Rebels v Crusaders
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Am watching this game for the second time and am noticing (about 5 minutes in) that a lot of the Crusaders players have their hands/fingers strapped (usually only one hand). Noticed it first when I was watching Mo'unga but blamed it on his injury earlier this season, then I saw Whitelock, Alaalatoa, Bedwell-Curtis etc etc.
Never noticed this before. Surely this is precautionary? Didn't notice it in other games; are other NZ players doing the same?
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@Stargazer said in Rebels v Crusaders:
30th min: Aussie commentator says "Tamanivalu makes the wrong the decision" while watching a replay of Tamanivalu's try. Uhm? Yes, he could have offloaded to Mataele, but why would he if he's confident that he can score the try himself?
He absolutely made the wrong decision. He had a man unmarked out wide. Ron Thompson was confident he would score last week and he almost butchered an easy try. Players should take the highest percentage option - which has to be backing yourself to get a pass to an unmarked player outside then going on confidence.
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TBF, if Seta couldnt score in that position, then he has no place playing for the ABs..yes it was a simple draw and pass to put the unmarked winger over, but he also went in pretty much untroubled with a little step.
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It wasn't the usual clinical game from the Crusaders, but that's not so strange when you play a weak, uninspiring team like the Rebels and there have been 10 changes to the team compared to the previous game, including missing crucial players like Read, Todd, Taylor and Crotty.
Mo'unga, Havili and Whitelock were absolute stand-outs. Also good games from Taufua, Funnell, Strange (I'm keen to see how he'll develops further), Tamanivalu and Jed Brown.
Saying that Dagg was atrocious is a huge exaggeration. Yes, he missed a crucial tackle on Koroibete, resulting in a try, but so did Tamanivalu before him. There was the knock-on after some juggling in the first five minutes, but he was just a bit too excited, I guess. Dagg didn't do too much wrong; and the fact that he also didn't do many good things was mostly because he hardly got the ball. This was a good game for him to get rid of the cob webs, and hopefully he'll find his old mojo soon.
I've also noticed that George Bridge, who was great in the first part of the season, isn't setting the world on fire anymore. Maybe, as in Dagg's case, just a lack of good ball. He is very fast though (try-savingly fast)!
Hopefully, Todd will be back next week. Otherwise, the Saders will have a problem in the back row with Samu out. Vernon Fredericks might get another call-up in that case and that's not ideal for a local NZ derby.
The game v the Highlanders is going to be interesting!
Now going to look for a replay of the Canes' game ...
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@Rocky-Rockbottom said in Rebels v Crusaders:
had to bust out the GiFmaker for this one, LMAO
Why are fends to the head not treated the same as high tackles?
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@Chris-B. said in Rebels v Crusaders:
I think he got a few minutes in one game earlier this season didn't he? Completely unsighted has been Sione Fifita - if he's not injured then he'll be sweating on his contract. As might Dunshea, Tim Perry, Leon Fukofuka, Marty McKenzie, Sean Wainui and, maybe, Jone Macilai (though I know he is injured).
I have a sneaking suspicion that Razor might be a bit more ruthless than Toddy in wielding the axe.
Macilai has played a couple of club games for University in the last 3 weeks, so not injured.
Can't see Razor giving him a run ahead of our curretnt wingers + Ioane tho
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Is Ioane fit as well? Yeah - can't see any room for Macilai to get a run from here - it basically needs to be the best team we can field every week - except maybe vs the B&I Lions.
I don't really keep track of contracts - but, I've got a feeling we only signed Seta for a year, so really hope we can hang on to him, despite that playing on the wing probably hasn't helped his AB aspirations. I reckon Razor will be keen to get Enari in next year, so I'd be surprised if Fukofuka keeps his spot.
Others I've listed will depend on who else puts their hands up in the meantime - and contracts, obviously.
Really hoping we will have Crotty and Todd back for this weekend. I think the Highlanders will be very tough and, other than Squire (and Christie), pretty much at full strength.
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@Chris-B. said in Rebels v Crusaders:
Is Ioane fit as well? Yeah - can't see any room for Macilai to get a run from here - it basically needs to be the best team we can field every week - except maybe vs the B&I Lions.
I don't really keep track of contracts - but, I've got a feeling we only signed Seta for a year, so really hope we can hang on to him, despite that playing on the wing probably hasn't helped his AB aspirations. I reckon Razor will be keen to get Enari in next year, so I'd be surprised if Fukofuka keeps his spot.
Others I've listed will depend on who else puts their hands up in the meantime - and contracts, obviously.
Really hoping we will have Crotty and Todd back for this weekend. I think the Highlanders will be very tough and, other than Squire (and Christie), pretty much at full strength.
Haven't seen Digby's name on the club programme, so I guess he's still injured mate.
Agree about Todd and Crotty, they are pretty crucial this weekend, especially with Samu now out.
Yeah I'm pretty certain they only signed Seta for a year, seems to be enjoying his rugby. Hopefully sticks around for another year (though if he's overlooked for the ABs I can understand if he looks elsewhere)
Would be happy to see fukafuka leave, Enari is a talent worth hanging on to for sure.
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is a shame Macilai has been injured, as other backs seem to have thrived under Robertson, whereas IMO Blackadder stifled them, but expect unless he has a stormer of a MItre 10 campaign (like his breakout season) may not get back in next season.
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@taniwharugby Hard to say for sure, but I think Macilai will probably be OK. Might depend on what happens with Seta.
Sione Fifita has been with the Crusaders for two seasons and hasn't (I think) played a minute for them and, as far as I know, he's been fit and available for most of this season.
Digby Ioane has looked good when he's played, but he's no spring chicken (nearly 32).
On the other hand, there's some promising young wings floating around ChCh and Nelson. Caleb Makene and the Faingaanuku bros. for three.
