Final: Chiefs v Crusaders
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What the fuck??? Fucking PGS??? Fucking really?
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@Bovidae said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
Sowakula starting ahead of Finau.
I wish to change my predication.
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@Nepia said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
PGS starting over Finau? Is McMillian trying to out dumb Fozzie this week?
Maybe he's working on the theory there's less chance of PGS fucking it up with an error in the last 5 mins if he's not on the field?
I stick to my earlier assertion that the chiefs have been working on a game plan targeting the crusaders and that's why they've been so rough the last couple of weeks.
Or McMillan is throwing two fingers up at AB selectors.
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@Daffy-Jaffy I think I got halfway and I can feel the Christchurch dripping off me.
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I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
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Maybe part of the gameplan, is they see Finau being dangerous in the wider channels deeper in the contest, and will use Sowakula as a battering ram in tighter, to muscle up against the Crusaders early. Probably a similar reason why Ah Kuoi beats out Lord - ability to bring impact off the bench.
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Stats about both sides plus some overall stats for the competition
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@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers. -
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
One thing that impresses me about the current Chiefs outfit is that they hold their shape, even with the punches.
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I'm going with the old cliche that, "It's why they play the game".
I can see reasons why both teams might win.
Chiefs - best team in the regular season, beat the Crusaders twice.
Crusaders - best team in the play-offs (so far) thumped two higher ranked teams than those the Chiefs have struggled against.
Crusaders - still decimated by injuries and unlikely they'll play as well as they did against the Blues. But Razor has the magic touch.
Chiefs - Almost full strength and McMillan is no mug.
Ranking mainly on ABs and ABs XV selections
Front row - Crusaders - 2 ABs and a ABXV vs 1 AB and 1 ABXV
Locks - Even, but really Crusaders by a whisker, as long as Sammy actually plays.
Loosies - Chiefs by a mile - so complacent they've picked PGS!!!
Inside backs - Chiefs because they've got an AB and near AB and we've only got Drummie - but, really, Crusaders, because we've got Richie - the most influential Super rugby player of all time and, hopefully, a man who tomorrow will take his first step toward being the World Rugby Player of the Year for 2023 (You heard that here first! Fuck you all - except Crusaders supporters
).Midfield - two ABs and two NZ XVs - evens.
Outside backs - Three ABs vs one and one nearly - Crusaders.
Bench - Chiefs by a mile! An AB in waiting and a former AB on the bench.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers.This talk of a plan actually has me worried. The Blues clearly had a plan (which bafflingly included stationing two of their loosies wide for most of the match) for the Crusaders that was different to their normal style and we all saw how that worked out.
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@Nepia said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers.This talk of a plan actually has me worried. The Blues clearly had a plan (which bafflingly included stationing two of their loosies wide for most of the match) for the Crusaders that was different to their normal style and we all saw how that worked out.
It's offensive to the Chiefs to compare them to the Blues.
Chiefs record vs the other semi finalists: 5-0
Blues record vs the other semi finalists: 0-5
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@Nepia said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers.This talk of a plan actually has me worried. The Blues clearly had a plan (which bafflingly included stationing two of their loosies wide for most of the match) for the Crusaders that was different to their normal style and we all saw how that worked out.
The Cheifs will be fine with their plan as long as the Crusaders don't have a plan. If the Saders have a plan, the plans go out the wondow and it will come down to which team has a made a pact to win.
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Biggest problem for the Chiefs is David Havili isn't there to ruthlessly exploit like the last two games
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@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
The Cheifs will be fine with their plan as long as the Crusaders don't have a plan. If the Saders have a plan, the plans go out the wondow and it will come down to which team has a made a pact to win.
I guess I'm about to state the obvious. Or maybe it depends who has the better game plan and / or how the players implement the game plan.
Richie was made to look like a super star last week by a very poor blues team playing like mugs. One aspect of the chiefs game plan must be to close him down. It can be done and sometimes is and must be if they are to win
Canes allowed a certain blues wing to look like a super star. He looked less than ordinary last week. The chiefs can do it but they need the right plan and players at their best. They haven't been close to their best in recent weeks.
