Highlanders v Crusaders
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Wow. L Whitelock and Faddes with the game of their lives. Crotty should have started - as should have Moody and Barrett - Toddy should cop some heat for that.<br><br>
I think Dixon just played his way into the ABs. The Smiths, Sopoaga and Naholo were excellent. Fekitoa was ok but not that great.<br><br>
For the biggest game of his career - Mo'ounga equipped himself very well. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="579513" data-time="1463132096">
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<p>Did Hohneck play? </p>
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<p>Came on as sub with 15? minutes to go</p> -
<p>Don't want to criticize the ref but he is getting praised because he allowed a free flowing entertaining game not because he applied the laws of the game that well. He also allowed a shitload of off the ball stuff.</p>
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<p>You could certainly make a case that Read and Ellis had a fair bit to whinge about but I won't as it was a great game and good for the competition that the Highlanders won.</p> -
What I found hilarious about Hohneck at loosehead was the fact we went down to golden oldies the other week, when he had to come on.
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What happens when you have a backline full of superstars, the opposition analyse the heck out of the world beaters and forget out Faddes. Worked out pretty well for us.
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Not sure if this was mentioned at the time, but I thought I was a bloody strange call;<br>
When A Smith fired the pass from the ruck into the retreating Crusaders player, the ref let it go... <br>
Really, since when is that not an automatic penalty?<br><br>
But anywho, what a freaking game, how good are the Highlanders?<br><br>
Faddes, Faddes, who the fuck is Faddes?<br><br>
He's really come outa nowhere and done a hell of a job firstly on the wing, then they put him to 13, and I thought meh.. can't see him doing much there, but hang on a minute... Think he could soon end up with cult hero status in Dunedin if he hasn't already. -
<p>Fuck it!</p>
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<p>Good game. Crusaders started like a house on fire, but needed one or both of those tries to take the crowd out of the game. A couple of missed tackles and the Highlanders were away with their tails up and the Crusaders looking very rattled.</p>
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<p>Cut to pieces by fucking Matt Faddes! Fonotia looked outclassed, lacked pace and caught in no man's land a couple of times. Shoulda started with Crotty.</p>
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<p>We didn't get the forward dominance we needed. I don't think we picked off any of their lineouts and their scrum largely stood up. Their backs were better - as expected.</p>
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<p>Not too disconsolate, but I will say this.</p>
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<p>Fuck you Luke Whitelock - spent who knows how many seasons at the Crusaders playing like a fucking softcock and then turns up with that against us. Someone needs to make him piss in a bottle and take it away for testing. And he should hand at least full season's salary back to buy beer for all the Crusaders' fans who had to put up with his half arsed efforts.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="579522" data-time="1463133229"><p>
Fuck it!<br><br>
Good game. Crusaders started like a house on fire, but needed one or both of those tries to take the crowd out of the game. A couple of missed tackles and the Highlanders were away with their tails up and the Crusaders looking very rattled.<br><br>
Cut to pieces by fucking Matt Faddes! Fonotia looked outclassed, lacked pace and caught in no man's land a couple of times. Shoulda started with Crotty.<br><br>
We didn't get the forward dominance we needed. I don't think we picked off any of their lineouts and their scrum largely stood up. Their backs were better - as expected.<br><br>
Not too disconsolate, but I will say this.<br><br>
Fuck you Luke Whitelock - spent who knows how many seasons at the Crusaders playing like a fucking softcock and then turns up with that against us. Someone needs to make him piss in a bottle and take it away for testing. And he should hand at least full season's salary back to buy beer for all the Crusaders' fans who had to put up with his half arsed efforts.</p></blockquote>
that just speaks to how good a coach Jamie Joseph is. He is able to get the very best out of every player. The way he has turned a bunch of good but not excellent players into an amazing team is quite spectacular. I don't think it is just him as the Highlanders back play is excellent with Tony Brown as back coach. -
<p>From a neutral's perspective, this was an awesome game to watch!</p>
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<p>A few points:</p>
<ul><li>Crusaders dominated possession for most of the game (esp first half) but couldn't convert that into chances, let alone convert chances into points. I found them quite sloppy on attack.</li>
<li>Crusaders' defence was a leaky as my former home. Very unhealthy as the score line showed.</li>
<li>Highlanders got a lot of help from the refereeing trio who missed a lot of offending, including high tackles by Highlanders' players. In one (1st half), Havili almost got decapitated. Crusaders fans have some right to be angry about that, because most bad calls were in Highlanders favour (how was Ash Dixon not penalised!)</li>
<li>If Tamanivalu's try was a try, then Read's one shouldn't have been disallowed</li>
<li>The Highlanders backs are just awesome! Naholo back at the right time! Faddes surprisingly good, too!</li>
<li>In response to earlier posts: Dagg had a great game and should be in AB contention. He's been in great form since his return from injury.</li>
<li>Elliott Dixon and Jordan Taufua battle still undecided; I'd prefer Taufua for an AB bench spot (more consistent, better ball runner)</li>
<li>Slackbladder's decision to bring Crotty on from the bench has totally misfired (as could have been predicted). What an idiot. Same: Scott Barrett.</li>
<li>Aaron Smith is the world's best halfback and showed that again and again in this game.</li>
<li>Macilai got owned by Naholo; still has a lot to learn.</li>
<li>In the end, the difference was only 8 points, thanks to the superior boot from Mo'unga. Think he did well for a rookie. Wasn't impressed by Sopoaga at times.</li>
<li>All in all, I think the Crusaders deserved a bonus point out of this game, but definitely not a win. Highlanders deserved winners.</li>
<li>NZ conference: 1. Crusaders, 2. Chiefs, 3. Highlanders all on 37 points, Crusaders best points differential and Highlanders one more game played. The Stormers won't get further than 34 if they get a bonus point win this weekend, and the Canes can get to 36 with a bonus point win, but - like the Landers - one more game played.</li>
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<p>Edited to add that I found Fekitoa disappointing. The worst of the Highlanders' backs tonight. From the Crusaders' backs, I thought Mo'unga, Havili & Dagg were good (Crotty not enough game time).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Damo" data-cid="579525" data-time="1463133721">
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<p>that just speaks to how good a coach Jamie Joseph is. He is able to get the very best out of every player. The way he has turned a bunch of good but not excellent players into an amazing team is quite spectacular. I don't think it is just him as the Highlanders back play is excellent with Tony Brown as back coach.</p>
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<p>I still want the fucker drug tested :)</p> -
<p>Fuck.</p>
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<p>Great derby, one of the best I can remember, enjoyable high quality game. Both sides had some great individual performances within good, organised team play. Both teams would beat England.</p>
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<p>Highlanders had a magic night with the bounce of the green and home-town advantage fully taken. Full house will go into the Octagon very happy and start burning down balconies etc. </p>
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<p>Much closer than the scoreline suggests of course, of course both disallowed tries would have been immediately given at home (with the fern haters moaning obviously), coulda-woulda-shoulda been a very different game. Great NZ Referee MvJ's opinion is that momentum AND supporting players driving got Romano over the line: There wasn't a second movement before reaching out, what the slo-mo showed was what happens when a player hits the ground at speed - you always bounce then go forward a bit before settling. That and Justin Marshall is a "total arsewipe and the ref is a cheat", which is good enough for me. Then compare Read's to the fat Lander's one, fuck.</p>
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<p>BUT if you let in three tries against the run of play (two which were Not Crotty's fault) then two more just for the fun of it, you're always going to lose. Option and opportunity taking by the Highlanders was class, they would beat anyone in that form. Goalline defense was fantastic, getting hammered for hours of the game and then having the patience to respond with interest was the difference, we got more and more desperate as the clock wore on and it showed. Well done Landers you bunch of fluffybunnys.</p>
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<p>The Fern's least favourite ever Whitelock had a ball tonight, seen him play better for red+black a few times but of course it only gets noticed when etc... Ben Smith is a legend; Faddes took his chances well, had his Ben Blair v Bulls 2001 moment, but wasn't as fast as Tony Brown told Justin Marshall; A Smith had some moments still sprays kicks and gets lost and dominated at the breakdown; Toeyfekka went missing for large parts of the game; So'opoaga must be behind Mo'unga now.</p>
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<p>Dagg was amazing and will be an All Black; Back three, Read and Ellis had great games; good around-the-park game from the front row can't make up for an ordinary game gamesmanship-wise; Taufua keeping the momentum going in the playoffs could be good for him; MacNicholl was a pace short all night, against good oppo he can't find the next gear, the end of Nadolo's bullshit suspension can't come fast enough; how good is Ritchie Mo'unga.</p> -
<p>If it was the first time you made the joke about Ellis being better than Aaron Smith, I'd laugh. Now you just look like the drunk who sits in the corner with a piss stain on his pants. Very sad.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="579521" data-time="1463133118">
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<p>Not sure if this was mentioned at the time, but I thought I was a bloody strange call;<br>
When A Smith fired the pass from the ruck into the retreating Crusaders player, the ref let it go...<br>
Really, since when is that not an automatic penalty?<br><br>
But anywho, what a freaking game, how good are the Highlanders?<br><br>
Faddes, Faddes, who the fuck is Faddes?<br><br>
He's really come outa nowhere and done a hell of a job firstly on the wing, then they put him to 13, and I thought meh.. can't see him doing much there, but hang on a minute... Think he could soon end up with cult hero status in Dunedin if he hasn't already.</p>
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<p>Thank goodness the referee did not penalise that. Aaron Smith could have passed the ball anywhere he wanted. Israel Dagg is allowed to retreat and make a genuine attempt to get onside. Smith was just trying to milk a penalty and Pollock was having none of that. Rugby shouldn't be a sport where players are playing for penalties. You already have the situation where players are lying offside and not affecting play but bloody halfbacks trip over them in a theatrical attempt to get a penalty. Keep that stuff out of the game.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="579523" data-time="1463133293">
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<p>Faddes was certainly amazing but Feikotoa seems to be struggling at 12 but you couldn't drop Faddes after that performance.</p>
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<p>I reckon they look at putting Faddes back to the wing and put Naholo at 11. No slight on Osbourne but the others have earned their place.</p> -
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<p>If it was the first time you made the joke about Ellis being better than Aaron Smith, I'd laugh. Now you just look like the drunk who sits in the corner with a piss stain on his pants. Very sad.</p>
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<p>Sorry whaddaya on about? Quality contribution by the way, excellent addition to the debate and great reading.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="579543" data-time="1463135919">
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<p> A Smith had some moments still sprays kicks and gets lost and dominated at the breakdown. :good1:</p>
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<p>Do you disagree with the above? </p>
