Crusaders v Blues
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Blues:
Has Carroll played a game this year? I am surprised with this selection unless Cowley-Tuioti is injured.
He had a couple of games from the bench I think. I remember thinking he went well.
Apart from Tuipulotu I don't think there's much difference between the locks. Goodhue has hardened up a little (or got over his shoulder problems?)
The bench spot is wide open.Pierce is the best long term bet though.
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@trodthesod said in Crusaders v Blues:
Think he started in one of the games in Sth Africa.Has a great work rate and looks like he’s been rewarded with a bench spot.I think the Christie start is deserved and the coaches resting Nock.As most teams do,some players get chances to start re Plummer and I ,have no problem with it.They usually rise to the occasion and Faiane from the bench,will close out the close game perhaps,!!
Yeah Nock's been good generally, but his passing and kicking was not up to scratch last time out. Christie actually had a good impact in both matches against the Chiefs and 'Landers so can see why he's been rewarded.
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My source tells me Nock needs a rest ,hence Ruru on the bench.Unless one is actually aware of the bells and whistles the players have on their backs at training we aren’t aware of any drop off in performance.
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Nothing seems to escape the trainer’s eagle eyes these days.The half back spot so demanding on fitness.
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@trodthesod said in Crusaders v Blues:
Nothing seems to escape the trainer’s eagle eyes these days.The half back spot so demanding on fitness.
It would explain his performance v Highlanders.
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@trodthesod said in Crusaders v Blues:
My
sourcesauce tells me Nock needs a restYou'll get used to it
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@Stargazer I stand corrected @KiwiMurph . Not expecting us to get up but at least there's a bit of hype around us coming down for once haha. Usually it's barely half full where the result is a foregone conclusion.
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@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
Looks like The Blues have gone for a 3rd kicking option in Plummer thinking of a territory game in the Chch winter night ,maybe the reason for Plummers selection.
I wonder if they assumed Jordan would be the starting fullback? I think Jordan still has a few issues with his positional play, Havili does not
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@Duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
Looks like The Blues have gone for a 3rd kicking option in Plummer thinking of a territory game in the Chch winter night ,maybe the reason for Plummers selection.
I wonder if they assumed Jordan would be the starting fullback? I think Jordan still has a few issues with his positional play, Havili does not
That’s a good point maybe that was in their thinking
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@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:
My only concern on the halfbacks is we've seen Nock just gets better with more gametime and has really been building nicely.
The impression I get of Christie is that he's prone to occasionally having a good game.
To me, Nock looked tired against the 'Landers - his passing was sloppy and his kicking was straight up in the air. Sloppy skill execution is often a sign of fatigue.
They may also want to have more of a look at Christie and perhaps they don't rate Nock as a bench option
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@trodthesod I think you can go back to that overtime win v Ireland and watching those final minutes and the work and movement of Aaron Smith to show the value of a rapid and fit 9.
Smith has been the benchmark for years now, and in the case of the Blues 9's, they have been chopped and changed for the past few years (as much due to thier own inconsistancy as anything) none of them are probably aware of the physical and mental demand required for match fitness to sustain week in week out
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