Crusaders v Highlanders
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@Nepia said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
MCKay not kicking and Parate being an unco fucked the Highlanders.
It seems there's a bit of a pattern at the Highlanders of every really good player also making a game changing poor decision. Bodes well for next year if they can rub that out but it means guys like Parete can come off the bench and not feel the pressure to be mistake free.
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@Chris-B pity Blackadder got injured, it was a real chance for him to show what he's got at this level. I liked his cameos before the injury, he seemed more abrasive than I had previously thought.
Grace is a good one too. I didn't think too much of him in the NPC, but he was playing lock every time I watched him. Liked him way more as a six. Hit hard in the tackle and very handy in the lineout.
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@taniwharugby said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Nepia allowed to critique refs, but as a neutral I thought he was decent, yeah he made some errors, but I didnt think they were weighted any more in favour that the team in the ascendancy than any other.
I thought it was one of the better refereeing performances we've seen in the comp.
Frizell keeps impressing me. Mounga on attack is sublime. Aaron Smith deserves a better team - I feel he'd be less likely to try match winning moments at every opportunity if he had more belief in those around him.
PPP is coming along nicely. Starting to think that being in the squad isn't too early for him now.
Goodhue the mulleted looks very ordinary playing at 12. He needs to be at centre.
Can anyone recall the Crusaders having such an uninspiring backrow?
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@antipodean said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@taniwharugby said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Nepia allowed to critique refs, but as a neutral I thought he was decent, yeah he made some errors, but I didnt think they were weighted any more in favour that the team in the ascendancy than any other.
I thought it was one of the better refereeing performances we've seen in the comp.
Frizell keeps impressing me. Mounga on attack is sublime. Aaron Smith deserves a better team - I feel he'd be less likely to try match winning moments at every opportunity if he had more belief in those around him.
PPP is coming along nicely. Starting to think that being in the squad isn't too early for him now.
Goodhue the mulleted looks very ordinary playing at 12. He needs to be at centre.
Can anyone recall the Crusaders having such an uninspiring backrow?
Well, guys like Reuben Thorne, Sam Broomhall and Steve Surridge all ran around at about the same time.
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@Nepia said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
I notice the ref defending brigade is out in force. He made some howlers, are we not allowed to say that anymore? This PC rugby culture ... 😜
You're allowed to say what you like.
But you do you need to be ready for people to point out that you do often seem to invent "ref howlers" based on the team you support, or in this case the team you seem to hate with a pathetic bitter jealous rage that manifests itself in you going "WAAAAH IT'S NOT FAIR" whenever the Crusaders win.
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@Duluth said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Ioane simply sparkling and must be creating selection headaches.
Is it a headache? He’s clearly the 3rd AB flyhalf. As good as Black has been he doesn’t offer the same threat on attack as Ioane
Not so sure he's that high
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@booboo said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Duluth said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Ioane simply sparkling and must be creating selection headaches.
Is it a headache? He’s clearly the 3rd AB flyhalf. As good as Black has been he doesn’t offer the same threat on attack as Ioane
Not so sure he's that high
Reasoning?
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@Duluth said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Just watching again and as good as Smith was, man he made some howlers.
Chip kick that got forced by Reece. A couple others... And then the tap and kick which left me throwing up uncontrollably.
I was surprised by the lack of criticism of the chip option. I guess play moved on too fast
I think I've suggested that chip kicking is punishable by kicking to death
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@taniwharugby said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Aaron Smith and then Mounga up there as the best players in SRA, Sotutu would be there too if not for his injury (well he was still awesome, but an injury curtailed him)
Yeah i agree, probably only Pat T, Jordie and maybe Jordan who would also be up there with those guys. But Smith and Mounga on another level.
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Some good young loosies running around now with Jacobson back, Akira playing solidly, and Sotutu and the big Ginger once they're back in action - but Frizzell has been bloody good this year in an average team, finally earned his AB selection.
So too Jordie Barrett for that matter. Would be nice if we waited for the players to be good enough before picking them I reckon.
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@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@pukunui agree on the first two but I don't think Jordan has quite reached the same heights.
Yeah that was just a quick list of good performers off the top of my head. Jordan would probably be under those guys along with guys like Clarke, Frizzel, MMT and Laumape etc.
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Went along today. Must say daytime footy is great! Great effort from the Highlanders. Their back row, Smith, Ioane and Nareki were outstanding I thought and they never stopped going right to the end.'
Well done Crusaders (again). They always find a way like the true champions they are. Something I'd suggest the Blues do next week is kick high instead of long. Jordan and Reece running it back at will began to suck the energy out of the Highlanders forwards in particular as they began to struggle kick chase wise leaving holes in their defense. Havili made a difference when he came on too I thought as did Romano and although I don't think he's the answer at test level, Mo'unga continues to shine at this level.
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On the game itself. Good entertaining game. Highlanders will be kicking themselves for not taking all their opportunities and the bottling it a bit at the end once the Crusaders got in front. Stupid from Sio T to get himself carded like that. I was hoping they would cause an upset and keep the comp alive for next week.
Friz and Ioane were good and both should go close to AB selection if there is an AB team this year.
Congrats to the Crusaders for 4 titles in a row.
Pretty impressive given this years team hardly looked unbeatable on paper. Especially in the forwards.
Backs were quality even with Goodhue being below his best all year and Havili getting injured.
Mounga must be their mvp. Has surely earned first crack at the AB 10 spot.Hopefully if they run Super Rugby Aotearoa again next year they will add a finals series with 2v3 playing to meet 1 in the Final so there can be a bigger finish.
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@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Anyone see the foot in touch?
The Crusaders foot in the lead-up to that last try? Yeah, Disgusting that didn't get picked up, goddamn ref bias bullshit. It's outrageous, WWF/WWE level reffing. Turned the game, really... took the contest out of it.
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@Kruse said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Anyone see the foot in touch?
The Crusaders foot in the lead-up to that last try? Yeah, Disgusting that didn't get picked up, goddamn ref bias bullshit. It's outrageous, WWF/WWE level reffing. Turned the game, really... took the contest out of it.
Have another look mate it was the highlanders foot in touch
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@Duluth said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Who else do you have ahead of him? Black?
Yes
Edit: And in all honesty Trask.
I reckon Ioane is at all considered is because he was the next best option in a year (2019) when he was the least worst back up.
