SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders
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Just back from the pub and went straight to the pub from club game so am a bit drunk and very tired
First and foremost congrats blues, too big and too strong
I could try and complain about a couple of things but above any of that I don’t think we ever really looked like we were going to take control of the game, one too many games
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Congratulations Blues.You have got the monkey of your backs.As all finals are it was intense and punishing.Well done the Highlanders.,you made it tough.
Have no truck with the demeaning of this competition.All teams knew the format,and not only scoring tries,but defending your line got the two teams to the final.
The Crusaders won the big one,the Blues the small one,but small fish are sometimes the sweetest. -
@kiwimurph I would honestly say all of you putting him forward are...
@tim said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@mattasaurus said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
Reiko should not even be in the picture...
Taking the piss surely?
As Ben Wylie pointed out in the The Chase on substack, the reactions to Rieko Ioane's play are often entirely emotional.
Not emotional.
He shells at least one or two passes a game... Typically has at least 2 howlers on defence a game too... And I am yet to see him put a decent pass in front of a team mate... Let alone create space... But hey what do I know... Just my opinionWell done blues and we'll deserved result.
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Blake Gibson's try and the lead up. Superb ruck work, everyone coming from square from the last man's feet.
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@tim said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
LOL, petty bitch Paul Cully gave both Ioane brothers 5/10 in his player ratings. Have another moan.
Do you refer to https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/125491130/blues-vs-highlanders-player-ratings-who-shone-in-super-rugby-transtasman-final
the article said "Here are Stuff’s player ratings from Eden Park. Joseph Pearson rated the Blues and Paul Cully the Highlanders"??
Weird ratings anyway. -
@nostrildamus Yeah, he's a weird bitchy "journalist" who rates Frizzell the best player every week. Complete joke.
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@mattasaurus I've definitely seen him do those last two.
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If I were a Blues fan I would be hoping that win spurs them past their decision making problems rather than feeling like they can continue playing the way they do and getting away with it (although the winning streak suggests that size and personnel will pull them over the line eventually).
Clinical they are not and I hate to say it but if they were in Red and Black they would have run away with that game. The tackle stats alone were something like 5:1 at half time. Some terrible decisions and execution when the excitement levels rose.Anyway, we will see next year if they can continue the winning ways.
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Not sure how I feel this morning, almost like the after the 2011 RWC final, just a sense of relief because like that particular final in 2011 the way the 2nd half was starting to play out there was a sense of implosion happening , but getting the clutch moments in the final minutes were huge .
I also thought that the edge the Blues had at scrum time across the whole 80 minutes would be a crucial and so it played out .
So many little moments,Kurt Eklund get back in D ahead of Nareki , Dalton Papalii just getting a piece of Micheal Collins jersey when a break out seemed imminent, and I reckon the big one was Patrick Tuipulotu returning to the field to bring a sense of direction to the team
I see Patty T as a more of lead by example skipper as opposed to an in your ear Ash Dixon type character..Just on the Highlanders , they really are a hearty team , they stayed in the fight and with just a little bit of luck could have got a result ..
Have always thought their heart beat is around Dixon and Smith ..when you consider some of the players they don’t have available,Frizzell,Mikaele Tu’u and Fakatava who were all outstanding through the first part Super Rugby Aotearoa you have got to give them their dues .Finally on the Blues, I don’t think they are anywhere near the finished article despite taking out this title , their pack in the main has bullied teams effectively, but there still remains areas if they are to find the consistency and build a dynasty in the same way the Crusaders have done , they need to address .
So much talent in the backline to come back in with BB,RTS and Caleb Clark I want to see that are develop more as an attacking unit , it can only help NZ rugby .The Crusaders to me are still the benchmark team ,and you can bet bottom dollar this is not going down well within their organisation but on this day I am going to pop a beverage and raise a glass to the Blues..!
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wow, just re-watched the yellow card on Ash Dixon. That is as clear a red as you'll see, how on earth the refs got to the decision they did is incredible. 'secondary contact' my arse; late, high, always high, direct shoulder to head. It's kinda like red card bingo.
There was some origin level whistle swallowing going on out there last night. And the irony is that sort of contact is exactly what is tryin gto get out of the game
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@nzzp glad it wasn’t a Red , would have put a damper on the game , let’s see if the Blues put it on report , if not we move on
