Stormers v Crusaders
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@No-Quarter England physically dominated the Irish pack in Dublin this year. Their pack worries me the most.
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@No-Quarter said in Stormers v Crusaders:
@Chris-B said in Stormers v Crusaders:
It's somewhat concerning how much the Crusaders have struggled with the physicality of the Jaapies in the last few weeks, given the number of All Blacks in our pack. That Peter Steph du Toit is a bloody good blindside.
Yeah, I've got concerns about our pack getting beaten up come the RWC knock-out games. SA and Ireland scare me the most. Nothing new at all but BBBR is shaping up up to be by far our most important player, we need him fizzing come the business end of the tournament. We lose him we are very unlikely to go all the way.
And despite Ardie's eye catching form in the loose, Sam Cane whacking the fuck out of blokes is also super important for stopping us getting rolled.
The 6 jersey is a worry too, as the bloke starting to look best suited is getting rissoled for Luke fucking Whitelock.
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@mariner4life Ardie has super-sub written all over him. We really need Cane fit and firing to handle those first 60 minutes.
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@akan004 said in Stormers v Crusaders:
@No-Quarter England physically dominated the Irish pack in Dublin this year. Their pack worries me the most.
Yeah, they played exceptionally well in that game and could smother other teams. South Africa could also pick a massive, mobile pack to do the same. Our flankers need to be hurting the opposition so they won't carry and would rather pass to their backs.
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@mariner4life Yeah - that's why I don't want any part of a Sam Cane 6; Ardie 7 pairing.
Sam Cane 7 and a big physical 6 - Frizell, Squire - maybe even Akira.
I'm also wondering whether Luke Romano should be on the plane and would like to see him playing more minutes.
And whether there's a case for Laumape as the midfielder most likely to get over the gain line.
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@Chris-B said in Stormers v Crusaders:
@mariner4life Yeah - that's why I don't want any part of a Sam Cane 6; Ardie 7 pairing.
Sam Cane 7 and a big physical 6 - Frizell, Squire - maybe even Akira.
I'm also wondering whether Luke Romano should be on the plane and would like to see him playing more minutes.
And whether there's a case for Laumape as the midfielder most likely to get over the gain line.
I've already laid out my plan, rolling out Karl T, Ofa T, Patty T, Ardie, Laumape, and now i guess BBarrett with 20-30 to go, and rolling right over the top of sides.
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@mariner4life As long as we don't need a lineout drive to win, with all those Blues forwards!
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@Chris-B said in Stormers v Crusaders:
@mariner4life As long as we don't need a lineout drive to win, with all those Blues forwards!
oh no, our traditional strength! ruined!
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@mariner4life said in Stormers v Crusaders:
@Chris-B said in Stormers v Crusaders:
@mariner4life As long as we don't need a lineout drive to win, with all those Blues forwards!
oh no, our traditional strength! ruined!
Yeah they'd be too busy setting up for the droppy.
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What about 6. Read 7. Cane 8. Savea
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@Machpants said in Stormers v Crusaders:
On attacking scrums, Ardie is fkn awesome, so fast off the back, it's a big point of difference IMO. It's not like he is operating behind a tight 5 that is giving him an easy ride at the canes!
I can see him being an absolute weapon off the bench. Could provide the ABs with a real point of difference in the final 20 - fuck coming up against a fresh, pumped up Ardie when your lungs are burning and your legs feel like jelly.
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This is a fairly typical semi-panic which we see from Kiwis when there is a perceived opposition strength which we supposedly can't match. Other sides have a large physical pack? Panic! Time to roll out the eight biggest forwards we can find, and a bruiser in the backs for good measure! Don't worry about picking our best combination or best squad.
Never works. We just need to play our own game, and evolve it as we always have in order to lead the pack. At times in the past we've supposedly needed more mongrel, or faster backs, or to pick older players, all because we perceive we're falling behind, but any perceived weaknesses are always countered in short order by new talent or coaching or the opposition not being able to sustain their short term model.
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@Canes4life said in Stormers v Crusaders:
What about 6. Read 7. Cane 8. Savea
You do realise that just because they are wearing different numbers it doesn’t change who the players are?
Savea will be an important impact player off the bench for us. If Cane’s body can hold up then he with Read and a big ball running unit at 6 will be a good combo.
The question is whether it’s Patty T or S. Barrett that is on the bench with Ardie.
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@Chris-B we’ve changed our pack every game so I’m not that concerned given it’s going to be up and down when we don’t have consistent selection.
And the old adage of Super rugby is not test rugby still holds for me. Given the cycle and other elements that aren’t there in the Saders pack and the fact that despite our position on the table we have been very up and down this season.
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So there's still no evidence against the 3 Crusaders' players. In the mean time, there's this interview with Robertson (see video in link):
Crusaders players were accused on Instagram and Twitter of "physically intimidating" behaviour, making homophobic slurs and jeering. However, Robertson says only one player, George Bridge, was involved but denies anything "untoward" happened. The claims are against three players, the team management and the South African-based security advisor, but Mr Robertson said the others were there but had no dialogue. "The boys really refute all the allegations, George who I've talked a lot about it, he engaged with him ... he's really upset around everything that's come out, he's extremely, authentically genuine that there was nothing ever said, there was no homophobic words or gestures," he said. "He just can't understand how it's got to this platform." He said Bridge asked for a photo with the man but when they got offended by it, Bridge asked why then promptly deleted the photo as requested. Robertson described the incident as "the misinformation of a selfie gone wrong". It is not known why the player was asking for a photo, but Robertson said he had reasons to. "We're just really clear we're going to get the truth across and we would stand by everything that George did in that interaction. "He's got absolutely nothing to hide." Robertson said the team was clear and understood what has happened in Australia with Israel Folau, who was let go from the Wallabies after posting a homophobic Instagram post. "He feels like there was no suggestion of anything at any time that was untoward. Look, as a team, as a culture, our values have been strong." Bridge is expected to speak out about the incident today.I've also seen a tweet from the woman that accused a player of spitting beer over her and she said she dm-ed him and that he "has taken responsibility for his action and apologised profusely" and she won't publicly name him. In her earlier twitter rant she had described him as "huge" so I doubt he was one of the three players in McD (who aren't that big).
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Jason Pine is talking about this now on RS, saying there is no reason why the 'victims' would make this up...
I expect this, as with most things, is being blown out of proportion.
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@taniwharugby said in Stormers v Crusaders:
there is no reason why the 'victims' would make this up...
Yeah there is Jason, have a look around at "social" media.
Attention seeking, 15 mins of fame, "I was a abused by a Crusader!" (probably all overblown as you said @taniwharugby).
We will likely never know the truth but there is a reason some idiots make false claims as well.
