Blues v Crusaders

antipodean

@antipodean 6 titles in a row probably does…

No disrespect intended to the Crusaders, their coaching staff or the supporters, but doesn't that alone say something about the standard of the competition?

Chris B.

@Bones

No Quarter

@Duluth said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:

Kiwi refs are gonna bite the ABs in the arse again this year.

Crusaders only refereed half the game and given oodles of leeway when they are.

It's evident when they then struggle under other refs and come international time when they're miles off the pace and ill disciplined.

I'll ignore the one sided comment because people get pissy about that. However there's no way a ref from any other country calls the breakdown like Doleman did. It's terrible preparation for our players

The ref definitely seemed well out of his depth. The ABs have also made a habit of not playing to the ref lately and you're right, that sort of performance doesn't do our players any favours. Not sure what's going on with the quality of reffing in NZ, just seems really poor at the moment.

Bones

@Chris-B said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones

I'm talking about since the pandemic pretty much. Who was the ref against the Drua?

Steven Harris

@Duluth that was from earlier in the week

Chris B.

@Bones We won two world cups with Richie's well-known "cloak of invisibility" so I'm doubtful that your theory holds.

TheMojoman

Fark..groundhog day for us.

Respect for the Crusaders, the greatest provincial side ever. But I am a sore loser so I hope the Crusaders lose..every..single..game.

Stag

@antipodean no🙄🤦‍♂️

Bones

@Chris-B said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones We won two world cups with Richie's well-known "cloak of invisibility" so I'm doubtful that your theory holds.

Nah crusaders weren't blatantly reffed different to other teams by kiwi refs back then, so I can't see the relevance. Even just last year we saw how "good" guys like Taylor were in super rugby with kiwi refs...then dog awful and taking 5 games to get up to speed at international.

Nevorian

Teams surely must analyse Refs just as much as they analyse opposition these days and factor this into game plans at least to some degree. McCaw was exceptional because he knew the rule book and could probably have recited it

Stag

@Bones that has more to do with the coaching I reckon

Bones

@Stag said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones that has more to do with the coaching I reckon

I'm not convinced foster coached the good out of Taylor in the space between the SR final and the first test. Or you reckon Plumtree?

KiwiMurph

Samisoni went well under the same coaching

Duluth

@Nevorian said in Blues v Crusaders:

Teams surely must analyse Refs just as much as they analyse opposition these days and factor this into game plans at least to some degree. McCaw was exceptional because he knew the rule book and could probably have recited it

This wasn’t about interpretations. Both sides behaved the same

SBW1

@KiwiMurph Leicester blew RTS away for speed tonight. Will RTS even be in the World Cup side?

gt12

Is Barrett even the fourth best starting first five in NZ? I think I’d pick Hunt ahead of him. Definitely Dmac, Mo’unga, and Cameron.

Until Leon makes the big call. the Blues are going nowhere.

KiwiMurph

@SBW1 said in Blues v Crusaders:

@KiwiMurph Leicester blew RTS away for speed tonight. Will RTS even be in the World Cup side?

He shouldn't be. His defence is nowhere near up to it.

gt12

Given the influence of cards on the game, I find it completely incomprehensible how easily the ref pulled a card on the blues and resisted it on the Saders.

Canerbry

@gt12 said in Blues v Crusaders:

Given the influence of cards on the game, I find it completely incomprehensible how easily the ref pulled a card on the blues and resisted it on the Saders.

There were plenty of fucking incomprehensible calls both ways, and now the game is over.

SBW1

@Canerbry Next week they play the Brumbies at home. Who is likely to come into the squad?

The Silver Fern

Blues v Crusaders