The Silver Fern

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:

@Chris Don't disagree with much of that.

Except if Fergus Burke had stayed fit, I think we would have done much better - and we need O'Çonnor or Reihana (most probably) to step up. So in terms of overall squad strength, I think that's the main question mark - someone needs to be as good as Burke (was at the back end of the season). To be honest, it's not that high of a bar.

Among the locks, I wish we had a young guy in the mix who is more than two metres. But if Scott is fit, we can pair him with probably any of the others and be highly competitive.

Williams, Taylor, Newell
Barrett, Strange
Blackadder, Kellow, Lio-Willie
Hotham, Reihana
Havili, Ennor
Reece, Fihaki, Jordan

Bell, Brewis, Bower, Shalfoon, Grace, Preston, OÇonnor, Aumua.

Pretty decent if they're all fit!

McLeod will be in the 23.

The Chiefs ask for feedback for the in-game experience from season members at the end of the season. The number one complaint for us is always the music being played during the game. They don't listen.

Rewatch of second half confirms Blues unforced errors and lack of composure let Chch back in.

That said holding Rouge et Noirs out for last five minutes in their 22 was what champion teams are made of.

Pity we have to wait to next year for a rematch!

@African-Monkey said in Brumbies v Crusaders:

@Bones Well he should have removed all doubt by not punching the ball dead, and if he does it with the Brumbies player that close to the ball which he did, he left the refs with no choice. It was a complete brain explosion.

I do agree with this. It was stupid to put yourself in that position.

All he really needed to do was get his hand to it first and try to catch it. If he's trying to catch it and it goes dead then no big deal, it's a line drop out.

@Damo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@nzzp said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Just saw the final try by the Crusaders. Interesting as was talking about it in the previous game - if refs want to call 'tackle', the ball carrier should not be able to continue forward. Players get released and crib a few metres - or in the case below, score a try.

@Damo you reffed, thoughts on this? Looked very very weird to me; I think a comp-wide interpretation of either calling maul when the attacking player's mate joins, or cracking down hard on cribbing metres would be a good solution. Or do both!

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1cqjcwi/controversial_final_try_for_the_crusaders_vs_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I think it is an unusual situation. I did not think it was a mail, because there was not a player from the ball carriers team attached (from memory - I could be wrong). The tacklers ought to have released earlier, but when they got the call to release they did so. Should the ball carrier be able to use the momentum to then go over the line and score?

Personally I think not but per the laws it was probably correct.

I am of view that if a player is reaching out to score the defenders should not have to release to allow the try. As per the laws as written this is not the current position.

I add I have not reffed for 3 years so I am not up to date with the current interpretations/trends.

I should have clicked the link..

I think the tackle was completed before the players joined so it couldn't be a maul.

I think it is an unusual situation but I can't fault the referee for the decision.

The point that DH has been moved to yet another position and was at least as good in his first go as all of the other specialists in the squad says a lot.
Ist Five depth is not in a happy place in NZ at the moment .........but if they are all about the same it keeps things even.

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Crusaders v Rebels:

@Crazy-Horse I would start either him or Papalii at 7 if Ardie is at 8 (which he will be).

I could be wrong but I think he’s been playing plenty at 7 in Japan. I’m intrigued to see where Razor likes him.

@mariner4life

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Fucking Reds. Losing to Moana means we're 9th instead of 8th.

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Nepia said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Chris said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Nepia said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Chris said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@chchfanatic said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Hamilton just can’t beat us when it counts. I hope Hamilton plays us in the Quarterfinals.

Yeah I thought Hamilton were poor due to the Crusaders pressure and defence or they just are not the team they were last year.
Hamilton just got outplayed.

I think the early try New Plymouth got meant they mentally switched off a bit, and by the time they refocused they'd let the game slip through their fingers and they couldn't run Blenheim down.

In the ënd Hamilton and New Plymouth lost and Chch united won

I think my post highlighted the fact that Ashburton won and Cambridge lost, didn't need the obvious stated. 😉

Hard pressed to believe Ashtray could win anything to be honest.

To be fair they did win the Heartland championship in 2013 and 2014.

@number9 said in Blues v Crusaders:

Not impressed with my Blues, we should of killed thr Crusaders with all the possession we had.

Blues forwards were impressive

Blues backs are where the issue lies

Christie is a poor 9 whose spot should be under pressure - Perofeta played better than vs Tahs but still blew a number of good opportunities - they pick a midfield that isn't built to ball play but just big and run straight (whoever they pick it's the same M.O.) Forbes actually offered a bit of difference

Roigard, Tucker, Walker-Leawere

@Canes4life but where was Chris

Well it's good to see the refs have dropped the favouritism. Hard.

@barbarian said in Crusaders v Waratahs:

Oh come on, the Tahs were paying $8.50 with the bookies here.

You can spin it any way you like, but a team who has consistently underperformed for the last six or seven years was up against the multiple time defending champions. I wouldn't call it David and Goliath, but maybe David and Goliath's younger brother, Hefty.

We were 13 up with three minutes left and my heart was pounding. I was sure they would somehow come back and dust us. That's the power of the Crusaders. Because that's just they type of shit they do.

That's ignoring the difference between the Crusaders of this year and those previous. Which was the point, I believe.

That also doesn't take anything away from a very good Waratahs performance.

@cgrant said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

I wonder why Parker warmed the bench for such a long time. He came in at the 75th minute. It's very odd since the Chiefs forwards needed more fresh legs in the second spell.

Yeah, he should be come on with 20 to go. I thought that McMillan was very conservative with his subs.

I am visiting Mum's so the game was 20 minutes up the road. Went along, never seen so may cars in Methven.
Hard to get anything from the game but Billy Harmon is a brick shithouse and he influences the game whenever he is involved. He has looked AB material to me for a few seasons now.