Crusaders v Blues
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@george33 said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp go back to sleep
so what's your pick then?
If the Blues play to tehir potential, they should win. Haven't been able to say that for some time, feels good. BUT - I'm not confident of our ability to back up two weeks in a row... hence my comment above. If we do, happy days, but if we don't then it's a flat performance and another loss down south.
The last time we were down there we went out to a really solid lead, and Mo'unga absolutely arced up and destroyed us in the last quarter. It was ridiculous. But -- we were dominant up to that point. Reassert that, and don't choke, and we're on ... going to be an absolute cracker.I hope
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@gt12 yeah I was hoping Blues would be able to fly under the radar a little bit going into this clash but last weekend put paid to that.
Given Crusaders haven't exactly been on fire lately I can see Razor gearing them up for a huge performance.
Blues will have to clear the mental hurdle of beating the Crusaders which i'm not sure they are quite up to yet (especially in Christchurch).
For Blues to win they'll have to avoid penalties (in general play and at scrum time) that lead to lineout drive opportunities and they'll have to be very tidy under the high ball.
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@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
@machpants I reckon the win against the Chiefs will take it's toll. Crusaders by a thowwwsand
And 3 games in 8 days followed by an extremely physical game, hopefully the squad refreshes fast.
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It will be interesting to see which ref is chosen for this game. O'Keeffe would be the likely person as it can't be Williams or Pickerill (good for everyone). Both teams were very cynical in defending near their goal line in the weekend so we could see more yellow cards.
If the Blues forwards play with the same ferocity as they did against the Chiefs then game on. The scrum battle will be intriguing.
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@bovidae said in Crusaders v Blues:
It will be interesting to see which ref is chosen for this game. O'Keeffe would be the likely person as it can't be Williams or Pickerill (good for everyone). Both teams were very cynical in defending near their goal line in the weekend so we could see more yellow cards.
If the Blues forwards play with the same ferocity as they did against the Chiefs then game on. The scrum battle will be intriguing.
If it’s o’Thief then the crusaders have already won.
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Blues record vs Crusaders (Leon 2019-2021): 24-22, 19–11, 25-8, 43-26, 29-6.
Good chance of breaking the hoodoo this Friday.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
Blues record vs Crusaders (Leon 2019-2021): 24-22, 19–11, 25-8, 43-26, 29-6.
Good chance of breaking the hoodoo this Friday.
Good point, well raised. Blues haven't beaten the Crusaders since they've had a Crusader coach. Tend to struggle against the Chiefs too...
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@bones said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
Blues record vs Crusaders (Leon 2019-2021): 24-22, 19–11, 25-8, 43-26, 29-6.
Good chance of breaking the hoodoo this Friday.
Good point, well raised. Blues haven't beaten the Crusaders since they've had a Crusader coach. Tend to struggle against the Chiefs too...
Hurricanes & Chiefs definitely the bogey teams during Razor's time, account for 85% of his defeats as coach.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
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@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
Matera ,Strange,Whitelock,McAlister. and Goodhue,Would all be in the top 23.
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@chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
Matera ,Strange,Whitelock,McAlister. and Goodhue,Would all be in the top 23.
Will give you that, although I don't rate Strange at all.
Given you can't really count Goodhue, (as much as Id like to: huge fanboi) that's a whole one starter.
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@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
Matera ,Strange,Whitelock,McAlister. and Goodhue,Would all be in the top 23.
Will give you that, although I don't rate Strange at all.
Given you can't really count Goodhue, (as much as Id like to: huge fanboi) that's a whole one starter.
True but the bench is a big part of the game these days.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the injuries
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Word just in that we will be without McCaw, Read, Jack and Carter. Although the Blues are trying claim that last fella as one of their outs…
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@act-crusader McCaw is irreplaceable although I'm sure Steve Brett, Mose Tuiali'i and Ali Williams will do a job for Dean's & Gibson
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@act-crusader Word from the camp is that Scott Robertson may not make the starting team either.
