretty easy to be fitter than ever when you were pretty average to begin with!! But I don't think that's quite what they meant aye
It does make me wonder how different rugby and league training differs around cardio and weights. Sure league revolves around the tackle count cycle, but players still have to manage multiple repeat sets quite often. So they definitely have that multi-phase challenge like we see in rugby.
I think the difference would be between the Warriors and the Hurricanes, rather than League vs Union. The top League players like Cam Smith are outrageously fit.
@Chris-B will tell you that Hammett's clean-out job at the Canes is what turned them into the professional outfit they are now, and I'd reluctantly say there's some truth to that. I think the Warriors need a hit-man to clean out the bad eggs in that organisation.
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@No-Quarter Conrad Smith will tell you that.
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@SammyC said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
@SammyC said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
@Paekakboyz said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
Ha!! pretty easy to be fitter than ever when you were pretty average to begin with!! But I don't think that's quite what they meant aye
It does make me wonder how different rugby and league training differs around cardio and weights. Sure league revolves around the tackle count cycle, but players still have to manage multiple repeat sets quite often. So they definitely have that multi-phase challenge like we see in rugby.
2 words, Bro culture
Laumape in particular is a different athlete to when he was playing league,. Much leaner and far more dynamic as a result.
That's not true, Laumape was a machine for the Warriors but he was just injured all the time.
It is true
Chris Boyd was on Radio Sport a couple of weeks ago before the 3rd test.... said that he was so unfit when he came to them it's taken a couple of years to get him up to a good standard.
Also, the warriors decided to let him go and sign Konrad Hurrell, jeez he must have been a machine.
Really? I wonder if that was due to his injury time? He was easily the best centre at the Warriors, and dynamic, but just too injured. I don't think the Warriors really 'let' him go, he said he was always going to return to rugby, and he wanted to be closer to his kid(s).
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Yeah @No-Quarter that is a fair call - def some absolute weapons in league. So that really does show how much comes down to team and individual intent.
I think Laumape's run of injuries meant his base fitness probably didn't shift much in his time at the warriors. Not sure if there is more of a culture of playing while not a hundy in league or union. The NRL season is brutal in that regard - imagine 20 something rounds of super rugby derbies! Oath!
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@Paekakboyz said in Hurricanes v Crusaders:
Yeah @No-Quarter that is a fair call - def some absolute weapons in league. So that really does show how much comes down to team and individual intent.
I think Laumape's run of injuries meant his base fitness probably didn't shift much in his time at the warriors. Not sure if there is more of a culture of playing while not a hundy in league or union. The NRL season is brutal in that regard - imagine 20 something rounds of super rugby derbies! Oath!
I'd be curious to know how fitness levels stack up at the Warriors vs our Super rugby teams
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although your fitness and conditioning can also have an impact on frequency of injuries