Crusaders v Highlanders (QF)

[Stockcar86]

All I'm hoping for out of this game now is that Smiths, Buckman, Evans and Dixon don't get injured

[Wreck Diver]

@Wally And doesn't moan at the ref at every break in play

[MiketheSnow]

Thank goodness I had a lie in and taped it.

Came to real time with 10 to go.

Great effort from both sides in atrocious conditions.

I can understand the call for no roof, but hybrid pitch must be considered surely? Made a huge difference in Cardiff for the Blues - games on not Cardiff's form.

Some really dumb shit out there and loads of cynical stuff too. With no reprimand.

Penalise and card early, game is better.

And two QFs in a row, the offside line went AWOL.

[taniwharugby]

always knew the saders had a good record in finals, but have never lost at home in a playoff in 10 games

[taniwharugby]

Congrats Crusaders, best beat the Chiefs (Stormers) next week as you are the best hope to beat the Lions if the canes cant...cant see the CHiefs beating Stormers, beating saders and (likely) back to SA to beat Lions.

[antipodean]

@MiketheSnow said in Crusaders v Highlanders (QF):

I can understand the call for no roof, but hybrid pitch must be considered surely?

I thought it held up pretty well considering there's more than three inches dumping on it with the storm.

[Bovidae]

That game went as expected once it was to be played in those conditions. Saders forwards were too good.

Hemopo looks to be a real prospect.

[antipodean]

All Black forward pack in those conditions with Dagg's boot. No one can be surprised at the result.

[Chris B.]

@antipodean said in Crusaders v Highlanders (QF):

All Black forward pack in those conditions with Dagg's boot. No one can be surprised at the result.

Yep. We do end up getting some advantage from home advantage.

Smothered the Highlanders and in the wet their fearsome threequarter line was nullified.

Perfect tactics from Razor - played it down their end and capitalised on superior set piece.

[Bones]

Well done Crusaders. Bah.

[Crash]

@Chris-B. Shame Razor (and Shag) couldn't have done that against the Lions

[Wreck Diver]

@taniwharugby Don't be so quick to write the Canes off. You might find that they are travelling to CHCH for the final.

[Chris B.]

@Crash said in Crusaders v Highlanders (QF):

@Chris-B. Shame Razor (and Shag) couldn't have done that against the Lions

For the Crusaders - they didn't have the superior set piece against the Lions - well, they might have had a dominant scrum, but they got outwitted and penalized. Without Read our lineout was inferior - only two proper options.

[Tim]

@Chris-B. Read makes a big difference to your lineout. Barrett and Taufua were way too small against the Lions pack.

[SammyC]

@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders (QF):

Good to see many underestimating the forward game of this highlanders side. Here's hoping the Crusaders do the same.

Jeez lucky we didn't underestimate those highlanders forwards

(Sick of the southern man myth)

[SammyC]

Also fuck tony brown ... saying he's happy to be playing the crusaders and has some tricks up his sleeve... totally out coached by Robertson

[Tim]

@SammyC Yeah, that is LOL-worthy. They didn't fire a shot.

[SammyC]

Was quite funny at the ground ... naholo looked like he was getting hypothermia the way he was carrying on at every stopage.

Great tactics from the crusaders to kick to him at every opportunity early

[KiwiMurph]

So in Hamateur's first year involved the Highlanders they went from semi finalists to quarter finalists.

Conversely the Sunwolves doubled their win total after moving on from Hamateur.

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph can't wait until next year.