QF - Lions v Crusaders
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="598561" data-time="1469089032">
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<p>I think I posted in another thread, but yes the Lions should win. Plus I have Joubert also down as a bit of a hometown ref.</p>
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<p>On the other hand, history is somewhat against the Lions. We've only lost to them (Lions/Cats) once since 2001 (in 2007 during the Henry's R&R programme) and I think the tally over that period is about 14-1 to us.</p>
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<p>Definitely the hardest assignment of the NZ teams, but far from a foregone conclusion. I've got it in the too hard to call basket depending on whether the Crusaders who played the Rebels or the ones who played the Canes turn up.</p> -
<p>The Saders are a great chance. In fact I think this comp is still wide open. Highlanders play the best patterns of any team so will be tough to beat, but there's no team that is clearly above the rest. The Canes came out on top due more to a bit of luck then anything else. Home town advantage makes them only slight favourites. Going to be a facinating weekends rugby.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="598742" data-time="1469160345">
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<p>The Saders are a great chance. In fact I think this comp is still wide open. Highlanders play the best patterns of any team so will be tough to beat, but there's no team that is clearly above the rest. The Canes came out on top due more to a bit of luck then anything else. Home town advantage makes them only slight favourites. Going to be a facinating weekends rugby.</p>
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<p>I certainly think we can win this one. I don't really think we can travel back to NZ and beat both the Hurricanes and Highlanders on consecutive weekends, which looks the most likely scenario. The Chiefs have the same problem in reverse.</p>
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<p>Only reasonable path for those two teams is for the Sharks to tip up the Canes - and then Crusaders and Chiefs to travel back from SA to play one another - and then presumably the Highlanders in the final.</p>
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<p>In any case the Chiefs have the wood on us and the Highlanders have the wood on them (and probably us), so Toddy and Rennie would both need to solve those riddles. </p> -
<p>saders by 8 (23-15 type score)</p>
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Lions 32 - 35 Crusaders.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="598747" data-time="1469161300">
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<p>I am hoping the Saders win. Without Nadolo though I am not sure and the pack is not as strong through injury. Have to give home field advantage as the decider.</p>
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<p>I'm not too worried about the starting pack - we're really only missing Moody. Biggest problem is the bench - we've really got nothing fearsome, in fact it's a little bit shit. I presume we've got both Barrett and Tupou on the bench, because we haven't got a dispensation for Jed Brown - no real seven cover, but we will manage! :)</p>
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<p>Nadolo missing is pretty huge - watching the highlights of the round robin game on the breakdown the other night, seemed like he set up several tries. On the other hand, we coped OK when he was binned for three weeks earlier in the season - and if we get through this one hopefully he and Moody will be well rested for whomever.</p>
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<p>Interestingly if you flick back to the team we used in the round robin vs the Lions, we started with Moody, Whitelock and Taufua on the bench and got away with it.</p>
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<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/index.php/topic/41873-lions-v-crusaders/'>http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/index.php/topic/41873-lions-v-crusaders/</a></p>
