Crusaders v Blues
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@trodthesod I think you can go back to that overtime win v Ireland and watching those final minutes and the work and movement of Aaron Smith to show the value of a rapid and fit 9.
Smith has been the benchmark for years now, and in the case of the Blues 9's, they have been chopped and changed for the past few years (as much due to thier own inconsistancy as anything) none of them are probably aware of the physical and mental demand required for match fitness to sustain week in week out
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@junior said in Crusaders v Blues:
@trodthesod said in Crusaders v Blues:
Think he started in one of the games in Sth Africa.Has a great work rate and looks like he’s been rewarded with a bench spot.I think the Christie start is deserved and the coaches resting Nock.As most teams do,some players get chances to start re Plummer and I ,have no problem with it.They usually rise to the occasion and Faiane from the bench,will close out the close game perhaps,!!
Yeah Nock's been good generally, but his passing and kicking was not up to scratch last time out. Christie actually had a good impact in both matches against the Chiefs and 'Landers so can see why he's been rewarded.
I'm increasingly convinced that it's significantly easier for a halfback to come off the bench and look good, than it is to start. I think the extra fractions of a second the halfback gets when the opposition is tiring make a big difference.
In regard to Christie, I spent quite a lot of the Mako season thinking they should be starting Keisuke Uchida, who looked like an absolute gun coming off the bench - but, when Uchida got his chance he was ordinary and Christie looked like a gun when he replaced him. Hall/Drummond is a similar case.
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I think Sam Nock can be very satisfied with his form so far this season.A criticism last game was perhaps his box kicks.He will come back keen and eager to get the starting gig back.The Blues bench looks much stronger this week with Blake Gibson,Karl Tu’inukuafe,and TJ Faiane ,to perhaps help in blunting the Crusaders historically strong finish.
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@trodthesod said in Crusaders v Blues:
I think Sam Nock can be very satisfied with his form so far this season.A criticism last game was perhaps his box kicks.He will come back keen and eager to get the starting gig back.The Blues bench looks much stronger this week with Blake Gibson,Karl Tu’inukuafe,and TJ Faiane ,to perhaps help in blunting the Crusaders historically strong finish.
TJ Faiane coming on in the last quarter adding a bit of pace and impact might be a smart move from Rangi.
Gibson will be pleased if he makes it through warmups without breaking...
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Blues:
According to the TV news the Blues responded to the Crusaders tweet about Carter and then later deleted it. Did anyone see it?
Didn’t see it first hand, but read something about.
The Blues (in jest) basically said to the Crusaders be careful about getting into banter about logos...I thought it was very clever, however if it’s been deleted someone obviously got a bit precious about it.
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@trodthesod not a rest or form thing....probably has something to do with him being sucker punched whilst out with the lads last week n lost a couple a front teeth?
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Further pain when he gets the bill.!
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With no finals this year , I guess this game takes on the importance of a final with what’s at stake
