SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil)
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I have mixed emotions over this. On the one hand I want the Saders to win, but on the other I will find it a tad concerning. There are a number of players in the Blues that would make my starting AB 15, more so than the Saders.
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@ACT-Crusader said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):
for the Blues to lead for most of the game with a late comeback and 2 point win to the Saders. Should be an intense match.
I reckon the opposite - if we're not ahead when our bench props come on then we won't win.
Huge game for Olly Jager. I was very impressed how he went first game back vs the Drua. If he can stand up vs the Blues, he might play himself into the bolters thread. If he gets done, we're basically farked.
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In last year's final Blues had self-induced weaknesses thanks to Leon MacDonald's poor selections (12, 15, 2, 5) - fortunately he's now waken up and replaced them with bigger players who are more effective against quality opposition - 111kg Ricciteli over 103kg Eklund, 103kg Heem over 96kg RTS/94kg Plummer & 100kg Sullivan over 85kg Perofeta.
Blues are clearly benefiting from these changes (although a year too late) as I was calling for these selection changes before the grand final last year... and unsurprisingly all of those players were ineffective against Crusaders as I predicted, being among the worst performers in the final.
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@Bones said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):
@Tim said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):
NZ TAB:
Crusaders $1.55
Blues $2.45TAB taking a yuge risk on the massively injury decimated crusaders.
Squad is depleted but the team will still be ok.
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TANTALISING SEMI FINAL SHOWDOWN — Blues Rugby
A pair of milestones for Rieko Ioane (100) and Hoskins Sotutu (50) set the stage for what promises to be an epic DHL Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final showdown as the Blues travel to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders this Friday night at 7:05pm. Caleb Clarke returns to the left wing in a near full
1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Nepo Laulala
4 Tom Robinson
5 James Tucker
6 Akira Ioane
7 Dalton Papalii (c)
8 Hoskins Sotutu – 50th cap
9 Finlay Christie
10 Beauden Barrett
11 Caleb Clarke
12 Bryce Heem
13 Rieko Ioane – 100th cap
14 Mark Telea
15 Zarn SullivanReserves:
16 Kurt Eklund
17 Jordan Lay
18 Marcel Renata
19 Cameron Suafoa
20 Adrian Choat
21 Sam Nock
22 Harry Plummer
23 Stephen PerofetaPlayers not considered: Sam Darry (arm, season), Alex Hodgman (shoulder, season), Tanielu Telea (knee), Patrick Tuipulotu (arm, season)
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Rieko having a hundred caps sort of blew me away
my brain can't comprehend he has been around that long. Only 8 Blues have more than him as well.
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https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300905032/crusaders-lose-all-blacks-flanker-ethan-blackadder-for-rest-of-campaign
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili-Talitui, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (capt), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Reuben O’Neill, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Willi Heinz, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki. -
@mariner4life said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):
Rieko having a hundred caps sort of blew me away
my brain can't comprehend he has been around that long. Only 8 Blues have more than him as well.
Signed for 4 more years. Maybe another 60 SR matches depending on injuries? By then he'll be 30, just entering his prime as an NZ centre
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@KiwiMurph TBH I'd have probably leaned toward Lam to start over Clarke
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@KiwiMurph said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):
Pleased for Clarke who missed last year's playoffs through injury and for Papalii who came off of the bench in last year's final due to injury.
Injuries to Clarke and Dalton, and the Saders getting Whitelock back last year was a massive swing for the final.
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Crusaders Team Named for Semi Final
We've named our side to take on the Blues this Friday in the Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final!
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@taniwharugby said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):
@KiwiMurph TBH I'd have probably leaned toward Lam to start over Clarke
Yeah it's a pretty 50/50 call - Lam got his shot in last year's final vs Crusaders - Clarke gets his shot in this year's semi vs Crusaders.
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I love how the crusaders now have two guys on the wing who are better at centre than the guy named there...who's probably better on the wing than one of those guys. Baffled.
Blues loosies will be licking their lips at getting stuck into some Strange. No...wait...
