Canes vs Lions
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="576173" data-time="1462093116">
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<p>It's not an appalling strategy for an NZ team to aim to be the 4th wildcard team on the assumption that they'd play the top NZ team (currently looking like Chiefs or Crusaders) as top qualifiers first up in New Zealand, which is a lot better than having to travel to SA and back and then play them.</p>
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<p>Let's say for the sake of (avoiding) argument Canes finish eighth - they'd have a chance of rolling the Chiefs in Hamilton and then <u>migh</u>t get a shot at the Crusaders in ChCh, but with Toddy's boys coming off the back of a South African trip - or perhaps play an Oz team in Oz.</p>
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<p>Main thing you don't want to do is have to travel to SA then next week travel back to play in NZ.</p>
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<p>Or playing the Aust side would be OK. Depending where they end up</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="576199" data-time="1462127017">
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<p>The most surprising in this win is how the Canes scrum fared against a mighty Lions eight. I did not think that Goodes and Toomaga Allen could dominate their opponents like they did. Could it bring them to the AB squad ?</p>
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<p>The big test will be in the last round match</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="576199" data-time="1462127017">
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<p>The most surprising in this win is how the Canes scrum fared against a mighty Lions eight. I did not think that Goodes and Toomaga Allen could dominate their opponents like they did. Could it bring them to the AB squad ?</p>
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<p>I'm thinking that game had a big dollop of the Canes having a blinder while the Lions were off their game. I'm not dissing the Canes (who are looking very good) but their pack has never shown signs of dominating like that against a good opposition before.</p>
<p>I'll wait to see it happen on a regular basis before making AB type calls.</p> -
<p>Pretty sure I recall the Canes scrum dominating a good opposition last week as well? ;)</p>
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<p>Fuck I just realised the Lions are 2nd in the SA conference. Fuck me, they are awful.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="576211" data-time="1462136325">
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<p>Pretty sure I recall the Canes scrum dominating a good opposition last week as well? ;)</p>
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<p>Nah, our scrum has been shite all year, especially when Marshall is hooker</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="576211" data-time="1462136325">
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<p>Pretty sure I recall the Canes scrum dominating a good opposition last week as well? ;)</p>
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<p>Whilst the chiefs have been great this year, their scrum has not been.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="576226" data-time="1462139525">
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<p>Whilst the chiefs have been great this year, their scrum has not been.</p>
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<p>Yeah, the Chiefs scrum has been really, really cabbage this year, although with the addition of Hames they're now only really a Laulala away from a decent scrum.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="576173" data-time="1462093116">
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<p>It's not an appalling strategy for an NZ team to aim to be the 4th wildcard team on the assumption that they'd play the top NZ team (currently looking like Chiefs or Crusaders) as top qualifiers first up in New Zealand, which is a lot better than having to travel to SA and back and then play them.</p>
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<p>Let's say for the sake of (avoiding) argument Canes finish eighth - they'd have a chance of rolling the Chiefs in Hamilton and then <u>migh</u>t get a shot at the Crusaders in ChCh, but with Toddy's boys coming off the back of a South African trip - or perhaps play an Oz team in Oz.</p>
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<p>Main thing you don't want to do is have to travel to SA then next week travel back to play in NZ.</p>
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<p>Thats one of the things I do not like about this system. IMHO division winners should be guaranteed a play-off spot but not home field advantage.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="DMX" data-cid="576244" data-time="1462145842">
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<p>Thats one of the things I do not like about this system. IMHO division winners should be guaranteed a play-off spot but not home field advantage.</p>
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<p>It ain't for rugby reasons. It's because dollars are more important than anything else. </p>
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<p>Pic related, the broadcasters with a home playoff game in each conference:</p>
<p><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/df853/pile-of-cash.jpg" alt="pile-of-cash.jpg"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="576235" data-time="1462142348">
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<p>Yeah, the Chiefs scrum has been really, really cabbage this year, although with the addition of Hames they're now only really a Laulala away from a decent scrum.</p>
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<p>Their team would be complete if he didn't get injured.</p> -
<p>The pro Cruden are very quiet after this week end. Barrett has been outstanding once again and he ran his backline very smoothly. He kicked well too. Cruden was average at best against the Sharks : two missed touches from penalties, bad tactical kicking, not always good options chosen. As a neutral, I think most of the comments posted in this forum are biased. They depend if you are a supporter of the Chiefs or of the Canes.</p>
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<p>I'm a Canes supporter and would pick Cruden. It's quite an easy decision too. Hardest thing for Cruden at the moment is playing behind a forward pack that struggles to get forward momentum. The All Blacks won't have that issue.</p>
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<p>Would definitely have Barrett on the bench as the 'super sub'.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="576345" data-time="1462167783"><p>The pro Cruden are very quiet after this week end. Barrett has been outstanding once again and he ran his backline very smoothly. He kicked well too. Cruden was average at best against the Sharks : two missed touches from penalties, bad tactical kicking, not always good options chosen. As a neutral, I think most of the comments posted in this forum are biased. They depend if you are a supporter of the Chiefs or of the Canes.</p></blockquote>
This is just stupid. Last week Barrett played some pretty bad footy in amongst his good. This week he was better, hence people would be more comfortable him getting talked up by "neutrals" like you... -
<p>Just watched game again, and f*** me, no wonder Proctor got MOTM, shit he played bloody well, dare I say how it looked like he might be able to play a couple of years back before he got a few injuries. I thought Ardie had a blinder too, and I suspecting Matt Todd is probably a bit pissed he hanging around instead of playing 7s, as Todd has been dynamite as well. By geez the Canes certainly won the breakdown with young Fats and Fifita playing like extra loosies.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="576345" data-time="1462167783">
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<p>The pro Cruden are very quiet after this week end. Barrett has been outstanding once again and he ran his backline very smoothly. He kicked well too. Cruden was average at best against the Sharks : two missed touches from penalties, bad tactical kicking, not always good options chosen.<strong> As a neutral, I think most of the comments posted in this forum are biased.</strong> They depend if you are a supporter of the Chiefs or of the Canes.</p>
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<p>So do the AB selectors reflect this bias too - considering they've consistently selected Cruden as a starting 10 and Barrett as an impact sub?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="576345" data-time="1462167783">
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<p>The pro Cruden are very quiet after this week end. Barrett has been outstanding once again and he ran his backline very smoothly. He kicked well too. Cruden was average at best against the Sharks : two missed touches from penalties, bad tactical kicking, not always good options chosen. As a neutral, I think most of the comments posted in this forum are biased. They depend if you are a supporter of the Chiefs or of the Canes.</p>
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<p>It was his best game so far. But the Canes still need to clear the line better but it was a big improvement on previous weeks where they played pass the ball on their own goal line. He also had a lot more variation in his game and his touch finding was much better</p>
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<p>I also like the development of Aso and Proctor in the midfield. Aso's best position is 2nd not center and its where he should focus. Proctor has taken time to find his feet at center but he's looking a lot more at home there now</p>
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<p>edit the one who looked tired and not up to his usual form was Shields</p> -
<p>While all the talk has been Cruden vs Barrett, there is still another option in Sopoaga. Admittedly he hasn't been in sparkling form since his return from injury, but neither have the Landers.</p>
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<p>Reckon Cruden will be given his shot in June by Shag to prove himself, and form indicates Barrett will indeed be "super sub" But who knows? These roles could easily be reversed.</p>
<p>However, come TRC logic dictates that Shag will adopt a horses for courses approach, and I'm sure they will have locked away in the vaults how well Sopoaga handled the cauldron of the Boks in last years trip to the Republic.</p>
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<p>I think all options are wide open currently, and there is still plenty of time for one to force his way to the top of the heap. </p>
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<p>We <strong><em>are</em></strong> very fortunate to have so many options to select from, and we <em>still</em> have the likes of Otere Black waiting in the wings...</p>
