Crusaders v Blues
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@Steven-Harris Josh’s injuries have stopped his momentum, but he was good again tonight.
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@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Blues:
As much as I have wanted the Blues to get across the line this evening ..I have got to question how much some really do know about the game of rugby ...the one area where the Crusaders have dominated has been in the high kick stakes..the Blues have been completely overshadowed in this aspect...the much maligned George Bridge has put so much pressure on the receiver from high kicks ...the Blues have failed to negate this area..and their own high kick when it really mattered , unfortunately fell by the wayside ..both Christie and Barrett at crucial times put kicks out on the full...to me the turning point was the charge down of Blacks kick ..and the subsequent short kick off from Mo’unga , the Blues had fallen asleep and you could see the momentum change ,some great individual performances , but big match players come up with big moments ..on that aspect ..The Crusaders Take the chocolates ..it was great to watch a game that I really feel the Blues are now relevant again..you know when a Canterbury crowd goes silent for long periods means you have them under the pump..to blame this evenings official is joke..game management when it really mattered was the difference..
Spot on great analysis
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@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders v Blues:
I haven’t yelled at the TV like that when Jordan scored since Aaron Smith scored that try early in the Ireland match last year.
Haha me too
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@number9 said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@number9 said in Crusaders v Blues:
Blues dominated the Crusaders up front and at the set piece. Taylor was full of shit with what he said at his interview.
Different game than I watched
Then you are obviously blind, Blues killed their scrum, had then at the breakdown and won lineoits off the Crusader throw in. Watch the replay.
Hahaha or you are bias
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@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
Ok sort of game so fat
Oh here come the Akira haters again 🙄
Que?
Am Akira fanboi
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@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
Beauden was rubbish. One of the worst games i've ever seen him play. He gave away 2 soft penalties - he kicked out on the full - he put in a shit kick before halftime. He was pants. He also looks like he has seriously lost his pace.
He was brilliant about 4-5 years back and before then. But hes been going slowly downhill since. But still good but not great.
I hoped the Blues coaches would get him moving back towards great again. But so far hes moving in the opposite direction. Maybe his time is up. Or the Blues move was a big mistake. Or hes not really a FB.
I'm bored with the Crusaders winning year after year so disappointed with this result. The only team that might have challenged is so far behind now the title is decided after 4 games
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@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@number9 said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@number9 said in Crusaders v Blues:
Blues dominated the Crusaders up front and at the set piece. Taylor was full of shit with what he said at his interview.
Different game than I watched
Then you are obviously blind, Blues killed their scrum, had then at the breakdown and won lineoits off the Crusader throw in. Watch the replay.
Hahaha or you are bias
Biased
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@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
Ok sort of game so fat
Oh here come the Akira haters again 🙄
Que?
Am Akira fanboi
You had too much or you need more red mate?
Bones has captured your penchant for grammatical pedantry perfectly😁 -
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@number9 said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@number9 said in Crusaders v Blues:
Blues dominated the Crusaders up front and at the set piece. Taylor was full of shit with what he said at his interview.
Different game than I watched
Then you are obviously blind, Blues killed their scrum, had then at the breakdown and won lineoits off the Crusader throw in. Watch the replay.
Hahaha or you are bias
Biased
Thanks @booboo -
@KiwiMurph initially I thought Sotutu might be the worst thing that could happen to Akira , but I’m starting to think it might be a blessing in disguise For him , he looks more at home at 6 to me now.
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Great Game.
The intensity was right up there. Blues came out to dominate physically and they did that in the first half and the early part of the 2nd half. The loose trio were great in the early stages. Sotutu looks like a complete player. Tuipolotu again was good and is the form lock in the competition. Their eagerness in defense put the Crusaders key players, most notably Mo'unga and Havili, under pressure and they made mistakes. However at times their aggressive defence got them in trouble when tacklers ended on the wrong side and got trapped. In years gone by they may have been fine but the standards in this competition, they were penalised. This kept the Crusaders in touch on the score board.
For the Crusaders they struggled to get go forward early. Only really Moody and Taylor got over the advantage line. Having journeymen at 6 and 8 is an issue. Taylor was good around the field but there were clearly some line out issues. Although they weren't entirely his fault, Douglas appears to have some technique issues with his jumping. His arms appear to come late and wide as opposed to fast and narrow. Whitelock is missing some support. Strange was very good off the bench and potentially should start next week.
Christie stood up in defense early and had a really solid game. Bridge as many have mentioned was excellent. He ran down Telea and saved a try, his work under the high ball on attack and defence was excellent and his draw and pass for the try was text book. He handled the pressure as well as anyone on the field.
Ultimately the Blues were unable to maintain the initial intensity. The crusaders wore them down. Mo'unga and Havili started to find space. Barrett had a few shockers late with a kick out on the full and the dropped high ball.
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@kiwiinmelb said in Crusaders v Blues:
@KiwiMurph initially I thought Sotutu might be the worst thing that could happen to Akira , but I’m starting to think it might be a blessing in disguise For him , he looks more at home at 6 to me now.
Still has the flashes of brilliance we know he’s capable of, but appears to be doing more of the donkey work in between.
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I am not sure what to make of our depth at the moment.
Blues Developing well
Crusaders. Still winning but weaker than previous years
Highlander performing above their weight
Canes weaker than previous years
Chiefs very poor at the momentAdd all that up we are not that strong overall,
Still we will Put out a strong 23 in the black jersey but injuries will Hurt us. -
@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
I am not sure what to make of our depth at the moment.
Blues Developing well
Crusaders. Still winning but weaker than previous years
Highlander performing above their weight
Canes weaker than previous years
Chiefs very poor at the momentAdd all that up we are not that strong overall,
Still we will Put out a strong 23 in the black jersey but injuries will Hurt us.Form of super teams after 4 games is hardly a gauge on All Black depth.
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@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
Ok sort of game so fat
Oh here come the Akira haters again 🙄
Que?
Am Akira fanboi
So fat indeed.
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@Gunner said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
I am not sure what to make of our depth at the moment.
Blues Developing well
Crusaders. Still winning but weaker than previous years
Highlander performing above their weight
Canes weaker than previous years
Chiefs very poor at the momentAdd all that up we are not that strong overall,
Still we will Put out a strong 23 in the black jersey but injuries will Hurt us.Form of super teams after 4 games is hardly a gauge on All Black depth.
I know but I am looking at overall depth in our SR teams it’s weakening
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Huge, huge, huge last 20 minutes from the Crusaders to secure their 36th win at home in a row. Mo'unga and Drummond were brilliant in the last quarter. Sam Whitelock's workrate is immense. Bridge was excellent in the air. Razor has developed a wonderful team spirit at the franchise. Only a matter of time until he's given the reins of a Test team.
Lots of learnings for the Blues:
Beauden Barrett should be at 10 or the bench. His signing looks stranger and stranger, if Rangi isn't going to trust him to lead the backline as he did at the Canes.
The Blues celebrated Reiko Ioane's try like they'd won the World Cup. I never like that. Put the ball down. Jog back. Same as Pinetree, JK or Jonah did. The postman doesn't celebrate delivering a letter. Save the high fives for being the team with the most points at the final whistle. The Blues' premature jubilation invited a response and boy did it come.
Mark Telea needs to work on his high ball work.
Not convinced by the Blues' half backs.
Title not over, but it's Advantage Crusaders.
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