Blues v Crusaders
-
@african-monkey said in Blues v Crusaders:
@chris It's a big game for the Blues next week funnily enough away at the Chiefs with the Chiefs getting a win. The Chiefs could have a bit of confidence after last night and it will be interesting to see how the Blues react after a loss.
If the Chiefs do win next week, it could well be a one horse race, again haha.
I would back the Blues to get the win, but a chiefs team with their tail up at home and after watching what happened today will be thinking they have a chance.
The Blues need to trust how far they have come and stick to what they are building.But you are right you learn a lot about a team when they lose and how they respond.
The Crusaders have normally responded with a brutal showing. -
@kiwimurph said in Blues v Crusaders:
@african-monkey it already is a one horse race regardless of what happens next week....
Maybe not we have a Final this season you just have to get there and anything can happen.
-
-
@kiwimurph said in Blues v Crusaders:
Here's a stat.
The Crusaders are now 54-3 since 2017 when Mo'unga starts.
Thats an amazing stat. and since Razor became coach ?
-
-
@crazy-horse said in Blues v Crusaders:
@old-samurai-jack said in Blues v Crusaders:
I am officially on the Blackadder bandwagon. Best 6 in the country by a country mile at the moment. Suppose it helps when your forwards are always gaining momentum though.
Massive engine and is winning most collisions. Not sure if he is the best, but he is right up there. He has made a pretty big difference to the Saders this year. I never realised how good he is.
One of the best things about Ethan is that he is so level headed.
You might occasionally see him get penalized for being half a yard offside, but I don't think I've ever seen him get pinged for dirt or just being plain dumb. Just gets on with the game -very constructive.
Probably the kiss of death.
-
@kiwimurph said in Blues v Crusaders:
@chris I think Razor lost a couple of games with Havili and Brett Cameron at 10 but otherwise a very similar stat.
Not surprised Cameron Is not up to SR level IMO
-
quick post match reaction.
Good game. Clearly the best two teams in the comp. As expected, teh experience of the Crusaders tight 5 and Richie were pretty much the difference.
The Crusaders maul is a thing of beauty. They set it and defend it better than anyone else - respect.
Not at all disappointed with the Blues. Clear dominance in the scrum, and when we got going with foraward drives the Crusaders couldn't live with it. It was good to watch. Dumb play cost us though - feeding possession and gifting points early in the second half was the game.
Crusaders were good, very well drilled, but the Blues have shown enough dominance to see a path to victory. Get to teh final, and it's all on. You know you're rattling them when flopping starts - and lots of injury breaks. Plues physicality was strong today.
So, pretty much as expected. Roll on the rest of the comp - would love to see these two in the final. It's a game of millimetres, and today the Crusaders were better. Who knows next time ... Blues building nicely from what I can see
-
@nepia said in Blues v Crusaders:
@african-monkey said in Blues v Crusaders:
@frank He was solid without being spectacular. Blackadder was the standout.
Yeah a lot of Blues players got smashed about, but I wouldn't panic too much and start making wholesale changes**. I wouldn't complain if Robinson came in** but that's the only change I'd possibly make in the pack and maybe Eklund. The game had broken up a lot by the time a lot of the changes were made, it's questionable if they would have had the same impact had they started.
Oh, and Ruru can go to. Nock and Christie are a far better combo.
I think he should be given rotation starts but the hype about him today has been a bit overboard, he came on later in the game when most of the structure was gone and looked good, he didn't walk on water or solve world peace.
He's definitely a cult figure round here, so much so that I think we're secretly filled with gingas.
He was on track to be in the AB squad ahead of Akira until he got injured.
It looks as if Akira's hold on the starting 6 spot might be in trouble. -
@chris those were my thoughts about the Blues being conservative
when the team was named ..if you are playing the crusaders you need everyone in the pack at 100% full noise , not some having quiet games ,also the backline selections had conservative all over it ..Crusaders worst enemy on the home straight is probably themselves ,can’t see them being beaten to be fair
-
@nzzp Not saying you're wrong, but I saw it differently. I thought we were miles off the pace today. I'm confident we can improve, but yeah, there was a massive difference in quality between the sides today imo.
-
@nepia said in Blues v Crusaders:
..he didn't walk on water or solve world peace.
[adopts voiceover tone] Well, it wasn't that kind of a game.
He's definitely a cult figure round here, so much so that I think we're secretly filled with gingas.
Don't think it is a secret.
-
I was worried I had no excuses this week but yet again forgot the Blues have a secret 16-year-old agreement to play mediocre 9s and 10s.
-
@nostrildamus said in Blues v Crusaders:
I was worried I had no excuses this week but yet again forgot the Blues have a secret 16-year-old agreement to play mediocre 9s and 10s.
It wasn’t 9s and 10s that lost that game. It was stupidity.
-
Well done to the Crusaders, comfortably the best team in the comp.
We are clearly second, but still plenty to be happy about. We looked much better when Christie came on. Think we erred by being too conservative. There were plenty of gaps out wide when we when there. And our kicking out of hand was really poor.
Some weird refereeing decisions, but was going both ways. Must suck for the players when they can’t get consistent decisions.
Mounga’s tackle was a highlight. Good to see he’s working on weakness, and awesome goal kicking.
-
I just saw a replay of the last try. I thought it looked weird at the time but that “turnover” was from the tackler lying flat on his back and playing the ball on the ground. Was another deliberate and cynical play by the Crusaders when another team gets them under pressure. Fuck they get away with that shit a lot.
-
@crazy-horse said in Blues v Crusaders:
@chris I didn't notice that 😀
EDIT: forum doesn't listen to time stamps, but his arms crossed Ioane impression is in there at the end
-
@machpants said in Blues v Crusaders:
@crazy-horse said in Blues v Crusaders:
@chris I didn't notice that 😀
EDIT: forum doesn't listen to time stamps, but his arms crossed Ioane impression is in there at the end
Very cynical pisstake from Reece. They constantly get away with it too.
