Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season

[Duluth]

Crusaders have had very little ball in the first 20mins

[Kiwiwomble]

is it on tv in nz or is there a link somewhere?

[Duluth]

@Kiwiwomble said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

is it on tv in nz or is there a link somewhere?

It’s on sky in nz

[Duluth]

Punivai scores for the Highlanders

Plenty of space out there now. Saders look like they are fading after all that tackling.

[Chris B.]

17-0 Highlanders.

Crusaders giving away what little ball they've had with scrappy errors. Seem to have a dominant scrum and lineout, but Highlanders much better in general play.

[Bovidae]

Connor >>> Jackson

[Kiwiwomble]

who has scored the other two tries

[Duluth]

Crusaders were looking likely from a lineout drive. Another error, obstruction penalty

Really untidy 30mins from them

[Duluth]

@Kiwiwomble said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

who has scored the other two tries

Coltman and Nareki I think

[Chris B.]

Coltman scores another from a good lineout drive.

Crusaders pretty weak in defending that.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Chris-B hasn't been something we've been hugely successful with even with Dixon at the boot so that's cool to hear

[Chris B.]

@Kiwiwomble Two tries from lineout drives - the second was very good. Got really good weigh on and powered over.

The Crusaders should really have scored from one as Duluth mentioned above, but they broke away from the main maul and someone got in front of the ball carrier.

Typical early season game, but the Highlanders significantly more cohesive than the Crusaders.

A bit harsh to single out any of the Crusaders for a lashing (they are all deserving of one), but Tony Brown won't be too concerned about axing Josh McKay on his efforts to date.

[Chris B.]

26-0 at halftime.

Crusaders haven't completely switched teams at halftime - McKay and the Crusaders start the 2nd half well.

[Kiwiwomble]

always a question how much you can read into these games as there are so many of the "first string" guys missing...but its still good to hear, if nothing else some confidence for some of the fringe/new players

pretty much different teams in the second half so could easily swing the other way

sounds like sio stayed out of trouble?

[Kiwiwomble]

reading through the text commentary and they seem to mention a lot of grubbers and chips?

[Chris B.]

Sustained pressure by the Crusaders and sustained infringing by the Highlanders - Tavatavanawai get the Crusaders on the board.

[Chris B.]

Crusaders with a series of infringements giving the Highlanders field position.

[Kiwiwomble]

"Both sides are struggling with the fatigue of the game as the scrum takes a while to set"

...shouldn't be with pretty much a new tea at half time

[Chris B.]

Ollie Jager with the first significant looking injury. Archilles-looking...

[Chris B.]

Tavatavanawai gets a second try - comes into the line from the blindside and runs straight through the Highlanders.

For someone who was only a late call-up for the Mako, he looks pretty useful. Big and fast.